Code of Birding Ethics

PRINCIPLES OF BIRDING ETHICS

Everyone who enjoys birds and birding must always respect wildlife, its environment, and the rights of others. In any conflict of interest between birds and birders, the welfare of the birds and their environment comes first.

CODE OF BIRDING ETHICS

1. Promote the welfare of birds and their environment.

1(a) Support the protection of important bird habitat.

1(b) To avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise restraint and caution during observation, photography, sound recording, or filming.

Limit the use of recordings and other methods of attracting birds, and never use such methods in heavily birded areas, or for attracting any species that is Threatened, Endangered, or of Special Concern, or is rare in your local area;

Keep well back from nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display areas, and important feeding sites. In such sensitive areas, if there is a need for extended observation, photography, filming, or recording, try to use a blind or hide, and take advantage of natural cover.

Use artificial light sparingly for filming or photography, especially for close-ups.

1(c) Before advertising the presence of a rare bird, evaluate the potential for disturbance to the bird, its surroundings, and other people in the area, and proceed only if access can be controlled, disturbance minimized, and permission has been obtained from private land-owners. The sites of rare nesting birds should be divulged only to the proper conservation authorities.

1(d) Stay on roads, trails, and paths where they exist; otherwise keep habitat disturbance to a minimum.

2. Respect the law, and the rights of others.

2(a) Do not enter private property without the owner's explicit permission.

2(b) Follow all laws, rules, and regulations governing use of roads and public areas, both at home and abroad.

2(c) Practise common courtesy in contacts with other people. Your exemplary behavior will generate goodwill with birders and non-birders alike.

3. Ensure that feeders, nest structures, and other artificial bird environments are safe.

3(a) Keep dispensers, water, and food clean, and free of decay or disease. It is important to feed birds continually during harsh weather.

3(b) Maintain and clean nest structures regularly.

3(c) If you are attracting birds to an area, ensure the birds are not exposed to predation from cats and other domestic animals, or dangers posed by artificial hazards.

4. Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care.

Each individual in the group, in addition to the obligations spelled out in Items #1 and #2, has responsibilities as a Group Member.

4(a) Respect the interests, rights, and skills of fellow birders, as well as people participating in other legitimate outdoor activities. Freely share your knowledge and experience, except where code 1(c) applies. Be especially helpful to beginning birders.

4(b) If you witness unethical birding behavior, assess the situation, and intervene if you think it prudent. When interceding, inform the person(s) of the inappropriate action, and attempt, within reason, to have it stopped. If the behavior continues, document it, and notify appropriate individuals or organizations.

Group Leader Responsibilities [amateur and professional trips and tours].

4(c) Be an exemplary ethical role model for the group. Teach through word and example.

4(d) Keep groups to a size that limits impact on the environment, and does not interfere with others using the same area.

4(e) Ensure everyone in the group knows of and practises this code.

4(f) Learn and inform the group of any special circumstances applicable to the areas being visited (e.g. no tape recorders allowed).

4(g) Acknowledge that professional tour companies bear a special responsibility to place the welfare of birds and the benefits of public knowledge ahead of the company's commercial interests. Ideally, leaders should keep track of tour sightings, document unusual occurrences, and submit records to appropriate organizations.

PLEASE FOLLOW THIS CODE AND DISTRIBUTE AND TEACH IT TO OTHERS


Malaysia Bird Photography Forum adheres to the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] as stated by the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].

In concise text, the above terms translated

Birders must always act in ways that do not endanger the welfare of birds. This includes keeping your distance from birds when you observe and photograph them. You should never approach a bird so closely as to flush or disturb it. Birders must always act in ways that do not harm the natural environment. This means staying on existing trails and not trampling hay field, crops, or fragile habitat. Birders must always respect the law and the rights of others. The biggest issue here is respect for private property. Never trespass on posted property. Always obtain permission from the landowner before entering private lands. If property is fenced off or gated, then it is safest to assume that the landowner does not want intruders. Never assume that it is acceptable to enter private lands. Always be careful about where and how you park your car. Never park on someone's lawn or in anyone's driveway. Never block a gate, woods road, path, or other access. Lack of proper respect for the rights and privacy of others is what causes the biggest problems in our area. Please consider all of your actions carefully. Will they promote good will between birders and landowners? Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care. Limit group sizes in areas that are not conducive to large crowds. If you need to, divide your throng into smaller groups. Take care not to be noisy or unruly. Never do anything that will make birders unwelcome.

Chinese Version:

1、應重視被拍攝野鳥的自然生態習性， 不公佈詳細鳥點，保護野鳥安全及避免過多干擾。

2、拍攝時應維持自然狀態，不使野鳥暴露在掠食者、人類或惡劣環境下。
放鳥音、餵食、修剪過的巢位、籠養、任何輔助光源（探照燈、車燈、閃燈...）的鳥類照片多少對鳥有影響，可免則免。

3、稀有鳥種攝影作品之發錶，勿透漏詳細拍攝地點。 (為了避免引起鳥販的註意)

4、應慎重拍攝鳥巢；禁止拍攝繁殖中的稀有保育鳥類。 (避免親鳥棄巢)
巢位裡的育雛照片拍攝請小心謹慎，若無充分瞭解及準備，請勿輕易嘗試拍攝。每年三月到八月請勿張貼巢位育雛照片。（若是三到八月份以外時間繁殖的鳥種，也請待幼鳥成功離巢後再張貼照片） 。

5、拍攝者及裝備應適當偽裝、掩蔽並保持距離。 等鳥比追鳥更能拍到 近又大隻自然的鳥

6、慎重使用閃光燈。就算拍林鳥也避免頻閃。
關於夜行性猛禽的照片，我們理解夜間使用輔助光源的必需性，但我們還是希望不要有使用人工光源的照片出現在網站裡。因為使用人工光源，對習慣黑暗的夜行性 猛禽來說還是一種干擾。讓這樣的照片出現，很可能鼓勵、誘使更多人在短時間內去找同一隻夜行性猛禽拍照，而發生過度干擾的狀況。

使用鳥音誘鳥拍照與巢位育雛照片，也是同樣的道理。我們希望只要是使用『可能引起過度干擾』的方法拍照，應該要盡量降低干擾的頻率與時間，並避免短時間內 多次或多人去使用之。有鑑於網路傳播的速度與強度日益增加，我們希望網路上張貼的鳥類照片，不要反成為野鳥被過度干擾的原因之一。

7 , 不要在等鳥時高聲談話，吸煙, 關閉手提電話響鬧聲。
前往躲藏點時留意是否已有人在躲藏，盡量等沒鳥時才進入，避免嚇走別人已在拍／觀的鳥。