Something Every Birder Needs to Know: Birding Code of Ethics (Pishing, Play Back, and Movement)

[@nybennie9123]

Great video! I had a robin's nest in a bush next to my house. I wanted to get a closer look so I peeked inside the bush. The robins had left the nest when I approached. After I backed away I happened to look up and saw two crows (or jays--can't remember which) up high in a tree directly over the bush. The next day I checked on the nest and the eggs were destroyed! I felt so badly when I realized I may have led the predators to the nest. I learned my lesson the hard way.

[@carolshannon6449]

This s a super helpful video, and important for anyone who loves nature.

[@paulrandall9782]

Great video! As an avid birder it’s a great reminder to really be aware of all these things. Unstressed birds are definitely the best. This level of conscientiousness and awareness is seldom discussed but is so important!

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Thanks!

[@maximoslowpez]

Great video, awesome to see some techniques that offer the minimal disturbance. Cheers from Tasmania!

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@abcxyz9643]

This was very interesting. I am not a birder nor am I sure I ever will be but as an outdoorsman it was great to hear some tips on not disturbing birds as I am hiking etc. The pishing sounds similar to a noise I sometimes make when trying to call deer (which I also don't know much about haha). I am very interested in learning more about bird calls so knowing the distress call is great. If I hear it I will know either myself or some other animal is near which can be helpful. Even as a non birder I really enjoyed this video and it will help me be a better steward to the land.

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Thanks for watching and the input!

[@nybennie9123]

ABC XYZ: Do deer ever walk towards you after you see them or pish at them? I once walked into my backyard and was surprised to see a doe maybe 15 yards away. I started to talk softly to her and she started to take a step towards me! I was so surprised that I got scared and darted off in one direction and she in the other. I could kick myself now because I'd like to think I was a deer "whisperer", but I'll never know now! I once read of a man walking alone on a path who was stomped to death by a deer and I think that stuck in my mind!

[@173jaSon371]

Well explained and a lot of people could do with hearing it a lot more often. Before getting into birding I never realized how totally insensitive some supposed 'nature lovers' and 'birders' can actually be. Every rare bird that gets posted on eBird in my area gets absolutely MOBBED by people with cameras(I also do photography so I'm not 100% innocent here either) and these folks seem to not have a care in the world about disturbing an animal, no matter how sensitive or endangered the species can be. I was hoping to go see some Great Horned Owl fledglings where I knew of a nest from last year but apparently there are a dozen or more people there every day. They also post exact locations on eBird any time the birds move, standing directly underneath the trees and forcing the birds to pay close attention to them and causing unnecessary stress and attention to them.....Now us ethical birders don't get the chance to see it because we'd rather the species has a chance to survive with less people disturbing it. This is why I already just keep to myself and hit the spots I know well. I also usually won't go to the same region too often if I feel like I've seen a more sensitive animal there recently. People need to learn to let things breathe and stop worrying about social media clout.

[@mizzounyc]

This is such a fantastic video! Thank you so much for putting this together.

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@FollowThomas]

That was a good video. Thank you for explaining in details.

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Glad it was helpful!

[@crae5677]

Where in the country are you birding? I am in Mn.

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Vermont!

[@Dtaberner]

This is a nice video. I wish you hadn't recommended that people go off trail. It's one thing if you're a biologist doing field research, but if you're just a hobbyist, There are a lot of reasons why a person shouldn't go off the trail that don't necessarily even have to do with birds. That said, I appreciated the video.

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Yeah, it really depends where you are and what time of year it is. For where we are in Vermont other than some significant nesting areas it is fine for people to go off trail. In more populated areas, especially in State and National and municipal parks it is good to give not have tons of unaware people tromping around off trail. All that being said I appreciate where you are coming from and it really comes down to individuals making educated assessments of what is safe for their area or deferring to local experts. Most of the best experiences I have had in the natural world have not been on a trail...

[@Thehappybirder]

This is a fantastic video

[@stevenperry7041]

Thanks for this

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

My pleasure!

[@Convolutedtear]

this was great !!

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Thanks!