Steve,
Very good point there mate. Lucky for us, in Oz we have not too many restrictions and it is up the the ethics of an individual to observe 'appropriate' behaviors.
It is easy to understand why birds get all wound up about photographers. I have a friend in Hungary who says he is green at the fact that in Australia we can walk about (so he thinks) practically and take some nice images without an overloading need of effort. However, that has not stopped me from wanting to construct a floating hide.
No need to break laws. No image is worth upsetting the ecological balance.
we need to respect all creatures great and small.
Cheers
Ákos