Kingfisher call

[DOXHOPE]

Hi, and before I go ay further, Im new on here, so hello everyone.
Does anyone know where I can get the call of the common British kingfisher, either downloaded from the internet, or on CD or tape?

Cheers

Bill

[galanthus]

There's a good link here

The RSPB: Kingfisher

welcome matey

[galanthus]

Hmmm, a slight variation on what I usually hear I fear Is usually a more high pitched keee keee. Still can't find anything more accurate, maybe someone can later. Hope that one a small help tho

[SheffieldPete]

I'm guessing this is a waterside habitat you've heard this call in, which is why you've been thinking it's kingfishers? If it's also wooded then could it possibly be a treecreeper's call?

British Garden Birds - Treecreeper

Or a dunnock's?

British Garden Birds - Dunnock

(scroll down on both pages to get to the call)

[DOXHOPE]

Cheers for the info, I have heard them before, just need a copy of the call to help lure them to the camera..Ive managed to get a CD off Amazon that includes the kingfisher, and a few other species I might be able to attract.
Once again thanks for the help

[SheffieldPete]

Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Tape luring is a pretty frowned upon practice, as it stresses birds something rotten and can seriously disrupt breeding. I'd suggest you don't do it, but if you really insist on doing so then please, please, please show restraint when you do so, otherwise the birds you want to photograph will be wasting precious energy and raising their bloodpressure defending their territories against non-existent rivals coming from your tape recorder, when they should be getting about the business of finding a mate and feeding themselves and their young.

I'm not even sure it'd work with kingfishers, as the sound most often heard is the bird's call, not the song, which wouldn't have the same effect. Kingfishers very rarely sing.

Many birdwatchers and photographers get carried away with tape luring as it is something that works in a lot of species and it's a lazy way of getting results. But remember the bird's welfare comes first, not our rights to look at or photograph them.

[Seajay]

Originally Posted by DOXHOPE

Cheers for the info, I have heard them before, just need a copy of the call to help lure them to the camera..Ive managed to get a CD off Amazon that includes the kingfisher, and a few other species I might be able to attract.
Once again thanks for the help

Far better to study their behaviour. You'll learn something including their calls and also more satisfaction when you do get that elusive shot. Plenty of fresh air too! I've been after the Kingfisher for two years and have one, miserable, poor shot but I'm proud of it and I'll get there one day.

Maybe tomorrow?

Colin

[DOXHOPE]

Hi Colin,
yes I agree, Ive found its favourite perch, and I put another near in the water on my visits, I hope to capture it this season, (fingers crossed) if I do it will be posted on here post haste

[JeffH]

Hi Doxhope and welcome to WAB.

I see you're considering using CD/tape luring to attract Kingfishers.

As SheffieldPete has intimated, here in the UK opinions on the ethical use of tape luring vary quite widely. Although the technique is widely used overseas (often by guides on birding tours), I think it's probably fair to say that here in the UK most conservation experts - and I certainly don't count myself as one of them - regard it as a technique only to be used by those engaged in the gathering of scientific data, eg ringers. And even for BTO licensed ringers the use of CD or tape lures during the breeding season requires special permission from the Licensing Officer.

I also note that you believe you've found one of your local Kingfisher's 'favourite' perches. As you may be aware, most breeding Kingfishers will be pairing up during the next 2 - 4 weeks (anytime from mid-Feb) and it is of course quite possible that this perch site falls within a nesting territory.

This being so, I would have to agree with SheffieldPete and urge you not to use CD/tape luring at the site for fear of stressing the bird(s) and potentially disrupting their breeding.

Far be it from me to want to discourage anyone from taking a greater interest in these beautiful birds but, in case you're not already aware, it's also worth noting that Kingfishers are on the Schedule 1 list of specially protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. This means that a Licence is required from Natural England in order to photograph Kingfishers 'at or near' their nest site or whilst they have dependent young, as otherwise it is unlawful to 'recklessly or intentionally' disturb the birds for any purpose.

I'm convinced that the use of CD/tape luring would count as unlawful disturbance once breeding activities are underway and here's what the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) has to say on the matter -

"Our rarest and most vulnerable breeding birds are listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981) and Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. Any activity that may cause disturbance to these birds during the breeding season must be appropriately licensed – this includes monitoring".

In any case, as you've found a regular perch site why do you need to lure the bird? It is, I suggest, much better to simply position a hide near to the perch and wait for the bird to come to you naturally. This should result in the bird staying around the perch area much longer than it perhaps would if, having been lured by your tape, it was frantically searching around for a non-existent mate or intruder! And, as Seajay has said, this will give you the opportunity not only to photograph it but also to observe and study it at close quarters.

Having said that, if the perch site is indeed within a nest territory you are still likely to need a Schedule 1 Licence just to get close in order to watch or photograph the bird.

Finally and if you're interested, there's quite a lot of information about the behaviour of Kingfishers in my 'Kingfisher Diary (with photos)' forum thread -

Kingfisher Diary (with photos)

I hope this is useful

Jeff

[DOXHOPE]

Kingfisher image as promised, and not a lure or tape in sight