Dress Code on Reserves

[Wild-Woman]

I can understand the irritation that regular birders may feel when birds are flushed by other folk BUT I do feel that to get folk interested in nature, especially those who have had relatively little contact with it, may read this thread and be put off of going to a reserve just because they haven't got the 'right clothes'.
Some may not be able to afford to get the 'right gear' or because they have just started making contact with nature, they may not be aware that bright colours or movement may disturb animals.We all start somewhere and we all need to learn. Children on the other hand are naturally inquisitive and sometimes a bit rowdy BUT hopefully if they fall in love with nature early enough, then they may be the conservationists of the future.
I don't think we should get elitist- I think we we should help educate...gently.

[BloomingMarvellous]

Originally Posted by pressld2

I have startled dog walkers more than once when out in my camo gear. The dogs always seem to know I'm there but if I stay completely still their owners often don't see me. It's the same with birds too. As others have said before, woodland species tend to be flushed by noise and movement. If you get yourself into a comfortable position and stay very still and quiet it's surprising how close birds will come.

It saddens me to think that I might be causing worry to other people when I'm in the woods wearing camo. It should be obvious by the long lens and tripod what I'm up to. A sad reflection on our society that people should be concerned.

Dave P.

So, all lone men in full camouflaged clothing, carrying a long lens and tripod are safe?

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

About 20 years ago just about every single birder wore camouflage jackets or at least those ex army green jackets. It's only over the las ten years that newer recruits to the hobby have taken to wearing normal civvies. I suspect many of them are the reactionary types who wait until their pager goes off and whatever they are wearing is good enough for them at that moment in time.

Must be the people you mix with. Amongst a certain set ex army stuff was fashionable - remember all those ex-army shops. But 20-30 years ago CND and pacifism was also at its height. Many were interested in nature/green issues too and most that I know have continued to be active birders/botanists etc. They (and I) just wouldn't be seen in something that looks like the military. We may wear green, but certainly not camo. In fact 20-30 years ago waterproof walking jackets came in green, green or green (as did tents, and most things outdoors). High visibility outdoor wear was not the norm. That is a much more recent thing (health and safety gets everywhere ). Fleece jackets only go back about 25 years, (I had one of the first available ) and as fleece could be easily made in bright colours, things changed then.

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by BloomingMarvellous

So, all lone men in full camouflaged clothing, carrying a long lens and tripod are safe?

Yes! If your intent is to attack someone you don't weigh yourself down with heavy and expensive camera equipment.

But that's not my point. My point is that there's something wrong with a society in which a lone man in the woods wearing camo is automatically seen as a threat rather than just a nature lover watching the wildlife.

Dave P.

[solus]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

About 20 years ago just about every single birder wore camouflage jackets or at least those ex army green jackets. It's only over the las ten years that newer recruits to the hobby have taken to wearing normal civvies. I suspect many of them are the reactionary types who wait until their pager goes off and whatever they are wearing is good enough for them at that moment in time.

About 20 years ago ... that'd be around the late 1980s/early 1990s, yes? I remember in those days (certainly mid 1980s) most birders/twitchers wore dark olive green Barbour waxed jackets - NOT camouflage if you're meaning the multi-patterened greens/browns. And not ex-army either! Later on non-waxed, even more expensive, breathable but allegedly waterproof fabrics came on the market (I say "allegedly" because I could never afford 'em so don't know!) and waxed jackets began to be replaced. I have photos of big twitches on Scilly and elsewhere in the mid 1980s when almost everyone was in Barbour green... one night after we'd all had a right drenching on Tresco our guest house kitchen became the "Barbour Shop" with all our stuff hanging up to dry in the warmth from the Aga! And, lest we forget, many birders in the early 1980s had those Optolyth draw-tube 'scopes... which were great until it rained!

[The Woodman]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

In fact 20-30 years ago waterproof walking jackets came in green, green or green (as did tents, and most things outdoors). High visibility outdoor wear was not the norm.

Cumbrian folk might wish to disagree SheffieldLass. Thirty years ago saw the arrival of the cagoule and the fells were dotted with flourescent crag rats.

Last year I passed on our trusty thirty year old continental style family tent which had a blue outer and orange inner in shades similar to my Vango Force Ten and Bukta Linnet!

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by pressld2

... My point is that there's something wrong with a society in which a lone man in the woods wearing camo is automatically seen as a threat rather than just a nature lover watching the wildlife.

Dave P.

Well our society sees plenty of images of men in camo on the tv news and in films. The vast majority are threatening ... whether soldiers carrying guns, hunters with guns, or stalkers .... and just a very few naturalists, so it isn't really surprising.

It does make me uneasy, mainly because most that I do see in camo in the countryside/woods are carrying guns. And guns make me uneasy. And I have seen too many stalker films too. So single men creeping around the woods in camo do spook me, until I know what they are up to ... if I saw the camera and tripod then I'd know what their purpose their was, and I'd be less worried.

And if they are sat by a river with a small shelter and selection of rods then I know straightaway what they are up to, so they don't give me the same unease.

Melanie

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

Cumbrian folk might wish to disagree SheffieldLass. Thirty years ago saw the arrival of the cagoule and the fells were dotted with flourescent crag rats.

Last year I passed on our trusty thirty year old continental style family tent which had a blue outer and orange inner in shades similar to my Vango Force Ten and Bukta Linnet!

True, I'd forgotten the cagoule, replaced the pac-a-mac... I had one, but can't remember the colour ... yellow maybe ... they disappeared, when did they go? ... but the heavier duty walking waterproof jackets were still generally green. I wanted another colour but couldn't get one ... And you have reminded me, there was an earlier phase of orange canvas tents. My father had one, and my neighbour recently dusted off a 35 year old Vango. But at the campsites, occasional festival and at Greenham where I camped, the vast majority of small tents in the 80s were green. Maybe it was the people I mixed with ... Now my 25 year old green tent is about the only green one on the campsites.

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

Well our society sees plenty of images of men in camo on the tv news and in films. The vast majority are threatening ... whether soldiers carrying guns, hunters with guns, or stalkers .... and just a very few naturalists, so it isn't really surprising.

That's it in a nutshell Melanie. I'm not blaming women for being cautious - I would be too - but I am tired of the way men, particularly if they are alone, get stereotyped by the media. The truth is the complete opposite of what gets portrayed on TV and in the newspapers and there are hugely more naturalists wandering in our woodlands than rapists and murderers. The vast majority of men are mild-mannered, pleasant and no threat to anyone. But it's the tiny population of nutters that get all the attention. And that's what has created a society in which women don't feel safe and men seem always to be viewed with suspicion.

Dave P.

[rossy]

does anyone actually know if birds can make out colours ? and i dont think what you wear matters really. put things into perspective in summer you would have shorts on in winter coats hats . you dress accordingly and what you feel comfortable in. the main thing is whilst observing birds is too much noise and they will be off and to disturb them in breeding season can cause them to abandon the nest. rossy.