Dress Code on Reserves

[Brent Leeks]

Dont you think that it is about time that Birders visiting honeypot reserves should be turned away if they wear unsuitable clothing?

It is unfair on the field birder that we have to suffer these bright coloured people that just like hunters in winter disturb the birds and cause them to fly away when they should be feeding.

I am a landowner and will ask anyone visiting my pits to wear subdued clothing before fishing or birding.

[Meta menardi]

I can see your point of view, would it not be better to try some other solutions first? I feel that anyone who needs to describe to their pal the route they drove to arrive at the site, in a fairly loud voice, in a hide, should be strangled, but I would not say so.

[AshLee]

I certainly think a polite reminder wouldn't go amiss.

On what planet do hordes of wildlife enthusiasts wearing loud clothes, talking in their normal voices, sometimes bringing badly behaved offspring (and occasionally DOGS *grrrr*), and packed into hides and on to viewing platforms and pathways, try to mix with our native fauna and its appreciation thereof?

On our planet, unfortunately.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by Brent Leeks

Dont you think that it is about time that Birders visiting honeypot reserves should be turned away if they wear unsuitable clothing?

It is unfair on the field birder that we have to suffer these bright coloured people that just like hunters in winter disturb the birds and cause them to fly away when they should be feeding.

I am a landowner and will ask anyone visiting my pits to wear subdued clothing before fishing or birding.

I think we should ban RSPB groups as all they seem to do is take over hides so they can have picnics and talk as loudly as possible making it impossible for anyone else to enjoy their hobby. I was at Titchwell last year watching the wader roost on the beach from the comfort and distance of the sand dunes (along with about 50 other birders). Along comes an RSPB group and walks straight up to the water's edge flushing all the waders off.

[pegasus]

Originally Posted by AshLee

I certainly think a polite reminder wouldn't go amiss.

On what planet do hoards of wildlife enthusiasts wearing loud clothes, talking in their normal voices, sometimes bringing badly behaved offspring (and occasionally DOGS *grrrr*), and packed into hides and on to viewing platforms and pathways, try to mix with our native fauna and its appreciation thereof?

On our planet, unfortunately.

Ah,---I recognise a kindred grump!--- I think it has got worse in reason months and,sadly, i blame Spring watch/Autumn watch and to a lesser extent Countryfile.--It seems to be fashionable now'to embrace nature' and to go birdwatching and whilst generally this is better than going to IKEA[what it'snt! ] it does mean there are lot of would be Bill Oddie's or Packham's out there now,clutching their recently purchased 'Bins' invading reserves and not having a clue about --a]what they are at looking at[ that's ok we all have to start somewhere]----b][and more importantly] How to behave in reserves and hides. Honest, i'm not a pofaced birder or a particularly good one ,but i do know how to respect wildlife and to respect other Birders in hides. I do get fed up with people talking LOUD drivel,using their mobile phones and with kids messing about in hides, but i guess i'm a miserable Git!
Regards
Victor

[Paul mabbott]

I'd be interested to know of evidence that wearing 'brightly coloured' clothing has any effect on birds (or other animals), especially when worn in hides. I suspect (but have done no serious research) that movement and noise are more important. Maybe you're right that the activity of some people upsets the animals but I suspect that would happen whatever they were wearing.

PS: I am not of the bright colour tendency ....

Originally Posted by Brent Leeks

Dont you think that it is about time that Birders visiting honeypot reserves should be turned away if they wear unsuitable clothing?

It is unfair on the field birder that we have to suffer these bright coloured people that just like hunters in winter disturb the birds and cause them to fly away when they should be feeding.

I am a landowner and will ask anyone visiting my pits to wear subdued clothing before fishing or birding.

[Susie]

Let's just ban people.

[SheffieldLass]

Oh dear, been there, done that. Except for the bright clothes and mobile phone. As part of a conservation/ecology course we visited Potteric Carr. We were sat in a hide, watching the birds, when a rabbit lolloped along the shore edge to where another rabbit was sat, mated right in front of the hide .... the guffaws from all of us were certainly not respectful . I think we had scared off all the other occupants of the hide when we turned up though. Well it did make it a bit crowded .

Actually I've been fortunate, not ever had any problem with people who I've shared hides with. Kids have been well behaved and interested. And the conversation about what they are seeing or not seeing is good to hear. Most of the conversations are about the wildlife, and what they have seen at the other hides. But then I tend not to go to the real honey pot sites, and generally steer clear of the very popular RSPB ones. Well I'd have to pay ....

I do find that most of the people in the countryside dressed 'appropriately', i.e. in green camoflage are generally intent on shooting the pheasants or the predators of pheasants. That certainly disturbs the wildlife. And they have walkie talkies too. And dogs.

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by Susie

Let's just ban people.

That is a very good point of view, the wildlife doesn't say "I aren't getting up this morning, there's no-one ever comes to see us"

I know pen-plotters are almost a lost technology, but I remember one that did A0 plots, something like 12 colours, the pen whizzed to and fro, picked up pens, put them down, did little scribbly bits and so on. It had a label that said "this plotter will work without being watched".
So will Wildlife centres.

[aeshna5]

I wear subdued coloured clothes, but in my experience it's other birders that get more agitated by bright clothes on an individual than the birds!

Generally on reserves the birds are often used to people walking around + realise here people are generally benign as opposed to a shooting club's area. Sudden movements of surprise loud noise are more likely to scare the birds than some bright coat.

Given that birds have far better eyesight than us I don't think all those barbour clad birders are invisible to our feathered friends!