Perhaps John Cordeaux should have kept the rare bird news under wraps

wrote:

Point noted, John.

 ‘Suppression’ of rare bird sightings is a sensitive subject - witness the ill-feeling a few years back when the presence of a Tengmalm’s owl at Spurn was hushed up. 

The ethos of a bird club, such as our own, is surely not to conceal but to share info or what’s the point of the forum? 

Most of our members are eager to do this, but some like to keep rare sightings under wraps so that they retain the exclusive on pictures (which may have modest commercial value).

However, the  general rule seems that sharing should NOT be the chosen option if it might put the welfare of the bird(s) at risk. 

This particularly applies where breeding is involved and a nest is vulnerable.

Jim,
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As I remember on the old forum the rules about schedule one birds was far more strict than it is on new forum. The old forum rules included  no mention of Marsh Harrier etc at breeding times but on new forum no one says owt about it and these birds are often reported.  

I very rarely suppress any sightings but regarding the "Undisclosed site in North Lincs"  I was one of three birders who went to this place and we jointly decided to not to release it's whereabouts as we didn't want it to become another Worlaby, when the SEO's and Harriers were in number birders were coming from all over the UK, I remember on one occasion counting 42 cars parked along the sides of dykes etc one a single track road  it became dangerous and for me took all the enjoyment out of my hobby.  I appreciate I and my compatriots are probably disliked for doing this.

In the past lots of good birds have been seen in North Lincs and sometimes I've found out about them by chance, am not into twitching but do enjoy seeing something different on my patch.  The only twitch I remember going on was the Steppe Grey Shrike at Grainthorpe Haven and the American Robin at Pyewipe and really enjoyed them.

I understand the photographers keeping stum but some of them go beyond to get the right pic and disturbance of the birds is of no interest to them!

In regards to the misunderstanding with the Facebook Lincs Birding group it had nothing to do with any birds, it concerned a book you had read, and I made a nice comment but the admin team took exception to it!

Okay Jim will have a word with my two birder mates and see what they say.

Regards

John   

 

Point noted, John.

 ‘Suppression’ of rare bird sightings is a sensitive subject - witness the ill-feeling a few years back when the presence of a Tengmalm’s owl at Spurn was hushed up. 

The ethos of a bird club, such as our own, is surely not to conceal but to share info. Or what’s the point of the forum? 

Most of our members are eager to do this, but some like to keep rare sightings under wraps so that they retain the exclusive on pictures (which may have modest commercial value).

However, the  general rule seems that sharing should NOT be the chosen option if it might put the welfare of the bird(s) at risk. 

This particularly applies where breeding is involved and a nest is vulnerable.

Best not say it was an "interesting" read cos that got me in to trouble with Facebook's Lincs Birding group last year resulting in me having to apologise and leave!

But on other hand there is a lot to be said why I and AH would not reveal site in North Lincs as we didn't want it to become another Worlaby!

Regards

John

This wasn't the wisest of letters written (in April 1899) by legendary Lincolnshire ornithologist John Cordeaux.

He pinged off a missive to the The Times (see attachment) about an influx of Pallas' sandgrouse to the Wolds.

His letter was subsequently referred to in reports in several other publications including Westminster Gazette, Nottingham Guardian, Eastern Evening News and Illustrated Sport and Dramatic Times .

I doubt if the birds got much peace after that.