Growing use of smartphone applications, field access to theInternet and recordings to flush out bird species for better viewingand photography could be impacting the survival of some birds.
Experts recently interviewed by The Seattle Times say overuse ofhigh-tech apps can stress male birds that believe a recorded songsignals a rival invading their territory.
"Maybe humans have no business meddling in the life of birds andother critters," The Spokesman-Review said in a post to InlandNorthwest Birders for reader reaction.
Tom Davenport, North Idaho wildlife photographer, responded,saying not to worry:
"My experience is that animals are much smarter and much moreresilient than we give them credit for."
Kris Buchler, an expert in bird identification with the Coeurd'Alene Audubon Society, was more cautious: "There are ethicsinvolved here and I'm sure use is abused. It is hard to know whatthe long-term implications will be.
"Good bird guides won't use recordings if another group has justbeen to a site. They also will limit the use. After calling a birdin, they will stop.
"We used recordings of drumming when doing woodpecker surveys forthe Forest Service and I know they are used for wetland surveys.Recordings are not allowed for Breeding Bird Surveys. The observerlistens only, and if you're lucky to see something, great.
Buchler and her bird-surveying cohort Lisa Hardy speculate thatsooner or later technology will produce a device that can be pointedat an area to record and analyze a sound and enter the species in adatabase.
"Those of us who spent hours, days and years learning 100-plusspecies by ear will be obsolete," she said
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