BWA

The recent incident reported by member leling at this Forum has brought up some concerns about practices in bird photography.  At the same time I was also asked by the Chairman to collect comments on Martin Hale’s draft Code of Conduct for Bird Photography.  So it seems to be a good time to have more discussions on the subject here.

No one would argue against minimizing disturbances to birds.  However the use of flash and tape recording are somewhat controversial.  To get some idea of the general view, I would like to run an opinion poll here in the Bird Photography section.  Hopefully this should also facilitate discussion and understanding among members regarding the issues.  A draft of the questions is given below for your comments.  Suggestions and opinions are welcome.

The poll would be started in 1 week and only members of the HKBWS will be allowed to vote.  The latest results can be viewed by all in real time.

Alan Chan


Poll Questions

Q1 About the use of flash
1. Do not use any flash at all
2. Avoid using flash, stop immediately if the subject appears disturbed
3. As 2 above, and as fill flash only
4. Use freely anytime anywhere

Q2 How should information about locations of rarities and active nest sites be revealed?
1. Announce it in public
2. Share only with persons you trust in private
3. Do not share with anyone

Q3 Should bait be used to lure birds?
1. No
2. To be avoided
3. No restriction
4. No need to mention in the code

Q4 Should tape recordings be used to lure birds?
1. No
2. To be avoided
3. No restriction
4. No need to mention in the code

Q5 On taking photos of active nest sites
1. Do not mention in the code, to avoid attracting unwanted attention
2. Do not take photos of active nests
3. Avoid taking photos of active nests
4. Only for serious scientific studies or conservation purpose
5. Only without the subject's knowledge, and stop immediately if the subject begins to notice
6. As long as the subject is not disturbed, and stop immediately if it is no longer so
7. Take precautions not to reveal the nest site to predators or attract passers-by

Options for Q5
1
2
3, 5 & 7
3, 6 & 7
4, 5 & 7
4, 6 & 7

[hr]
最近鳥友leling 在這個討論區報告了一則頗為不愉快的事件，帶出了一些關於鳥類攝影的問題。剛巧主席又請我收集會員對 Martin Hale 草擬的《鳥類攝影守則》的意見，因此現值得我們在這裡更深入地討論相關問題。

沒有人會對避免干擾雀鳥有異議，不過對於是否應該使用閃光燈和鳥鳴錄音，則似乎有一些不同看法。為了徵詢大家的意向，我計劃在這個討論區的「野鳥攝影」專區發起一項意見調查，同時也希望可以鼓勵大家更積極地討論，促進互相了解。以下附上問卷草稿供，歡迎各位提出意見。

調查將在一週後開始，只供香港觀鳥會會員投票，最新的調查結果可在這裡看到。

陳慶麟

問題

Q1　你認為應如何使用閃光燈拍攝雀鳥？
1.　任何時候都不應使用
2.　應儘量避免，如果雀鳥看來受到干擾便要馬上停止
3.　第2項，並且只用來補光
4.　隨時隨地都可以用，沒有任何限制

Q2　我們應如何透露稀有雀鳥和鳥巢的位置？
1.　公開宣佈
2.　私下和信任的人分享
3.　完全不和人分享

Q3　應否用誘餌招引雀鳥？
1.　不應該
2.　儘量避免       
3.　沒有限制
4.　不必在守則中說明

Q4　應否用錄音帶招引雀鳥？
1.　不應該
2.　儘量避免       
3.　沒有限制
4.　不必在守則中說明

Q5　我們應如何拍攝有雀鳥繁殖的鳥巢／地點？
1.　不在守則中說明，以免不必要地引起其他人的興趣
2.　不應拍攝有雀鳥繁殖的鳥巢／地點
3.　少拍為妙
4.　只可用於正式的科學研究或保育工作
5.　只可在對象不知道的情況下進行，一旦被拍攝對象發現便要馬上停止
6.　只可在對象不受干擾的情況下進行，一旦對象看來受到干擾便要馬上停止
7.　小心進行，以防巢位被天敵發現或招惹閒人

Q5 的答案選擇
1
2
3, 5 及 7
3, 6 及 7
4, 5 及 7
4, 6 及 7

BWA

It is good to see so many responses to this thread.
The purpose of the poll is to show how members generally feel about these controversial issues.  The results will be used as a reference in drawing up the code, but by themselves are not meant to decide the final outcome.

I will add the following 2 questions to the coming poll:

Q6 What kind of code or guidelines do the Society need?

1. None at all.
2. Minimum rules that must be observed by all HKBWS members
3. Recommended good practices that members may choose to follow at their discretion
4. As option 2, and also for reference by the general public
5. As option 3, and also for reference by the general public

Options for Q6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 2&3, 4&5


Q7 What kind of sanction is appropriate for violators?

1. No, self discipline and social pressure would be adequate.
2. Violator’s photos will not be used by the Society or allowed to be shown in this forum
3. HKBWS membership will be revoked for serious violators
Options for Q7
1, 2, 2&3

There were some discussions on the use of flash in the old BBS and elsewhere:

http://www.hkbws.org.hk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=Discussion;action=display;num=1092857493
http://photo.net/photo/nature/owlflash
http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=009zcA
http://www.naturescapes.net/042004/do0404.htm

Different people may have their own definition of what are or are not acceptable, perhaps because they have different assumptions about the effect of flash on birds, and the relative importance they place between bird and photos.  The same probably applies to the use of tape recording.  I would like to see more scientific studies to settle these issues.


Alan Chan

[hr]
很高興收到那麼多的回應。

進行意見調查的目的，是希望讓大家了解其他鳥友的一般看法，調查結果也會給守則提供參考，不過守則並非單由這些結果決定。

我會在調查中加入以下兩條問題：

Q6　本會需要怎麼樣的守則或指引？
1.　甚麼也不需要
2.　所有會員均需遵守的最低限度守則
3.  一些良好做法，供會員自行決定是否依從
4.　如第2 項，同時可給公眾作為參考
5.　如第3項，同時可給公眾作為參考

Q6 答案選擇
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 2&3, 4&5


Q7　如果會員違反守則或指引，應有甚麼罰則？
1.　沒有，自律和群眾壓力已經足夠
2.　違者的照片將不會被本會使用，也不准在此討論區發表
3.　嚴重違反守則／指引者會被開除會籍

Q7 答案選擇
1, 2, 3, 2&3


以前的新聞組和其他地方曾有過關於閃光燈的討論：

http://www.hkbws.org.hk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=Discussion;action=display;num=1092857493
http://photo.net/photo/nature/owlflash
http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=009zcA
http://www.naturescapes.net/042004/do0404.htm

各人對使用閃光燈有不同的標準，很可能是因為他們認為閃光燈對雀鳥有不同程度的影響，以及將鳥和照片的相對比重，這對使用鳥鳴錄音亦同樣適用。希望日後有更多的科學研究可以給我們提供答案。

陳慶麟