The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Just got back from a 5 day trip to Poland. Myself and 2 friends went to the Bialowieza primeval forest in the east of the country. We spent most of the night out spotlighting in search for European Lynx. We managed to find one Lynx during approx 26 hours of spotlighting over the 4 nights.

We also had a few brief birding sessions during the day, best bird had to be given to White backed woodpecker.

This was my 4th trip in search of European Lynx and it has tested my patients but was worth every hour I have spent searching even if it was a very brief view.

I'm not surprised that European Lynxs are hard to find if they are hounded by maniacs with spotlights throughout the night!!? Total shame on you.

It may come as a surprise to you Edd but when searching for mainly nocturnal species it helps if you can see them that’s why artificial light is used. When we came across the Lynx it didn’t even look at us, it was so busy hunting Roe deer undisturbed. When using a spotlight and prolonged views are being obtained you put a red or green filter on or move the beam slightly away from the animal but you should know that if you know enough on watching mammals at night to pass comment of other peoples actions!

And for your knowledge Edd, Lynx are hard to find because of being hunted. Between 1978-1994 11 radio tagged cats in Bialowieza forest died and only 3 out of that 11 where not hunted!! (Sunquist 2002) Showing that any wildlife can be used for eco tourism surely helps protect the future of any species or am I wrong about that as well???

How come what ever anyone puts on this forum there is always someone who has to pass comment?

I, like many enjoy reading about other peoples sightings, be it in the UK or not but the enjoyment has gone on this forum as there is always someone who feels they are superior to you and should pass comment. I am starting to feel that I don’t want to be part of a bird club who’s members behave like this and I also feel that my £12 pound could be spent better (maybe spent on a replacement bulb for my spotlight) (may I add the bird report is exempt from these comments as it is a valuable part of my bookcase and greatly enjoy reading it).

What has this forum and club developed into? Its like being back at school and being the one who doesn’t fit in. And before you ask I didn’t fit in at school because I didn’t hide my huge interest in Bird watching and the natural world so that’s how I know it feels the same. Surly we should all encourage each other to learn and progress in this hobby, what ever level or interest you have in it, after all most readers of this forum are mature enough to know better.

On re-reading the post critical of Mark Bibby's Poland report, I must admit that I felt it perhaps went beyond the acceptable norm of rough and tumble web exchanges. A more suitable opening gambit post could well have been a little more probing, perhaps along the lines of, "What are the mechanics, pros and cons of mammal spotlighting?"........ and waiting for a reply before going on to a vigorous and reasoned attack.

Despite a spirited attempt to defend and justify his Poland activities, we now have a publically savaged, bruised and dejected LBC Member, obviously fazed by unexpected and very harsh critical comments. I personally have no clear idea of the merits or otherwise of mammal spotlighting but I would certainly be better informed as a result of a reasonable web discussion on the subject.

Could we at least now agree amongst ourselves that if we strongly disagree with a particular web post, and we wish to rubbish it out of hand in very strong language, we could pour out our anger in a personal/private email (pm) but post less aggressive comments on the PUBLIC website..repeat public website? Surely, that is one of the reasons we have a pm system, anyway.

Those of us who have been on birding and butterfly trips with Mark Bibby, know him as a committed, competent and enthusiastic all-round Naturalist and where the terms 'maniac' and 'shame' have no place whatsoever.

Could we now move forward and dare hope, after such a vigorous and robust condemnation of Mark Bibby's post, for a follow-up post perhaps second-thinking the original anger and also analysing the cons of mammal spotlighting? It might just help to salvage and emphasise some degree of fellow respect amongst ourselves and to help maintain a reasonable camaraderie in future information and comment exchanges on our worthy and honourable website.

Regards,

Freddy

Total agree Freddy. Mark would not harm a fly ...

_________________
Regards
Dean Eades



Take nothing but photos - Leave nothing but footprints - Waste nothing but time

My website: http://www.birdmad.com
https://www.facebook.com/dean.eades1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdmad/
http://www.lcegroup.co.uk
http://www.Canon.co.uk

i personally have not a great problem with organised trips to see species having spent many wks at safari lodges and jungle lodges on birding and wildlife watching. its a bit like hating all shooting activity because rightly or wrongly the land and habitat has to be managed and that costs money. if the local people can earn a living by showing and running organised trips then the resource gets looked after and responsible eco tourism is a great help in preserving the last wild unspoilt places on our planet. doing it marks way is miles better than the guide turning to subsitance farming no matter where it is. of cause the other side of the coin is where the habitat is managed like some grouse moors to the exclusion of all other species harriers etc
terry whalin

Mark, I have sent my supporting comments by Private Message.