|
|
What's the score with Scheduled Species?
These are birds that are protected by law
and must not be photographed at or near a nest without a licence. Such licences
can be obtained from Natural England (formerly English Nature) in this country.
Should you apply for a licence?
Please think very carefully before
proceeding. Many common species such as Barn Owl & Kingfisher are Scheduled.
Photographing Scheduled species at
the nest site should only be undertaken by those with a good knowledge of bird
breeding behaviour.
There are many among us who are otherwise
competent bird photographers (and birdwatchers) who lack this qualification. I
know this is true of myself.
I would therefore never consider
photographing a Scheduled species at the nest, I love birds too much and always
remember the golden rule...The welfare of the bird comes
before the photograph.
Species include:
Avocet
Bee-eater
Bittern
Bittern, Little
Bluethroat
Brambling
Bunting, Cirl
Bunting, Lapland
Bunting, Snow
Buzzard, Honey
Chough
Corncrake
Crake, Spotted
Crossbill (All species)
Diver (All species)
Dotterel
Duck, Long-tailed
Eagle, Golden
Eagle, White-tailed
Falcon, Gyr
Fieldfare
Firecrest
Garganey
Godwit, Black-tailed (Above)
Goldeneye
Goose, Greylag (outer Hebrides,
Caithness, Sunderland and West Ross only)
Goshawk
Grebe, Black-necked
Grebe, Slavonian
Greenshank
Gull, Little
Gull, Mediterranean
Harrier (All species)
Heron, Purple
Hobby (Above)
Hoopoe
Kingfisher (Above)
Kite, Red
Merlin
Oriole, Golden
Osprey
Owl, Barn (Above)
Owl, Snowy
Peregrine
Petrel, Leach's
Phalarope, Red-necked
Pintail
Plover, Kentish
Plover, Little-ringed
Quail, Common
Redstart, Black
Redwing
Rosefinch, Scarlet
Ruff (Above)
Sandpiper, Green
Sandpiper, Purple
Sandpiper, Wood
Scaup
Scoter, Common
Scoter, Velvet
Serin
Shorelark
Shrike, Red-backed
Spoonbill
Stilt, Black-winged
Stint, Temminick's
Stone Curlew
Swan, Bewick's
Swan, Whooper
Tern, Black
Tern, Little
Tern, Roseate
Tit, Bearded
Tit, Crested
Treecreeper, Short-toed
Warbler, Cetti's
Warbler, Dartford
Warbler, Marsh
Warbler, Savi's
Whimbrel (Above)
Woodlark
Wryneck
The RSPB guide to bird photography
& the law
I've already mentioned the golden rule
that the bird's welfare must come first, however, when permitted to do so, and
when photographing any bird at the nest:
-
Ensure you have the
landowner's permission. Please don't trespass.
-
Keep the nest site
secret. Choose a site away from public view, and if a hide is used,
camouflage it well. Leave no tracks or signs that may lead predators to the
brood.
-
Keep visits to the nest
as few and as short as possible.
-
Leave the nest site as
you find it. Any 'gardening' of a nest should be kept to a minimum to avoid
exposing the nest to predators or adverse weather. Tie back vegetation
rather than cutting it so it can be restored to its original position.
-
When using a hide, erect
it some way off, moving it closer over a period of days so the birds grow
used to it. Ensure at each stage that the hide has been accepted. If there
is any doubt move it back. Many species will need at least a week's
preparation.
-
The use of a friend is
recommended as a 'walk-away', accompanying the photographer to and from the
hide.
-
Fingers and lenses
suddenly poked out of a hide, flapping cloth and loud noises scare birds.
Get them used to small sounds, talk to them perhaps before taking pictures.
-
Remember that public
opinion generalizes actions, and that the thoughtlessness of one bird
photographer may damage the reputation of others.
-
To protect rare breeding
species, the law prohibits intentional disturbance of any Schedule 1 species
described above. This applies while such a bird is building a nest, or is
in, on or near a nest containing eggs or young. It is also illegal to
intentionally disturb dependant young of Schedule 1 birds.
Common Eider
Irrespective of bird species involved,
Scheduled or not, if you are disturbing the bird's normal behaviour whilst
photographing them you need to move away...obvious, I know.
Richard
2010.
Home Page |
|
