Ethical Birdwatching

Birds

• The welfare of the birds must always have the highest priority. Do not cause stress to the birds or expose them to danger by approaching too closely or interfering with their natural behaviour.
• Adjust your behaviour to the location. Walk slowly, speak quietly, drive cautiously. Watch from a distance.
• Approach nests carefully and do not stay nearby for long periods. Your visit may assist predators to find eggs or young; your continued presence may drive parents away.
• Do not harass ground birds by repeated disturbance.
• Accept good distant views of a bird rather than risk causing stress by approaching too close.
• Do not harass rare or vagrant birds by long periods of intense observation. They may be in strange territory and vulnerable to exhaustion and predation.

Habitat

• Keep habitat disturbances to the minimum around nests, eggs, display areas and roost sites. Removal of vegetation near nests for photography is unacceptable.
• Wherever possible, walk or drive on formed roads and tracks; nests low to the ground in dense vegetation are easily destroyed.

People

• Respect the rights of landholders and seek permission to enter their land.
• In groups, respect the rights of other observers. Raising your voice or pointing excitedly may spoil the sighting for the rest of the group.

Taken from:

"Code of Ethical Birdwatching" by Bird Observers Club of Australia