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Tropical Birding II: Etiquette, Etiquette, Etiquette!

© P.C. Robinson

If patience is honed while birding the tropics, then so are your birding skills – and your skills of birding with other birders. In an earlier article we discussed birding etiquette. Tropical birding carries a set of rules all its own. So here are a few rules to bear in mind when birding in the jungle:

THOU SHALT KEEP QUIET. Tropical birds, like the antshrike, are extremely elusive and easily frightened off by humans. Because they’re so elusive, tropical guides often “tape in” birds – that is, they use tape recordings of a species’ call to draw in that species. When using the tape, birders must be quiet and as still as possible to give the bird the opportunity to fly in. If you have to have a conversation, hold back on the trail, and speak in low voices. When the bird does fly in, try to contain your enthusiasm. Bursts of “oooh,” “aaaah,” “over there!” may demonstrate your enthusiasm but could also scare the bird away.

THOU SHALT NOT HOG THE SPOTTING SCOPE. Tropical Guides will set up spotting scopes on the trail and then make sure everyone gets a chance to look for a good close-up. Taking long, hard looks before others get a chance – in other words, hogging the scope -- is considered bad form. Also, don’t always be first at the scope. Give your fellow birders the opportunity to get a glimpse of the bird.

THOU SHALT NOT ELBOW YOUR FELLOW BIRDERS. Elbowing fellow birders to get a good glimpse of a bird is very poor form. On a recent trip to Ecuador Michael (not his real name!) was one of the best travel companions -- until it came to raising a pair of bins to his eyes. He was so enthusiastic that when a new bird came into view he’d simply forget his manners and elbow and shove away whoever was in his way of taking a good look.

THOU SHALT PHOTOGRAPH THE BIRD AFTER ALL HAVE LOOKED. Technology may have dulled the whirs and grunts of cameras but hasn’t muted them altogether. If you’re prone to photographing birds on your trips, do so after your colleagues have had their fill to avoid startling the birds. Also, try to avoid using your flash unless you know the birds are used to it. Birds close to lodges and resorts may be used to seeing flashes; others are more sensitive.