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| Birdsong phone apps 'harmful' to birds, say Dorset experts | Birdsong phone apps 'harmful' to birds, say Dorset experts |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The "harmful misuse" of mobile phone apps that mimic birdsong can stop birds performing important tasks such as feeding their young, experts have said. | The "harmful misuse" of mobile phone apps that mimic birdsong can stop birds performing important tasks such as feeding their young, experts have said. |
| Dorset Wildlife Trust said visitors to Brownsea Island were using apps to imitate Nightjar calls to entice birds out so they could photograph them. | Dorset Wildlife Trust said visitors to Brownsea Island were using apps to imitate Nightjar calls to entice birds out so they could photograph them. |
| The RSPB said birds could be diverted from vital tasks and said people might be "devastated" if they realised. | The RSPB said birds could be diverted from vital tasks and said people might be "devastated" if they realised. |
| Hilary Wilson, from developer iSpiny, said the apps were a learning tool. | Hilary Wilson, from developer iSpiny, said the apps were a learning tool. |
| "We welcome this discussion into the ethics of using recorded songs," she said. | "We welcome this discussion into the ethics of using recorded songs," she said. |
| 'No respect' | 'No respect' |
| Brownsea Island nature reserve manager Chris Thain said: "Use of these apps is not suitable for nature reserves and can be potentially harmful to sensitive species." | Brownsea Island nature reserve manager Chris Thain said: "Use of these apps is not suitable for nature reserves and can be potentially harmful to sensitive species." |
| Tony Whitehead, public affairs officer for the RSPB in the South West said: "Repeatedly playing a recording of birdsong or calls to encourage a bird to respond in order to see it or photograph it can divert a territorial bird from other important duties, such as feeding its young. | Tony Whitehead, public affairs officer for the RSPB in the South West said: "Repeatedly playing a recording of birdsong or calls to encourage a bird to respond in order to see it or photograph it can divert a territorial bird from other important duties, such as feeding its young. |
| "It is selfish and shows no respect to the bird. People should never use playback to attract a species during its breeding season. | |
| "The apps are becoming quite common, and are great, but their use needs some guidance I feel. | "The apps are becoming quite common, and are great, but their use needs some guidance I feel. |
| "I'm sure visitors would be devastated if they realised the possible disturbance they were causing to wildlife." | "I'm sure visitors would be devastated if they realised the possible disturbance they were causing to wildlife." |
| Dr Wilson, who oversees the Chirp! app for iSpiny and said the firm was the UK's leading developer of apps about birds and bird song, said: "Our apps aim to assist in learning and identifying bird songs and calls but we realise that they may be used to encourage birds to respond. | Dr Wilson, who oversees the Chirp! app for iSpiny and said the firm was the UK's leading developer of apps about birds and bird song, said: "Our apps aim to assist in learning and identifying bird songs and calls but we realise that they may be used to encourage birds to respond. |
| "We urge great caution - birdsong is simply a pleasant sound to human ears, but to birds it is a powerful means of communication... the issue with recordings is simple - out of consideration for both the birds and fellow birdwatchers, just keep the volume low." | "We urge great caution - birdsong is simply a pleasant sound to human ears, but to birds it is a powerful means of communication... the issue with recordings is simple - out of consideration for both the birds and fellow birdwatchers, just keep the volume low." |
| Nesting birds are protected under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which states it is an offence to intentionally disturb them. | Nesting birds are protected under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which states it is an offence to intentionally disturb them. |
| Brownsea Island, which now has signs warning visitors about phone app use, has Special Protection Area status for the habitats it provides for birds, including the Nightjar. | Brownsea Island, which now has signs warning visitors about phone app use, has Special Protection Area status for the habitats it provides for birds, including the Nightjar. |
| The species' habitats have seen a recent recovery in the county. | The species' habitats have seen a recent recovery in the county. |