Apps making birdwatchers foes of their feathered friends
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- As a hunter and conservationist, I could see this coming.
I've written stories about the impact of elk bugle calls on bull elk behavior and stories about the regulation of electronic devices and calls for hunting in Washington. There's reason for concern.
When I starting seeing wildlife photographers and birdwatchers giddy with the proliferation of recorded bird songs and electronic devices and then the advanced technology of smartphone apps -- an eventual train wreck seemed like an obvious possibility.
The Seattle Times has published a good report on the growing use of the smartphone's field access to the internet and recordings to flush out species for better viewing and photography.
The technique is controversial among some experts who say it can stress male birds that believe a recorded song signals a rival invading their territory.