These following codes are also implied while in Vietnam Birding, Bird Watching Tours
Everyone who enjoys birds, birding and bird watching not only in Vietnam but worldwide must respect wildlife, its environment, and the rights of others. If there is conflict of interest between birds and birders, the welfare of the birds and their environment comes first.
- Promote the welfare of birds and their environment
- Respect the law, and the rights of others
- Ensure that feeders, nest structures, and other artificial bird environments are safe
- Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care
Promote the welfare of birds and their environment
- Support the protection of important bird habitat.
- To avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise restraint and caution during birding observation, photography, sound recording, or filming including in Vietnam territory.
Limit the use of recordings and other methods of attracting birds. Never use such methods in heavily birded areas, or for attracting any species that is:
- Threatened,
- Endangered
- Special Concern
- Rare in your local area
Keep well back from nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display areas, and important feeding sites. In such sensitive areas, if there is a need for extended observation, birding photography, filming, or recording, try to use a blind or hide, and take advantage of natural cover in Vietnam wildlife.
Use artificial light sparingly for filming or photography, especially for close-ups.
- Before advertising the presence of a rare bird, evaluate the potential for disturbance to the bird, its surroundings, and other people in the area, and proceed only if access can be controlled, disturbance minimized, and permission has been obtained from private land-owners. The sites of rare nesting birds should be divulged only to the proper conservation authorities.
- Stay on roads, trails, and paths where they exist; otherwise keep habitat disturbance to a minimum.
Respect the law, and the rights of others
These rule are stricted during birding tours in Vietnam.
- Do not trespass private property without the owner’s explicit permission.
- Follow all laws, rules, and regulations governing use of roads and public areas, including at home and abroad.
- Practice common courtesy in associations with other people. Your exemplary behavior will generate goodwill with birders and non-birders alike during birding.
Ensure that feeders, nest structures, and other artificial bird environments are safe
- Keep dispensers, water, and food clean, free of decay or disease. It is important to feed birds continually during harsh weather of your birding trip.
- Maintain and clean nest structures regularly.
- If you are attracting birds to an area, ensure the birds are not exposed to predation from cats and other domestic animals, or dangers posed by artificial hazards.
These rule are stricted during birding tours in Vietnam.
Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care
Each individual in the group, in addition to the obligations spelled out in Items #1 and #2, has responsibilities as a Group Member.
- Respect the interests; rights; and skills of fellow birders; as well as people participating in other legitimate outdoor activities. Freely share your knowledge and experience, except where code 1(c) is applied. Be especially helpful to beginning birders. This is also included while birding in Vietnam.
- If you witness unethical birding behavior, please assess the situation, and intervene if you think it prudent. When interceding, inform the person(s) of the inappropriate action, and attempt, within reason, to have it stopped. If the behavior continues, document it. Remember to notify appropriate individuals or organizations.
Group Leader Responsibilities [amateur and professional birding trips and tours in Vietnam].
- Be an exemplary ethical role model for the group. Teach through words and examples.
- Keep groups to a size that limits impact on the environment.
- Do not interfere with others using the same area.
- Ensure everyone in your group knows of and practices this code.
- Learn and inform the group of any special circumstances applicable to the areas being visited (e.g. no tape recorders allowed).
- Acknowledge that professional tour companies bear a special responsibility to place the welfare of birds and the benefits of public knowledge ahead of the company’s commercial interests. Ideally, leaders should keep track of tour sightings, document unusual occurrences, and submit records to appropriate organizations.
Please Follow this Code while birding in Vietnam
The American Birding Association’s Code of Birding Ethics may be freely reproduced for distribution/dissemination. Please acknowledge the role of ABA in developing and promoting this code with a link to the ABA website using the url http://www.aba.org. Thank you.
According to ABA.ORG