Birdsong app, is it ethical?

[Watchful]

There are birdsong apps that will call out the bird you are looking for to photograph, but should you use it?
Personally, I would not use an app, but learning the calls might be acceptable, I am not sure about that even as it takes you out of the role of observer and places you right into the role of manipulator, and that isn't why I love photography.
Here's a short little story that explains it perhaps a little better.
What do you think?

 

[BlackSheep]

I'm a volunteer with a local conservation authority, where I do regular visits to a specific place to look for a variety of indicator species including birds, frogs, plants, etc. Their specific advice when it comes to the bird calls is to play them 1 or 2 times (and they provide the soundtrack to play), wait a bit to see if they show up, but not to play them more than that.

 

[Watchful]

Did you vote?

 

[zombiesniper150 15]

I don't think it's as bad as baiting or anything like that but I still wouldn't use it.

 

[runnah]

it's not unethical, it's merely increasing the odds in your favor.

 

[spiralout462]

Huh? I never have a phone with me in the woods. If I did, I certainly wouldn't use my data for a birdcall app! Crazy, I never even thought of this until I read this thread. I guess I am severely behind the times.

 

[Watchful]

Huh? I never have a phone with me in the woods. If I did, I certainly wouldn't use my data for a birdcall app! Crazy, I never even thought of this until I read this thread. I guess I am severely behind the times.

Using an app doesn't consume data unless the app is one for connecting to the net, this just plays recorded bird songs. It can do that offline just like playing a song by your favorite band.

 

[baturn]

I see nothing unethical about it, but probably wouldn't do it myself. Shooting birds is more a matter of happenstance for me.

 

[DarkShadow]

Nope! don't think its unethical at all but I don't need an app either.