A few years ago we were offered the opportunity to visit TNC's Big Reed Pond Preserve, one of the last "old growth" parcels in Maine. After some hard thought we declined, thinking that some aspects of nature are best left without human interference. There was no good reason for us to go there other than the "experience" we would get to witness old growth. Maybe sometimes we might think the same way about rare birds. Perhaps sometimes they are best left to enjoy their own existence without us needed to witness that existence.
On Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at 9:01:37 PM UTC-5, D Lovitch wrote:
-- On Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at 9:01:37 PM UTC-5, D Lovitch wrote:
Hi all,
I am always reticent to wade into such discussions, especially ones without real answers, and especially when we are on vacation!
But here goes. As always, you know where to send the hate mail.
Not long ago, Listserve and before that, phone hotlines, were how we got rare bird info. When done well, "rules" about access, warnings about disturbance, and yes, "public shaming" for misbehavior, were easily disseminated with rare (and not rare) bird sightings.
Not that everyone followed such directions and directives, but at least we can get the word out there where people have to see it.
Now, phone hotlines are essentially extinct, listserves see fewer active participants, and more and more people get their rare bird/species of interest info from Facebook, eBird, etc. Details are often few, instructions are rare, and there's no mandatory viewing of the ABA's Code of Birding Ethics. Fewer and fewer "birders" today (by percentage) even know there's an American Birding Association, let alone a Code of Ethics. And those who do don't always follow it. And there are many, many more of "us."
As we have seen recently, being able to simply navigate to a GPS coordinate with the push of a button, a bird and its location are known. But rarely: what can and cannot be done, what protocol is, what property is private, etc.
Recently, we've seen the police show up because of the failure to engage a homeowner (another way simply common courtesy could have gone a long way). This spring, some truly appalling behavior was regularly witnessed at the nesting Great Horned Owls in Evergreen Cemetery (and that's a common bird!) I can site numerous examples, both good and bad, positive and negative.
Owls are awesome. I wish everyone would get the chance to see them - rare ones and common ones. I don't know any birders who see "enough" owls.
Unfortunately, that same charisma, coupled with rarity, can bring out the worst behavior in people. With a camera in every pocket, a growing "it didn't happen unless I put it on Facebook/eBird/Instagram/etc" mentality, etc, often birders, photographers, and generally interested onlookers forget that the bird should ALWAYS come first.
But what constitutes a disturbance? Harm? Too much? That's not always easy to answer. We now know that most Snowy Owls are not starving, and being diurnal hunters, they are less impacted by being flushed during the day. But does that make it OK to harass it? Chase it for the perfect photo or a much-"liked" selfie? When does the cumulative impact become a problem? Does it matter?
Great Gray Owls are the pinnacle of charisma. Coupled with their rarity (at least within the range of most of humanity), they attract quite the crowd. And with good reason! Who would not want to see a GGOW? Who would not want to share that with a youngster - birding's future? And, who would not want to add that to their list?
But if 1 person goes too far, it can ruin it for everyone. I once watched a supposed "expert" birder bait a Northern Hawk-Owl with a mouse (a debate for another day) across a busy highway. As we know (just look at the Barred Owl carcasses along the interstates this winter), raptors don't look both ways before crossing - especially when they have an easy meal in their sights. It only takes one poorly timed vehicle to have ruined that hawk-owl viewing opportunity for all. Not to mention the owl!
Whether one of 1, 1 of 190,000, or 1 of a billion, the population argument is nothing more than a red herring. Disturbance and bad behavior is disturbance and bad behavior.
What constitutes disturbance and bad behavior is a much tougher question, however. We don't have a definitive answer, so we are left to our own judgement and personal ethics. And as we know, everyone has different judgement and ethics!
"Disturbance" and "harassment" is not black and white, it's a wide gray area, and so we are left to draw our own lines. Personally, my line - in both my own birding and my professional guiding - is drawn well ahead of many others. To me, the bird is always, and will always, be more important than the border or the list. I err waaaayyyy on the side of caution. But that's just me. Many will disagree. I'm fine with that.
In recent years, more and more (a reflection of society, obviously, and by no means exclusive to birding!), we're seeing a sense of entitlement and selfishness that leads to poor judgement, bad behavior, or a general disregard for other people. Other birders, homeowners, property owners, or even the integrity of public lands and habitats. Why do we feel we are entitled (a rhetorical question at the moment; this debate is going deep enough) to see every bird no matter what the circumstances?
Just because we are all birders do we have more rights than a homeowner? I can site numerous specific instances of rarities that have shown up in places where general dissemination of information is just not possible: feeders viewed from only indoors; private lanes with no parking; or just people who want their damn privacy. Why don't they have those rights? Why are we so entitled to chase, see, and list every bird regardless of circumstances?
Sorry, I just don't believe we do. It's just not how the world works and not everyone has the same inherent interest in sharing "their bird" with the world. Sometimes it sucks, especially for those who don't get to see something, but in the end, it's just a bird, and there are a whole lot of other birds to be seen, listed, and photographed. There are indeed +\- another 189,999 Great Gray Owls we hopefully will someday have a chance to see.
If I have a dinner party and most of of my friends come are birders, am I entitled to post this to the Listserve? Of course not! But then why would I be obligated to open my home to all birders should a rarity show up at my feeders (unfortunately, such a conundrum has yet to occur?) which can only be viewed from my kitchen?
Most of us do not know the circumstances surrounding the "hiding" of the first Great Gray Owl report. Was it on private property? Was parking an issue? Had the observer witness some horrific incident in the past? Does any of that matter?
Now there's a bird along the Stud Mill Road where considerations are fewer. Well, other than not getting run over by a logging truck. Does that mean we have more "freedom" to do stupid or naive things there?
Of course I hope everyone is an ethical birder/photographer/onlooker, but of course we all know not everyone is. So I hope all goes well along the Stud Mill Road: tons of people get to see a magnificent bird, people all put the bird first and foremost, and birders look out for the bird and other birders. I wish everyone the best photographs without the need for shenanigans, and I hope everyone gets to add GGOW to whatever list they happen to be working on.
But for me personally, until "the best" behavior becomes universal, and the "bad" behavior becomes isolated to the point of extinction, I too worry about whether I will post a Great Gray Owl if I should happen to be so lucky as to find one. Honestly, I probably won't. And that goes the same for most other owls, raptor nests, and other very sensitive species. But in the meantime, I will continue to share almost all of my sightings, and hope everyone gets the chance to enjoy them as well. And puts the birds first, and supports those who support birding, and support bird conservation. Think about what's "good enough" before the bird flies away, consider the birder who's on their way, and consider the rights and wishes of the property owner. Post a report with instructions and cautions. Follow up with a "thanks" when circumstances allow. Use the Listserve to help other birders (positive and negative reports) and yes, it yes, always promote good behavior and educate the uninitiated.
I wish I had some revelatory proposal or declaration. Or even answers to many of the questions. But for now, I will simply thank you for reading and for your consideration.
And now, back to my vacation.
Sincerely,
Derek
Sent from my iPhone
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