Mike,
I would like to first agree that Derek made some very good points in his excellent break from his vacation.
Mike you have made some very good points regarding photographers. I would like to address this from the perspective of a Nature Photographer who specializes in birds. Before I became a photographer, I was a birder. I still go out as a birder, albeit with a few cameras and an assortment of lenses in my truck.
I am quite upset with the many stories I have heard of the horrendous things "nature photographers" do to 'get the shot'. I have personally witnessed behavior in Rye, NH a couple of years ago when there were a succession of Snowy Owls there. I immediately went to these individuals trying to flush the bird… I walked in front of them and with with a wide angle lens took a few pictures of them. I then proceeded to demand they stop. I explained that I have a few contacts with NH F&G and that they will be contacted by an officer if they do not stop. That did the trick.
If you do take an image of people doing things we have all discussed, follow them to their vehicle and be sure to get a photo of their license plate. The authorities will take it from there.
I have heard of people cutting away all of the foliage to get a shot of a nest, leaving the nest exposed to predators. If I were to witness this, I would do whatever it took to stop them.
This group of 'bird photogs' have left a sour taste in most birders mouths. I can't tell you the number of times I have shown up at a location and when birders see my big lens, they automatically show disdain towards me. The few have ruined it for the rest of us, that not only follow the ABA Code, but enforce it when required for the safety of the bird.
As to report or not to report… I think it is very important to document a significant find on eBird. You can be as vague as you wish as to location, but the record needs to be documented.
Putting out a report on the list serve is up to you. My personal opinion is that it is selfish to keep the location of a rarity to yourself.
As far as nest sights go… thats a different story. Should it be a raptor nest you think may be new, contact your local Audubon center and speak with the Raptor biologist. They may or may not know of this nest, and may or may not be interested. Leave it up to them to decide if the location should be given to the public.
Mike's idea of certified photographs is not a bad idea, however, there is no way to know if my flight image of a GGOW was due to my purposely flushing the bird, or if the bird simply flew up and over my head, hovered to check me out, then flew back to it's perch… a true story of the GGOW that was in Hanover, NH a few years back. I got an image as it took off… but I had my longer lens in my hand thus to much glass for this amazing encounter. Of course, an encounter like this should be enjoyed with the naked eye… and cherished. The bird, after looking me over, flew back over to its perch, and resumed hunting for food. Before this encounter, I was a good distance away from the bird, standing in a frozen marsh. The bird then flew to a snag that was close to me. My point is sometimes I believe these birds are simply curious of what these two legged animals are. I had done nothing to provoke this birds inspection of me. When it came to the near snag, I didn't move… other than to slowly raise my camera and take some images of this beauty. It came to me. If someone were to have come to the location after this bird flew to the near snag, it would look bad for me being that close.
To take your certification suggestion further, I think it could be better achieved by having Photographers Certified in some way. How that would be accomplished I don't know… but it could be done.
I am planning on coming up to see this bird on Stud Mill Road on Saturday. I hope it is kind enough to stick around.
I expect I will get some looks that are not all too pleasant. I really hope people read this and remember that most photographers do not provoke these birds and are as ethical as they are.
Recently in Hampton, NH at Hampton Beach State Park, there was a Snowy Owl sifting on a low railing behind some Juniper bushes, partially exposed. 30-40 photographers were line up a proper distance away… we all took images of this bird… and waited… and waited for it to fly to get that beautiful BIF. All it did was smile at us… I think it knew what we wanted and decided… "not today". It was still there as we packed up and left with the setting sun. Nobody tried to flush it and everyone was respectful.
This is one I came away with that day… its not a flight shot, but still wonderful.
Snowy Owl - Hampton Beach State Park - Hampton, NH 01-12-17
Please try to remember that the fact we have a camera does not mean we are there to cause trouble… we are there to document the experience so we can share it with the birding community and beyond, that are not able to see this amazing creature for themselves.
Thank you all very much for your time.
David
David Lipsy
Eagle Eye Photography
Eagle Eye Sports Photography
Nature & Sports Photographic Services
Concord, NH
Email: dlipsy@comcast.net
Flickr:
Portfolio - ViewBug - A Selection of my Best Work:
On Jan 19, 2017, at 9:51 AM, mresch8702 via Maine birds <maine-birds@googlegroups.com> wrote:Great comments Derek!To pile on - in my mind it seems that behavior has worsened (on average) as the number of cameras has increased. Certainly there are many birders who are also photographers who do a great job not harassing a bird and still get their photos. But invariably it seems those individuals most likely to be harassing a bird apparently do so to get their pictures. Many times oblivious to the birders nearby who are simply trying to get a look at the bird. And now frequently I see a number of photographers who aren't even birders showing up at take pictures of a rarity.I remember the unfortunate saga surrounding a Great Gray in Rowley, MA in 1996. The bird was actually quite cooperative. But some individuals with cameras had to get even better photos, resulting in some very unneeded harassing of the bird. I was about to summarize their antics here, but worried it would give other photographers too many ideas about how to harass the next owl they encounter.As others have said - if you see someone harassing a bird, whether it's for a photo or otherwise, tell them to stop. Perhaps they don't realize what they are doing is wrong. In my experience most don't care. And even better, take advantage of social media and post a photo/video of the culprit.Wonder if we could start a certification process where photographs are certified as being taken without harassing the subject. Sort of the way wood products can be certified as being sustainably harvested. Without the certification of the photo the demand for purchasing it could be less, reducing its value for the unethical photographer trying to sell it. Let the almighty dollar correct the behavior. Just a thought.Back to birding...Mike ReschPepperell, MA-----Original Message-----
From: 'Derek Lovitch' via Maine birds <maine-birds@googlegroups.com>
To: Maine-birds <maine-birds@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wed, Jan 18, 2017 9:01 pm
Subject: [Maine-birds] On Great Gray Owls, ethics, and changes in birding
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 uninitiate d.
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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