I think we should all solemnly swear--both birders and photographers-- to never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever look or take a picture of an owl ever again.
Jacob Drucker On Feb 6, 2012, at 9:56 AM, Diana Teta wrote: > The buying of photographic equipment for picture taking or the buying of > optics for birding does not include a code of ethics or an insertable moral > compass for the buyer. > Equipment does not make a great photographer or binoculars make an > excellent birder. I have seen motivation lead to inexcusable behavior in > both…a birder who climbed a tree next to a boreal owl in order to get “a > better look” and a photographer who entered private property to a “better > picture” of the Great Grey Owl. In each instance there were birders and > photographers that stayed on the road or a reasonable distance. > In my opinion there is an increase in rudeness and irresponsibility in many > people of all ages. If you take the opportunity to point out their negative > behavior or attitude, many get incensed and attack back as if you are the > wrong doer. > I do not believe certain birds like owls should be posted or certain rarities > unless they are in a much protected place like the Williamson’s Sapsucker > upstate. The presence of Owls seem to bring out the worst in some > people. Yes, it restricts the list serve and the possibility for some to see > certain birds, but isn’t it our moral responsibility to protect the welfare > of the birds as there are many indications of a decline in total numbers as > well as potential extinction of some in certain areas of the world such as > the red knot. We can not control others, but we can control what we do on > behalf of the birds. > Diana Teta > Long Island, NY > -- > NYSbirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe.Net > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
