Well said! I agree 100%

John Maynard
Manitou Springs, CO

> On Dec 21, 2016, at 11:11 AM, 'Norm Lewis' via Colorado Birds 
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
> I think all of the panic over disturbing this bird is probably a little 
> overly dramatic? I was up there yesterday, and everyone was staying in the 
> previously created viewing area (about 50-60 feet from the bird). My only 
> previous experience with purple sandpiper was at Cape May in January, where I 
> repeatedly encountered them on rock jetties while scanning for seaducks, 
> pelagics, etc. I walked up on them a number of times- gray birds on gray 
> rocks, and therefore hard to see, so my encounters were mostly by accident 
> and not by stealth. In every case the birds seemed unconcerned with my 
> presence and went about their business without paying much attention to me. I 
> was often within a few feet of them. Our east coast birders (Tony?) cold 
> probably comment more knowledgeably on this than I.
> I think we all recognize the important of not disturbing birds in general and 
> "staked out rarities" in particular, but this bird has been hanging out and 
> feeding in the same area, under circumstances which must seem entirely 
> natural to it (habitat and temperatures, if not geographic location!), for 
> several days while literally dozens (hundreds?) of folks observed.it. While I 
> was there it foraged and fed and seemingly paid no attention to the 
> observers. If you see someone approaching a bird like this to within five 
> feet, that is the time to speak up. If you have not observed such behavior, 
> you might not want to jump to conclusions as to what other birders are doing. 
> In my one visit to the site, everyone was courteous to both the bird and 
> other birders, and no one approached closer than what I would consider an 
> appropriate distance. Just my two cents. We have a great bird here and we 
> should collectively enjoy the bird as long as it remains without having to 
> lecture one another on how to observe it.
> I would encourage the Moderator to discontinue this thread before we have a 
> Birding Civil War over it.
> 
> Norm Lewis
> Lakewood, CO
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kay Niyo <[email protected]>
> To: gwensminiroses <[email protected]>; dnelson1 
> <[email protected]>
> Cc: cobirds <[email protected]>
> Sent: Wed, Dec 21, 2016 9:50 am
> Subject: RE: [cobirds] Re: Purple Sandpiper viewing ethics
> 
> I agree totally with gwen and duane. Have these people not ever read the ABA 
> birding ethics? Such behavior is not that of an ethical birder who thinks 
> only of a stressed, lost bird's well being. Stay away if they can't bird like 
> a real and ethical birder.
> 
> Kay
> ----
> Kayleen A Niyo
> [email protected]
> www.kayniyo.com
> 
> 
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Gwen Moore <[email protected]> 
> Date: 12/21/2016 9:06 AM (GMT-05:00) 
> To: [email protected] 
> Cc: [email protected] 
> Subject: [cobirds] Re: Purple Sandpiper viewing ethics 
> 
> I so agree with Duane. Painful to watch people getting within 5 or 6ft of the 
> bird. Come on, people, have some respect for the bird!
> 
> Surely 10 or 15ft is close enough! We remember the woodcocks being flushed by 
> people who want to get just a little closer. Back off!
> 
> Why is the bird unbothered? Perhaps it has never encountered people before, 
> having been hatched on the far tundra. Nevertheless, what profits the bird in 
> becoming accustomed to our species? Not every human will be friendly towards 
> the bird. I fervently hope that no person, coyote or bird of prey is so 
> unrecognizable that it can kill this bird!
> 
> Please don't approach this bird or any bird so closely! Yeah, let the 
> chickadees come to your hand, or the pygmy nuthatches feed all around your 
> feet. Have a little reverence for wild bird. Please!
> 
> Gwen Moore
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> > On Dec 20, 2016, at 4:41 PM, Duane Nelson <[email protected]> wrote:
> > 
> > Birders,
> > 
> > I hate to bring this up, but I know I'm not the only person thinking this. 
> > Every day, people seem to be edging closer and closer to the Purple 
> > Sandpiper at Lake Dillon. I think the welfare of this bird should come 
> > before the "money shot" photograph. We should all feel fortunate just to 
> > witness this special visitor. We, as birders, are under the scrutiny of a 
> > much larger audience, and I want us to surpass expectations for our 
> > exemplary behavior. I beg that people stand back, let the bird forage with 
> > a little space, and remain here as long as it chooses. If it's flushed, 
> > where else can it go?
> > 
> > I know a little about allowing people to observe rare birds from an 
> > appropriate distance and for an appropriate duration. I don't know what I 
> > can do about the Purple Sandpiper, but I'm thinking I'd better consider the 
> > implications of reporting mega rarities in my neck of the woods.
> > 
> > Respectfully,
> > 
> > Duane Nelson
> > 
> > Las Animas, Bent County, CO
> > 
> > 
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