It is a two way problem.
  The part that adds to this continuing to be a problem is that neither 
community will admit to problem members and police them.
Birders won't admit that there are unethical birders  to other birders 
and on bird lists and photographers won't admit their are unethical 
photographers to other photographers and on nature photographer lists.
Its like each community reserves the right to to point fingers at 
someone else but not themselves.
Both communities would do the birds a service if they (1) just admitted 
that their are problems within their respective communities and work 
within them to try to correct them and (2) if they policed all comers 
the same - "hey there, please don't get to close to the bird"  or 
"please slow down and be quiet".
Birders do have the ABA code to reference, don't know what nature 
photographers have.
I would love to see one nature photographer tell another one - hey 10 of 
you crowded around that XYZ is stressing it out. or No one else can 
see.  or Hey don't flush birds like that.  Same for birders, or tourists 
or anyone.  Can you tell passivity bothers me?

Marie, Fairborn


On 12/1/2014 12:00 AM, OHIO-BIRDS automatic digest system wrote:
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robert Royse [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2014 7:57 PM
> To:[log in to unmask]
> Subject: RE : Fairport Snowy Owl
>
> It's a two way street you do know I hope. As a bird photographer who depends on the income from sales of my photos for a substantial portion of my income, I can say without a doubt that my photographic endeavors have been ruined by birders FAR more than my birding has been hampered by photographers. By and large birders have no idea how to approach the subjects. A good example just today is the wonderful kittiwake that I was able to enjoy at point blank range for several days earning its trust. Today a gaggle of loud know it alls and chatty Cathys showed up and flushed it because they couldn't shut their damn mouths and sit still quietly. I figured something like that could happen, but I still wanted to share my find. Your post taught me a lesson. I will no longer post anything on Ohio birds. Too many birders are just self righteous bitches like yourself who seem to have no idea what kind of time and energy serious photographer put into their work.
>
> Bob Royse

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