Very well articulated, Casey, and I very much agree. It's easy to get
frustrated when you've been patiently watching from a distance trying to
get a good view and some doofus just walks up and scares the bird away. But
put your feelings aside and take the opportunity to approach the person in
a kind and helpful manner... "Hey, I don't want you to get in trouble...
but what you did constitutes harassing a migratory bird, which is
illegal.... (introduce yourself) Let me show you a better way... etc." You
are much more likely to make a positive impact and change that person's
behavior for the better. And if they are the unethical type, they'll get
the message that they can't get away with it scot free. (makes two fingers
to eyes "we're watching you" sign)  :-)

Karen Gray
Summit County

On Mon, Dec 1, 2014 at 5:06 PM, Manon Van Schoyck <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> All in all, folks, I obviously was not saying all wildlife photographers
> are
> unethical any more than I'd say all birders are. I "outed" Rob Royse
> because
> sending such a comment is totally unnecessary. There are better ways to
> handle the situation. It's over .   Onward we go!
>
>                                                                 Manon
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Casey
> Tucker
> Sent: Monday, December 01, 2014 4:46 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [Ohio-birds] Ethics or Understanding
>
> Hi All,
> I've been following the discussion of ethics in birders and photographers
> with some interest, and was hesitant to weigh-in on the subject, but felt
> that I could, hopefully, add some perspective.
> I use to think that the issue was a lack of ethics, but after careful
> consideration I don't think anyone intentionally acts unethically (there
> are
> always exceptions, but I hope they are few and far between).
> I think the issue is a lack of knowledge and understanding.  There are more
> photographers than ever now as digital cameras have become prolific in our
> daily lives in everything from our phones, tablets, laptops, and more
> affordable digital SLR cameras and big lenses, and digi-scoping.  The
> camera
> has become a standard piece of birding equipment right alongside the field
> guide and the pair of binoculars.
> Couple this proliferation of cameras with a major influx of new nature
> watchers who are coming to birding, mothing, dragonflying (sp?), etc.
> through more non-traditional routes like social media (Facebook, Twitter,
> Blogs, etc.).
> Many of us learned our birding skills and behaviors from mentors that were
> willing to take us out and teach us what to look for and how to behave
> around birds and other wildlife.  Whether it was going out and birding with
> a local Audubon Chapter field trip leader, or a more one-on-one mentor, or
> a
> more formalized ornithology class; knowledge and skill was passed down
> through first-hand field experience.  Many of the new nature watchers, who
> are coming to the field via the technology outlets, are lacking this
> mentor-ship and guidance.  As a result they don't know how to behave around
> birds, and they're anxious to get photos of the birds they're seeing
> without
> consideration of how they're impacting those birds, or affecting other
> observers around them.
> Unfortunately, charismatic species that receive a lot of media attention,
> like Snowy Owls, are going to be subject to receive more attention from
> these new observers/photographers than other species.
> My recommendation is that if you have the opportunity, take a new observer
> under your wing and mentor them.  If you see someone doing something
> questionable, give them the benefit of the doubt, don't jump on them, and
> try to explain the situation to them.  Also try to point them to a local
> Audubon chapter or birding club where they can get some further mentoring.
> I know, first-hand, that this doesn't always work and it can be infuriating
> when you see a repeat offender, but I think if we can spend more time
> promoting positive behaviors than blaming we'll go a lot further at
> resolving this issue.  Likewise, it would be good if managers and
> participants on social media birding groups would help promote positive
> behaviors when you post a bird observation to one of those groups.
> I do apologize that this does not include a bird observation, but I think
> it's necessary to include this kind of extra information for newcomers to
> Ohio's birding community.  Hopefully, more dialogue like this will help
> improve bird-human encounters in the future.
> Thanks,
> Casey Tuckerhttp://tuckercasey.wix.com/aacri-birds
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
>
> Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
> Please consider joining our Society, at
> www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php.
> Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
>
>
> You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
> listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
> Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
>
> Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
> Please consider joining our Society, at
> www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php.
> Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
>
>
> You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
> listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
> Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]
>

______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.


You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]