You fail to understand the point and the nature of my objection to baiting. I don't condone baiting - never have and never will. I do keep a bird feeder but only stock it during the winter - this is not baiting. It provides support to small-non-migratory birds during the colder months when it is hard for them to find food. But it is a practice that has not been shown to harm local birds, and it persists. I also care for community cats - and though birders really frown on cats in close proximity to birds at a feeder - I lose on average one bird a year to a cat kill.

But I digress. There is no hypocrisy in feeding local birds who have already become accustomed to eating at feeders - which is very different from baiting or luring. Feeding raptors and migratory birds is a completely different issue. They are more sensitive, vulnerable and in many cases protected by federal and local laws. Among the things that can happen when you lure a bird with either food or a recorded call is disruption, confusion, extra energy expended, stressful to the birds, stupid humans luring prey birds with cat toys and other non-food items, prey birds can be lured to places outside their normal habitat that are dangerous and they are unprepared to deal with like busy highways, airports, etc. Yes, killing the birds is illegal, but steps that can lead to the untimely death of a bird are definitely immoral and unethical.

I don't understand your position on something that is common sense and so easy to understand. Never mind, as I was writing the previous sentence it all became very clear . . .

The nice thing is that people who share your thoughts are in the minority - and public shaming has proven over and over to be a very powerful deterrent. Seems like you are on the wrong side of this argument. . . Just sayin'

All your backyard feeders are bait that disrupt the natural habitat.this includes hummingbird feeders.
So for all you hypocrites and waco environmentalists follow your preaching and quit disturbing the natural feeding habits of all birds and other wildlife.
You can't pick and choose baiting is unethical and wrong to the natural habitat for all species or it isn't.
But as long as you are doing it it is OK, just don't let others do it or your wrath will come down on them with a vengeance.

I originally got this ideal by watching National GEO bait Osprey down here on Lake Istokapoga four or five years ago. It involved two boats, as one would throw out fish under a circling Osprey and they other boat would move in for the photographs.. I am using Live bait, one the prey would find on the property I'm shooting from. My set up was over a two day span and involved four mice, not something that will render the owls forever hopeless and have to depended on man to feed. I have countless hours involved just to learn the habits and setting up the captures. I've even build owl boxes for the owls to use next breeding season so I may photograph the comings and goings of the parents feeding the young. I spend lots of time and energy fine tuning my craft. Next time you take your trash out just remember it ends up at the county landfill which is the Main feeding grounds of our Bald Eagles. I knew when posting my photographs it would rile a few feathers. Next time you photograph a bird that visits a feeder, give that a little more tight.. That food is not locally grown and is prepared for the animal.
You may as well mention the post: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-548420-1.html