Birding Ethics
Apr 2, 2017 09:21:51 #
Recently while out in the woods, I heard the familiar "tap tap tap" of a distance woodpecker. I replicated the rhythm on a tree with my pocket knife. The woodpecker answered, and we began a "conversation". Each subsequent answer was a little closer. After several exchanges, my fellow conversationist actually flew into the tree I was tapping upon.
Captured a few images of the Sapsucker.
The question is: A local birder accused me of stressing the bird, and rather rudely advised me of "unethical" behavior. Am I guilty of some vast environmental sin?
.
Captured a few images of the Sapsucker.
The question is: A local birder accused me of stressing the bird, and rather rudely advised me of "unethical" behavior. Am I guilty of some vast environmental sin?
.
Apr 2, 2017 09:26:07 #
I don't think so. I think the other birder accused you because he didn't know how to do what you did.
Apr 2, 2017 09:27:22 #
No, this is a good trick to make friends with the bird. I will keep this in mind when I have the opportunity to shoot a woodpecker ;)
Apr 2, 2017 09:32:32 #
You should have schooled the wing nut about butterfly effect. He/she walked in the woods, compressed the ground, made it more difficult for insects to burrow out and climb the tree for the woodpecker to eat, and now the myriad number of woodpecker offspring will never be born all because of the actions of the birder coming over to confront you.
I think you stressed the wing nut out, and he/she is telegraphing their emotions to the woodpecker. Rather than go through the concept of butterfly effect, I am pretty sure the whole conversation from your end could have been compressed to two words....
I think you stressed the wing nut out, and he/she is telegraphing their emotions to the woodpecker. Rather than go through the concept of butterfly effect, I am pretty sure the whole conversation from your end could have been compressed to two words....
Apr 2, 2017 09:33:24 #
JPL wrote:
No, this is a good trick to make friends with the bird. I will keep this in mind when I have the opportunity to shoot a woodpecker ;)
I live in a wood sided house and can definitely relate to that!
Apr 2, 2017 09:36:23 #
When I was living in Chicago, al fresco dining was very popular (in warmer months), but diners often encountered local pigeons who have no ethics at all... 
/Ralph
/RalphApr 2, 2017 09:42:22 #
Apr 2, 2017 09:45:37 #
Spider223 wrote:
You should have schooled the wing nut about butter... (show quote)
Who needs two words when you know sign language?
Apr 2, 2017 10:20:17 #
UXOEOD wrote:
Recently while out in the woods, I heard the famil... (show quote)
The only thing "stressed" was the birder, who probably brought it on themself. One of the most effective tools a nature photographer can possess is the ability to blend into the natural settings of the intended shot. Your tapping did that and the results were very good. The bird was never in any harm and was not threatened. Chase the birder away and continue with your shooting! Thanx for the tapping trick, I thought it only worked with ravens. I'll try it.
Apr 2, 2017 10:22:34 #
Apr 2, 2017 10:44:17 #
Well, if it is, the birding group that I'm a member of is guilty guilty guilty because we all have local bird calls on our tablets and smart phones that we play to have a conversation with the birds and bring them closer to us. In the olden days I think they were called duck whistles and if you shot the duck, you killed it. My group shoots the birds with cameras.
Apr 2, 2017 10:44:38 #
I think you should have tap...tap...tapped the birder. Someone played abandon ship with their brain. People are over the top reactionary.
Apr 2, 2017 11:03:59 #
UXOEOD wrote:
Recently while out in the woods, I heard the famil... (show quote)
What stress? It's normal for sapsuckers to talk to each other.
Apr 2, 2017 11:04:50 #
I am a birder and bird photographer. Baiting, either with sound or food, unecessarily exposes birds to being taken by larger predators. Around here the primary threat comes from Red-Tailed, Cooper's and Sharp-Shinned Hawks, Peregrines, Kestrels and Crows.
Anyone who has spent any time observing and photographing birds understands this. It's not political "PC" - it's plain ordinary horse-sense.
Anyone who has spent any time observing and photographing birds understands this. It's not political "PC" - it's plain ordinary horse-sense.
Apr 2, 2017 11:05:55 #
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