dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Personally, I do not bait. If I want to capture an image of a BIF or in the wild, I assume that means without my intervening in the bird's natural behavior. So I do not bait individual or groups of birds. I do not startle large flocks to get a mass of birds rising. I do not engage in any behavior other than trying to quietly enter the environment wiht as little impact as possible.

On the other hand one of the earliest people to try to capture images of birds was a guy named John James Audubon. He did not bait birds. No. He shot them and mounted them so he could capture their images in paint.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Good show. Thank you for your comment.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Thank you for the comment. I don't agree with anything you wrote.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

No it isn't.

Acclimating wild creatures to feeding by means other than natural ones, is disrupting their behaviors, and is a really terrible idea. We've seen this at Seaside Heights in NJ where beach goers routinely feed the wild foxes there. The feeding caused a population explosion, and many starved last winter when the beach goers didn't come out.

It's a really stupid and selfish practice - and if you are caught in NJ it can cost you $1500 - regardless of whether you are feeding a fox or a bird of prey.

Bird feeders are a bit different, since they do provide sustenance for the local birds that don't migrate, and they tend to replace natural sources of food that we take away through development, pollution, etc.

Getting beaten with your own tripod is not nearly enough. Maybe the long lens would have more of an impact.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

You have been here long enough to know how to use "Quote Reply"

And I have been here long enough to know that your trollish snipes don't need "Quote Reply" since your animus is indiscriminately targeted at everyone.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

I have been here long enough to know that you are a headcase. This is a topic that is the furthest thing from being a troll. I gave you praise on your comment by writing "Good show." I'm done with you.

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

Whilst I would not go out with live bait, I don't see a problem with enticing an animal with food. A mate of mine uses tinned dog food for Red Tailed Kites, I use bird seed and meal worms on part tree trunks and logs. There are many macro photographers who photograph insects at home in a studio environment. Unless you are entering a competion whch bans such images, how is it cheating? I do not enter competions, so I am cheating no one by using food in order to obtain an image. Animals will eat whenever they have the opportunity, they don't know where their next meal is coming from or when.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

To each their own! Do a Google search on the subject. It's an interesting subject.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

For what purpose is the lure being used for? If it is not prohibited by rules or law it is just fine. The owl is not hurt and you get a great shot excellent.
Baiting for hunting deer is legal in many states. I don't agree with that but it is legal so it is fine. Here the subject is not hurt, mice are killed all the time as pests etc. The owl kills them as it would occur in nature (Nature is pretty vicious at times, not like Disney portrays) so no ham no fowl(sp ) except as stated above if prohibited by rules or laws.

SafariGuy

Ok...so while on safari in Kenya in 2017 our itinerary called for a stop at one of lakes in a national park to see the Fish Eagle in its natural habitat. The boat operator purchased a few recently caught fish from a local fisherman and after we were out in the lake he spotted a few Fish Eagles in a tree top. He promptly threw a fish in the water...and a beautiful FE cooperated and snatched the fish out of the water...results? I captured the best BIF image I ever shot and it’s on the wall in my home. Should I feel guilty? It was the food they normally eat but I didn’t sit in the boat for hours, in the sun, waiting for it to happen. We weren’t allowed to bring tripods on the safari so I was spared the beating with my tripod. Was it cheating...? Good question.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

No, the eagle was doing what it does naturally. It saw an opportunity and took it. Absolutely no cheating.
Do hyenas cheat when they take meat from a carcass a big cat has killed? No.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

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

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I shoot mostly in Southern Florida wildlife sanctuaries. Recently I came upon a couple who were using an App on their phone to call in a male bird with a female voice on their app. Very nicely I tried to explain that during mating season this could confuse the male because he would find no female when he showed up. They thanked me and walked away about 50 feet and turned their app on again. The app is a wonderful thing because it can teach you to recognize a bird by their song but it can also be used for unintended consequences.