MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

You are missing the point, as per usual for you.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

In Nova Scotia, Canada, they have a disgusting annual event, involving Bald Eagles which attracted thousands of people. When I lived there, I was asked by a few people if I was going to attend? I said, not on your life.

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/01/15/eagles-put-on-a-show-in-nova-scotia-community-as-they-descend-onto-chicken-farms.html

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Disgusting IMO, also. Some people will do anything for a buck.

davyboy Loc: Anoka Mn.

I do find interesting that feeding birds in your backyard is cheating but doctoring your photos with all kinds of post processing isn’t.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

You are missing the big picture. You mentioned the guy that bought three mice to get the shot. People look at his photos and think, hey I could do the same! Now thousands of mice are being purchased by all the other wannabes.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

To each his own, but for me I prefer to let Nature be Natural!

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

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.

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, Colorado

Agreed, but how is one to tell if the rodent was wild, or store bought unless the photographer disclosed the information in capturing the image?

jwn Loc: SOUTHEAST GEORGIA USA

same goes for zoo pics

GED Loc: North central Pa

I believe the photographer that used the pet store mice to lure the owls in is a responsible person who meant no harm to the birds, sometimes people just don't realize the diseases that can be spread from captive raised animals and then introduced to the wild populations. Some diseases are spread through urine and once in the soil can last for twenty years. It may only take one mouse to infect an area. There are diseases that infect animals in captivity as well as genetic disorders that should not be introduced to the wild populations. Infectious disease is only part of the equation. Right down the road from us a fellow that owned the grocery store in town would bring home the out of date donuts, rolls etc. from the store and feed the bears. The cars would would be lined up with people out standing feet away from 500lb bears watching him feed them with cameras clicking. This went on for years until a woman had part of her face taken off then the bears ripped the door off his garage trying to find food when he did not show up to feed them at the usual time. Once the bears lose their fear of people you have major problems. The same issues exist with Whitetail bucks in the rut if they lose their fear of humans.
Obviously everyone is not going to stop putting out their bird feeders, and we don't worry too much about getting attacked by chickadees. Folks just need to be aware that when we offer food to wildlife there will be behavioral changes.

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

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'

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

You are justifying these behaviors because others do it? That is a very weak rationale, and it indicates a total lack of understanding. You aren't aware of what you don't know about animals, and how like baiting can have serious consequences. There are reasons why organizations like Audubon distribute PSAs that detail, in laymen's terms, what constitutes safe human interactions with raptors, and what doesn't - and why bating is a really terrible idea. These things are written by people who, in all likelihood know more about the subject than you do.

https://www.audubon.org/news/why-you-shouldnt-feed-or-bait-owls

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Gene, a comic (Ron White) stated, "You can't fix stupid!" There are a number of stupid people out there that will not see the big picture, regarding he baiting of owls. Cheers.

Harold

chris100849

Perhaps it would be better to trap mice in the barn and use them? The poor owl was definitely feeling cheated and insulted while eating the meal he had not really earned. So sad.


Great pictures. No cheating

DMGill Loc: Colorado

This thread reminded my of a class debate in a photography class I took in college. A photograph of a stream that had a distracting small log in it was being discussed. The debate was over whether it would have been unethical to alter ‘reality’ by removing the log. The professor interrupted saying photography qua photography. The photograph stands on its own. Either it’s a great photo or it isn’t.