[texbirds] Re: Reporting locations of rare sightings
- From: Jan Piecznski <custom_heirlooms@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 05:59:28 -0700 (PDT)
I guess I've been fortunate not to have ever experienced the negative things
people are speaking of here when birds are the subject. However, I have never
traveled to those areas when a rare bird was located. I did see from a
distance a black bear make her opinion known to someone that was getting too
close to her cub. I have always found the photographers very nice and helpful,
even nudging me when I'm faced the other direction so I can see the bird too or
let us look through their camera to see better. They've always given me a run
down of what has been seen that day and they've never minded me crouching down
in front of their camera so we can all see.
Unless I've planned a trip I've stayed on the UTC, which this list is very
helpful in my planning of trips having a location or just a town name, I don't
mind the search at all. That is what it's about. Just knowing so I can study
the species I'm looking for so maybe I might find something on my wish list. I
know the day the news station was at the Godwit in Brazoria Co and many other
days (heard from other locals) was a lot of people there and from a perspective
of someone who has a place very close to that location there was only positive
remarks from the locals and many enjoyed the extra perks from so many birders
in the area spending money on food.
When the long tailed duck was at San Jacinto monument, we spent all day there
on a Saturday and we only saw 1 other car of birders the whole day. The
farthest I have traveled to see a rare bird was the swans over at High Island,
there again only handful of cars of birders to see. At gas sometimes near $4 a
gallon I appreciated the bird tip and enjoyed the day there. Even the rare
bird that was seen at the Saltwater Fish Hacheries, when the invite was made my
mom and I went to visit. I hadn't been there since the kids were little. We
didn't see it but enjoyed the other birds there. Now it's a frequent stop for
me because everyone was so nice and I drop my donation in their box and visit
the gift store. There are benefits to the annoying people wanting to see a
bird. Perhaps in this area of Texas there aren't as many people interested in
birding so the hoards of people don't have the effect like other areas of
Texas? I don't know.
________________________________
From: Jim Sinclair <jim.sinclair@xxxxxxxxx>
To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 6:39 AM
Subject: [texbirds] Re: Reporting locations of rare sightings
My goodness! What a strong reaction I received privately. Fortunately,
most were quite positive. But there are certainly some hateful folks on
this listserv.
On Tue, Sep 17, 2013 at 8:48 AM, Jim Sinclair <jim.sinclair@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
> I am not speaking for Mark (I have never even met him), and I have no back
> channel information regarding this particular issue of the Elegant Tern
> location.
>
> I fail to understand why some people seem to think that another birder has
> an obligation to publicly reveal the location of any particular sighting.
>
> There are a number of reasons why a location would not be revealed, and
> there is no obligation to even give a reason. The following list is by no
> means complete, but may help some folks better understand.
>
> The location is on private property, and the owner does not wish to have
> the location revealed, even if the bird can be seen from publicly
> accessible areas. The owner may wish to not be bombarded with phone calls
> and emails wanting to know if the bird is still there.
>
> The location is on public property, but in a vulnerable area where too
> much 'traffic' would probably drive it away. This is a biggie. There are
> numerous stories about how too much pressure on a localized area has driven
> the target bird away.
>
> Photographers, in particular, are often the biggest offenders in this
> category. Although most photographers are courteous, there are a few that
> simply MUST get a totally unobscured view from a close enough distance to
> photograph the lice on the bill - even when it means cutting away newly
> planted vegetation at Paradise Pond (crossing behind the yellow tape to do
> so), or running in front of everyone else to photograph the Purple
> Sandpiper, chasing it away, to never be seen again.
>
> I would also offer that it pay to be friendly and courteous with
> everyone. I have been privileged on occasion to be invited to come observe
> a bird on private property when that sighting was not otherwise reported
> until well after the fact. And I am not typically a rarity chaser.
>
> Conversely, through the years I have had the pleasure of guiding several
> hard core listers to pursue their particular target species, either for
> lifers or big year efforts. All but one of those experiences were quite
> positive and enjoyable.
>
> Bottom line: The discourteous actions of a very few do, indeed, influence
> whether sighting locations are reported.
>
> --
> Jim Sinclair (TX-ESA)
> TOS Life Member
> Kingsville, TX
>
> "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of
> thinking we were at when we created them." - Albert Einstein
>
--
Jim Sinclair (TX-ESA)
TOS Life Member
Kingsville, TX
"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of
thinking we were at when we created them." - Albert Einstein
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