I'm curious to learn about others opinions on this, I posted a few shots of a Great Grey Owl that I came across()
I found a bunch of photographers off a trail while hiking, apparently there are a few Great Greys that roost there.
I joined them in taking a number of shots while staying at a distance that was not making the owl uncomfortable.
They then all backed off and said that they were going to feed him some mice. This is where I'm not certain of the ethics or morality. On one hand you can get some really awesome shots this way but on the other hand, is this not getting the owl used to humans feeding it and make it less able to survive on it's own? As much as I'd like to get very close to it to get great shots, I think the owl should still be wary of humans.
There are many here in the Birdnerd community that will say you shouldn't also take photographs of nesting birds, because sometimes the nest gets abandonded along with the chicks when humans get too close.
Mind you, I have mimicked the calls of birds to sometimes get closer than maybe I need???
There's actually an owl the DNR near me is taking care of because photographers were doing this very thing (feeding), and it stopped hunting... once the photographers were done with the owl and got all the shots they wanted, they didn't return until they met a new photographer and took her out and the owl was very weak and on the ground - in danger of becoming the prey. They couldn't get a "good shot" because it wouldn't get off the ground. Luckily, they called the DNR and the owl is healthy, but they can never release it back in the wild because it will never take care of itself now.
depending on where you are, you have to be pretty careful... birders and others in the USA can be prosecuted under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (there's also a Canadian version) if they cause a protected bird to abandon its nest, and most native species of birds are covered under the act. penalties can range from fines up to $15,000 and up to 2 years in jail. a person also can not pick up any part of the bird (e.g., feather, egg, nest) to keep. Even though the MBTA is not well-known, ignorance is not an excuse.
I have always found it odd that anyone "feeds birds." I don't say that to be contrary, but I have left much of my back yard (in a suburban area, have you) to be mostly "natural." As a result, I have so many varieties of birds there, and a hawk (gasp!) visited momentarily the other day. To "bait" the bird for any personal gain is to never know it's inclinations in the first place--really sad to be honest.
@mgirard i agree with you......that we have already intruded on animal habitate SO much.......that we should leave them be as much as possible....
plus, it's way more fun and exciting when you really DO have a "true" encounter, in my opinion.
OH boy, where do I begin. First off feeding a bird/animal to bait it for any reason is just insane. It's sad that hunters and photographers would do this. Most birders and bird photographers that I've met treat them and their environment with the utmost respect. .....but then there's always those few that would do anything for the sighting/shot. They are the minority though.
Having said that, I have trouble believing that bird photographers baited an owl and fed it so much that it stopped hunting. Unless it was a very young bird to begin with, or there were mitigating factors/ a secondary problem. An adult, healthy bird would not lose its instinct or ability to hunt.
The same with putting bird feeders out. If you like feeding birds, do it. They don't stop eating in their natural habitat, or lose their instinct to forage just because one puts feeders out. In my yard I have winter visitors to my feeders. None of them stay here come spring. They migrate back to their breeding ground. In the summer I feed Hummingbirds, and sure as heck, come fall they leave for their wintering grounds, etc,,etc. I would say to Daryl that if you have lots of natural habitat, and lots of birds in your yard, that's great, but I'd almost bet you have a close neighbor who puts feeders out. I can't know this, but.... Either way, natural habitat is the best thing, but migratory birds are losing a lot of their natural stop-overs. So if one enjoys feeding and has the money to do it, go ahead. It will help them and give you a lot of enjoyment.
I would say to Donna, yes there are laws on the books but who's actually policing and whom are they policing? Hundreds of thousands of birds are reportedly being killed by Wind Farms every year, but no ones fining them, or making them spend more to come up with protections. Big Oil is the enemy right now so they get fined every time a bird gets covered..... It's we humans that invariably screw up just about everything, so...... is paved with good intentions.
End of my rant, and this is JMHO. @mgirard@bobfoto@jsw0109@welcometocarolworld@seahawker@darylo@sticksandstones
I am not baiting my birds and I don't know if this is even the same thing...
I have a hummingbird feeder. Last year (or the year before) we had a huge fire up on the mountains and as a result the habitat for the bats was severely affected. Enviromentalists were asking that residents double up the hummingbird feeders because the bats ate the same thing. Ever since then, I have 2 feeders with hummingbird food in it.
I don't bait to take good pictures, I actually started this to help preserve the bats. As with everything, it has good and bad points. I prefer to let nature do its thing. I would hate to be the reason why an animal died.
@foxsparrow Yes, my neighbors do feed the birds too, and I'm fine with that--I'm sure the birds appreciate the food when they migrate! I think my comment was poorly posted and came off judgmental (sorry about that) I've been enjoying seeing the birds in my back yard find the food that is there already and I've planted some wonderful pineapple balm (has vibrant red flowers in fall) that attracts many hummingbirds!
Everyone has some very good points,
Feeding birds at a feeder is one thing, they are coming to you, but owls a more sensitive to their environment. If their roosts are disturbed too much and they have to fly away(because somebody is too close) they can get 'mobbed' by other birds like crows or other smaller birds and driven away
I've basically decided that I will likely go back to that area to get some shots of the owls but I won't participate in the feedings.
I'm not sure yet if this is breaking any laws but I'll be looking into it.
My boyfriends' Mum puts stuff out every couple of days for the Red Kites. I have explained to her that she isn't supposed to, but she doesn't listen, so I take the opportunity occasionally if I am there. She also has bird feeders and buys mealworms for "her" robin. I am a little concerned that the Red Kite population is slightly artificially increased by people feeding them (the people next door do it too) and that there will be a problem if they stop.
I don't bait and last deer hunting I had a owl land in the tree with me.It was very exciting.I got about 10 photos of it.But an owl will take a free meal any were it can get it.With all the dead animals laying along side the roads I don't see how baiting could make that big of a differents.
We also have lots of turkeys around that the DNR says you can't bait,But if you wait entil a farmer spreds his cow manure you will see lots of them.Not a pretty picture but the truth.I like to get photos of wildlife but I don't wan't to bait them in it would then be like taking a photo at a zoo
Had a bear on my mothers porch just on the other side of a sliding glass door.Had my chip out of my camera and by the time I got it in with all the screaming it was gone.
My nephew uses trail camers with no bait but at a water hole and the trails they use to get there, He gets a lot of nice photos.
Bait or don't only you will know. I just thinks it means more if you don't.
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Mind you, I have mimicked the calls of birds to sometimes get closer than maybe I need???
plus, it's way more fun and exciting when you really DO have a "true" encounter, in my opinion.
Having said that, I have trouble believing that bird photographers baited an owl and fed it so much that it stopped hunting. Unless it was a very young bird to begin with, or there were mitigating factors/ a secondary problem. An adult, healthy bird would not lose its instinct or ability to hunt.
The same with putting bird feeders out. If you like feeding birds, do it. They don't stop eating in their natural habitat, or lose their instinct to forage just because one puts feeders out. In my yard I have winter visitors to my feeders. None of them stay here come spring. They migrate back to their breeding ground. In the summer I feed Hummingbirds, and sure as heck, come fall they leave for their wintering grounds, etc,,etc. I would say to Daryl that if you have lots of natural habitat, and lots of birds in your yard, that's great, but I'd almost bet you have a close neighbor who puts feeders out. I can't know this, but.... Either way, natural habitat is the best thing, but migratory birds are losing a lot of their natural stop-overs. So if one enjoys feeding and has the money to do it, go ahead. It will help them and give you a lot of enjoyment.
I would say to Donna, yes there are laws on the books but who's actually policing and whom are they policing? Hundreds of thousands of birds are reportedly being killed by Wind Farms every year, but no ones fining them, or making them spend more to come up with protections. Big Oil is the enemy right now so they get fined every time a bird gets covered..... It's we humans that invariably screw up just about everything, so...... is paved with good intentions.
End of my rant, and this is JMHO.
@mgirard @bobfoto @jsw0109 @welcometocarolworld @seahawker @darylo @sticksandstones
I have a hummingbird feeder. Last year (or the year before) we had a huge fire up on the mountains and as a result the habitat for the bats was severely affected. Enviromentalists were asking that residents double up the hummingbird feeders because the bats ate the same thing. Ever since then, I have 2 feeders with hummingbird food in it.
I don't bait to take good pictures, I actually started this to help preserve the bats. As with everything, it has good and bad points. I prefer to let nature do its thing. I would hate to be the reason why an animal died.
Feeding birds at a feeder is one thing, they are coming to you, but owls a more sensitive to their environment. If their roosts are disturbed too much and they have to fly away(because somebody is too close) they can get 'mobbed' by other birds like crows or other smaller birds and driven away
I've basically decided that I will likely go back to that area to get some shots of the owls but I won't participate in the feedings.
I'm not sure yet if this is breaking any laws but I'll be looking into it.
We also have lots of turkeys around that the DNR says you can't bait,But if you wait entil a farmer spreds his cow manure you will see lots of them.Not a pretty picture but the truth.I like to get photos of wildlife but I don't wan't to bait them in it would then be like taking a photo at a zoo
Had a bear on my mothers porch just on the other side of a sliding glass door.Had my chip out of my camera and by the time I got it in with all the screaming it was gone.
My nephew uses trail camers with no bait but at a water hole and the trails they use to get there, He gets a lot of nice photos.
Bait or don't only you will know. I just thinks it means more if you don't.