I'd like to answer a couple of the birder questions you asked, give some more insight, can only help mend fences the more we know how each side thinks
-It seems that in January the OFO will be leading a field trip through the spit. I have seen groups as large as forty plus people, and have just read that eighty some turned out at the falls for a field trip. So I guess this is okay that a massive amount of people, many with walking sticks, bins, and cameras talking and looking for the birds is okay.
Or is this the frightening sight that you talk about that must freak out the birds? -
The Niagara trip can have alot but take in consideration you are just standing by the river looking at gulls and whatever else flies by, won't be encroaching on any birds. I've spent many hours staring and learning about gulls on the Niagara river at different locations, have seen over 10 types in 1 good winter day. Can be very frustrating for some but rewarding for others.
The OFO trips can be quite huge and are def not for all people, more people will mean more noise so harder to listen to songs and more likely to spook birds. The leaders though for the trips are some of the best birders you will find anywhere and know their songs and chips and calls extensively which is how you get to be a more advanced birder. Learning calls and songs saves much time in identifying and can really boost the amount of birds on a trip.
-I have been in locations twice this summer where bird groups of 10 plus have invaided the area and later reported birds that I did not see all day long. Are they making things up? I was told that some have not so good eyes as they use to and that might be the case. But It also maybe swelled egos on the part of some, that they count more birds than last years count. -
There are birders who's eyes are failing them but they have decades of experience and like stated in answer above when you learn calls and songs it makes all the difference for a trip list. Not all birds listed were seen, some were just heard as flown by or wouldn't come out of some bad undergrowth. Also diff times of day make huge differences, most birders like to go early in the morning as this can be best time for warblers and other migrants, also evening can be quite good too. Birds move around and migrate so there are different birds in the same area even in a day.
The little park here in Oakville i like to bird in i've seen and heard entirely different birds in the evening than ones i'd seen and heard in the morning.
-The problem in my eyes are certain people in the birding arena are dead against photographers due to what took place last winter with the Northern Hawk Owl in Saltfleet, Ontario.-
Problem was wayy before that ,when the owl irruption year was on. Some photographers (and birders) were getting too close to Great gray and other owls who need to sleep during the day so could hunt effectively at night.
-At the end of it all the Hawk flew away, and no harm was done except for the sour taste left in some peoples mouths.-
The hawk-owl in grimsby did not fly away ,it was predated on. It never got a chance to get back north
-My suggestion to end all of this would be to close every birding forum so know one can report the birds. And the way it's going I don't think I will report any sighitng, cause once you do there are all kinds of people there the next day.-
Forums can be useful in teaching people how to interact around wild birds and gives the chance to see rare wildlife we might not otherwise have enjoyed. There are so many people who want to see the rare wildlife and enjoy it and it can be a positive experience for the people and the wildlife if handled right. I try to gently hint when someone been too long or getting too close to a bird, let them know why this could be injurious to the bird. Almost everyone i've come into contact with, birders and photographers have been understanding and move on to look for more birds or stop moving forward.
I like to post sightings so other people can also have the same chance to see the neat wildlife that is right in our area, too many people still don't realize how many great spots are around locally and how productive it can be (even though bird numbers are wayy down from the past). I have for the last 2 yrs now been getting more into photography as i want a crisper photo for myself of the birds i see on my jaunts locally and all around North America, good way to show what you have seen if you are birding alone is a camera, also comes in very handy for those tricky brown jobs i can still have probs with or juvenile gulls
Wrote more than i wanted to write but i believe strongly in this subject. Most birders (as in me) and photographers i have met have been courteous and nice to be around, don't let a few bad apples on both sides ruin this great hobby for you.
See you all out Birding and Nature Photographing
Andrew Don
