Post by Gord on Nov 14, 2007 17:05:15 GMT -8
With all the excitement of the Ivory Gull thought it worthwhile to mention that all birders ensure they are acting with complete common sense and courtesy. This is especially important when gathering in large groups where the potential to impede traffic or drive on soft ground is there.
That being said, I must make a negative comment. When leaving the area, I drove past a vehicle with a scope set up and one person scanning the fields. I had seen this vehicle earlier and noted there were two occupants and wondered where the other person was. Sadly, I quickly located him in a little group of trees on someone's front lawn urinating.
While apparently hidden from the house itself, he was easily seen from the road and possibly to neighbors or farmers working their fields.
It only takes a couple problems like this to cast a dark shadow in birders and to give local farmers and residents a poor opinion. This WILL make birding difficult and awkward in the future.
Birders and landowners can coexist with just a little tolerance and common sense.
On a positive note I had a very nice email last night from a farmer in the area who enjoyed the birder's presence and the fact the Ivory Gull was using his fields. He and his wife enjoyed meeting the birders and was pleased to see such a diverse and enthusiastic group.
That being said, I must make a negative comment. When leaving the area, I drove past a vehicle with a scope set up and one person scanning the fields. I had seen this vehicle earlier and noted there were two occupants and wondered where the other person was. Sadly, I quickly located him in a little group of trees on someone's front lawn urinating.
While apparently hidden from the house itself, he was easily seen from the road and possibly to neighbors or farmers working their fields.It only takes a couple problems like this to cast a dark shadow in birders and to give local farmers and residents a poor opinion. This WILL make birding difficult and awkward in the future.
Birders and landowners can coexist with just a little tolerance and common sense.
On a positive note I had a very nice email last night from a farmer in the area who enjoyed the birder's presence and the fact the Ivory Gull was using his fields. He and his wife enjoyed meeting the birders and was pleased to see such a diverse and enthusiastic group.