Been away for a few days and had a wee dip into the sightings pages and saw the disturbance posts. This seems to be a recurring theme with lots being said but not much being done. I have set this discussion up as a way to try and keep these issues in one place, and mainly off the sightings page.
The best, and possibly only way, is to do what Colin did and actually engage with those disturbing, be they walkers, photographers or birders at the time rather than pointing it out on here. There's a reasonable chance those that do disturb don't visit this website or read anything that's put on here. If those that are unaware of their actions aren't picked up on them at the time, how do they know they're doing wrong? Other than this what else can be done? We have worked on a code of conduct for the area, does everyone know this and where to get it from? Could it be better distributed/highlighted around the county? Would it make any difference?
If anyone has any thoughts as to how to get on top of this then hopefully they can and will be shared here.
The idea of fieldwork skills is a good one (people could put fieldcraft tips on here or in another topic) but then we have the issue of those that don't actually care about the subject to get that shot. How do we deal with those? Do we take photographs and put them on here in the hope that someone recognises them and can have a quiet word in their ear about their behaviour and offer advice?
Hopefully this will generate some discussion and ideas and not turn into a slanging match. At the end of the day we need to try and encourage respect for your subject and also fellow enthusiast. We all take pictures to share with others but would it not be even better to share the real thing?
As far as field craft goes I will try and offer what little I have....
Before photographing a subject, watch and study it closely. Many species will have routines and behaviour that, once observed and noted, can be used to get a little closer for a better look or picture. Examples would be hunting owls that roam in a circuit or waders feeding along the shoreline. Watch their movements and by getting into position early they may actually come to you. Your actions should not make them change their natural behaviour so knowing that behaviour is key to reducing disturbance and increasing your success.
When approaching a subject, don't walk directly at it. Instead approach at an angle/in a spiral. Always keep your eye on the subject and observe how it reacts.
Use cover where possible and ensure you don't break the skyline.
Hopefully others will chip in with some thoughts but trying to get the ball rolling.
Quote from: TobyAW on November 13, 2012, 01:02:13 PM
We have worked on a code of conduct for the area, does everyone know this and where to get it from? Could it be better distributed/highlighted around the county? Would it make any difference?
TBC Voluntary Guide for Wildlife Photographers: http://www.teesmouthbc.com/Main/VolGuide.aspx
and the DBC have a guide for all; The Birdwatcher's Code; http://www.durhambirdclub.org/dbc.pl/static/code.html
The same code and extra information available on the RSPB website itself: http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/watchingbirds/code/index.aspx
Cheers,
Agree with Toby about moving this topic away from the sightings page but I feel one of the big problems is how many of the people who are causing the disturbances are members of TBC or DBC ? If they are not members will they use the forum pages and see the discussion or do they just use the excellent sightings page to gain acess to the birds? So if the concerns about disturbances are still expressed on the sightings pages maybe some of these people will take notice, I know this is expecting a lot but we have to try all avenues.
We have to try to educate the growing numbers of photographers who clutching their new digital cameras looking for subjects to snap, are visiting our area many not being birders at all. Maybe some form of notice/leaflets available at Saltholme RSPB could be made available as for many of these people the reserve is their first point of call.
I hope this makes sense.
Alan
Just one observation which might be worth taking into account... a tad controversial as many of you will expect from me.
I believe that this website is used by many photographers to find out where the subjects are and that leads to almost 'twitch-like' numbers of people chasing the same birds and increasing the disturbance... I've made the point before with regards to Grasshopper Warblers and the disturbance caused by the throng of photographers to the resident breeding birds there.
I'm sure therefore that the culprits are aware of the problems they are causing but just don't care.
A possible solution, or at least something that may help, is that pictures posted by our local and by and large respected photographers are done so WITHOUT their location. I've been deliberately doing this for several months now.
This is also something posters on the sightings page need to be aware of and not just because of the risk of photography related disturbance. To post exact locations of some of our more vulnerable species is, at best, naive and in some cases plain stupid and irresponsible. Am I the only person who's noticed the complete lack of sightings updates from some of our most active members? This may be because they have become increasingly 'at odds' with the unfortunately growing number of thoughtless people who are causing all this upset and so just keep their sightings amongst themselves?
Just a thought :)
Stew
Further to StewH's excellent observation, i no longer report here my Little Owl nests in my area.
My little Owls Nests ???
I agree Michael, a tad possessive on my part. Only "their "nest boxes are mine.
I agree with Jamie, it is nice to see the RSPB offering a helping hand with the education of wildlife enthusiasts. I use this term rather than photographers as this latest incident is a prime example of 'all the gear, no idea' and could quite easily refer to a birder. The photographer either doesn't know or understand his subject or doesn't care. I'm guessing that he hasn't got permission from the landowner to deviate from the sea wall and probably doesn't have permission to disturb a schedule one species for the purpose of photography. Even if he does have authority to do this, the fact that he finds it acceptable to disturb late breeding Barn Owls indicates that he doesn't appreciate that the mortality rate for inexperienced owls fledged late in the year is undoubtedly higher as they have to battle against the winter elements to find food before they have honed their hunting skills. To this end, they can certainly do without disturbance. This degree of ignorance is what I mean by 'all the gear, no idea' but at least this is combatable with education, however if this photographer is anything like the ones I challanged last week then he may not care. I would urge anybody seeing inappropriate behaviour on Greenabella to challenge those responsible.
Perhaps we are targeting photographers through the wrong medium ie pages like these? There are magazines for photographers themselves and if a competent birder who is also a photographer could write an article for such publications, then it might go some way towards addressing the problem. I do not believe the issue is solely a local one.
Quote from: A McLee on November 19, 2012, 09:40:25 AM
Perhaps we are targeting photographers through the wrong medium ie pages like these? There are magazines for photographers themselves and if a competent birder who is also a photographer could write an article for such publications, then it might go some way towards addressing the problem. I do not believe the issue is solely a local one.
So
YOU have decided that all the blame should fall on those whose hobby is photography.
It isn't birders with cameras or ******** with cameras it's the "purist" photographer.
And to add insult to injury you are suggesting that a birder (some of whom think they are the moral guardians and owner of all birds) who also takes photographs, should show us how to go on.
Some people want guidlines up on posts to tell us how we should go about our hobby. We are constantly being told we need to be educated on how to photograph birds.
I would suggest that a lot of birders would gain a lot of knowledge if they spent a day with a "good" photographer and learnt what true fieldcraft is.
Or maybe come sit with me in the same spot at the side of a field/hedgerow/river for a straight six hours and learn how birds/wildlife will come to you.
Sitting by the side of a scrubby area for a week and spotting two pairs of groppers is a lot better than rushing down to Dormans to join another 100 people most of whom only knew the birds were there through reading the forums.
I have on occassions gone to photograph birds that I read about on the forums like the bee-eater etc but it is only a handful.
I have no spoonbill, bluethroat, white throated robin etc etc etc etc etc etc photographs - I'd rather find my own now and when I do there will be no birder around to "educate" me on how to photograph it/them
The total amount of effort put into watching birds for a lot of birders/birders with cameras boils down to being able to read a sightings page.
Maybe a photographer should write and article for birders - they have magazines too - saying how biased and narrow minded some of them are.
To make things fair why don't the critics drop the word photographer from their personal rants and simply say there was an ******** with a camera.
The ******** could be from any camp - birder/photographer etc and we could ALL have a go at him/them.
To be honest I think the loathing of photographers by some birders is so ingrained that nothing would please them more than having bird photography banned all together (with the exception of birders who take photographs of course).
Hi Jaybee, whilst I agree with some of your comments, I certainly do not agree with some of the language you have used in your post. I'm sure some of our members will find it distressing and inappropriate and I'm also sure you are intelligent enough to articulate your argument with out resorting to it. That said, i can appreciate that terms like 'targeting photographers' could antagonise our respected photographers who always display excellent fieldcraft. The problem is, as I have stated before, the 'all the gear, no idea' brigade. Optics of today mean that new birders can get excellent views at a distance so they are less likely to have to get close to birds, unfortunately this is not the case with photography. I'm not saying that the problem is limited to photographers but this is where it is most likely to manifest itself. The best thing is to always approach the 'offender' and politely explain that their behaviour may be impacting on the welfare of the bird. I have done this several times recently and only once have I had an aggressive response (the threat of a call to the nuclear police and the confiscation of their equipment soon put paid to that). If more people approached anybody acting inappropriately rather than just posting comments then novices would learn quicker and the problem would reduce.
I have edited the language in Jaybee's post as referred to by Colin as I believe it was not acceptable.
I think some people are getting to sensitive about the word photographer. A photographer is "a person who takes photographs" according to Collins English dictionary. Therefore if a Granny pulls up with her Kodak Brownie she is a photographer as Eric Hosking is etc. It does not matter what else they do with their time.
Perhaps it is time that none birding bird photographers (or whatever they call themselves) found a new name to call themselves (if one does not already exist) so they do not get upset by the other 99.9% of the population referring to people taking photographs as photographers as defined in the English language
My apologies for offending language but this constant have a go at "photographers" really gets me down.
Quote from: Jamie on November 19, 2012, 02:51:56 PM
I think some people are getting to sensitive about the word photographer. A photographer is "a person who takes photographs" according to Collins English dictionary. Therefore if a Granny pulls up with her Kodak Brownie she is a photographer as Eric Hosking is etc. It does not matter what else they do with their time.
Perhaps it is time that none birding bird photographers (or whatever they call themselves) found a new name to call themselves (if one does not already exist) so they do not get upset by the other 99.9% of the population referring to people taking photographs as photographers as defined in the English language
So you are quite happy Jamie to be associated with the birder who throws rocks into a bush at South Gare to put up a wryneck.
Or a birder throwing bricks into a hedge to put up SEOs at Raintom meadows.
You are quite happy to be grouped in with these people?
After all they are birders.
And thanks again for laying the onus on us to find a new name for ourselves.
Anything else you would like us to do like stay away all together.
As a balance to this "debate".
Often times complaints are made about the noise of cameras going off in a hide when a decent bird lands in front.
Commonly called rattle mode - I term it the olivetti club - it is simply the mechanics of DSLR cameras and to be truthful little can be done about it..
One tip that I hope people will adopt is to set the camera in single shot mode when taking those first shots.
A freshly arrived bird is certain to be spooked when it hears 30 bren guns going off in it's ear the moment it touches ground.
However the bird will react only slightly to single shots taken every 30 seconds or so but will by and by stay put.
To be honest most of those first 10,000 shots will be dumped anyway.
Once the bird is settled it really will pay little attention to however fast the frame rate of the camera can work and people with cameras can rattle away to their hearts content whilst not disturbing people with binoculars
To those who don't like the sound of rattling cameras I find them no more noisy than constantly bleeping pagers.
To Answer your questions:-
Q1) So you are quite happy Jamie to be associated with the birder who throws rocks into a bush at South Gare to put up a wryneck.
A1) No but I accept that they may well be a birder even if they are badly behaved.
Q2) Or a birder throwing bricks into a hedge to put up SEOs at Raintom meadows.
A2) No but I accept that they may well be a birder even if they are badly behaved.
Q3) You are quite happy to be grouped in with these people? After all they are birders.
A3) Yes. I am willing to accept that some birders are badly behaved/uneducated and they need educating but they are still birders as they are looking at birds.
Q4) And thanks again for laying the onus on us to find a new name for ourselves.
A4) I thought you did not want to be associated with with the term photographer. Perhaps if people are addressing the good photographers they should refer to them as good photographers and leave the term photographer to refer to people with a camera )which is what I think 99.9% on here do)
Q5) Anything else you would like us to do like stay away all together.
A5) Where did I say anything like this? Where did I put anything negative about good photographers? I have no problem with photographers and take photos myself when I can be bothered as I used to take a lot of photographs before it got very popular. Now I dont bother much as many people make a far better job of it than I do and I just enjoy looking at their photos instead
Quote from: Jamie on November 19, 2012, 03:49:49 PM
I thought you did not want to be associated with with the term photographer.
Quite the opposite Jamie.
I want people who rant and rave (often with good cause) to STOP using the term photographer and use something like a guy with a camera or some bloke with a camera.
As a out and out photographer I get sick of word being used whenever there is negative feedback about someone with a camera.
Why should I be tarred with the same brush as some idiot.
I know where you are coming from with reference to anyone taking photos is a "photographer" but to me it appears that sometimes the phrase is used to mark a clear boundry between bird watchers and those whose sole interest is photographing them.
There are many ways of referring to people with cameras and if their behaviour is beyond acceptable then please simply don't give them a title they don't deserve - i.e photographer.
I could be the only one it matters to but everytime I read "Damn Photographers" or "Once again a photographer ---- " it really annoys me.
I don't disturb anything for anyone.
I prefer to wait for birds to come to me (only option I have health wise)
99% of the time I prefer to go out on my own to places no one else goes to and find stuff myself if possible.
As far as I know I don't infringe on any one elses enjoyment of their chosen hobby.
However I am a photographer - nothing else and I don't like having any sort of stigma hanging around my neck because of others actions.
All I ask (and doesn't take much more typing) is that instead of Photographer please put Guy with a camera or similar.
Out of interest - if you see someone stood yards from a barn owl box and he has a camera AND a scope - how are you going to refer to him??
I would not refer to him as anything but I would have done something about it and if appropriate rung the police.
Quote from: Jamie on November 19, 2012, 04:35:23 PM
I would not refer to him as anything but I would have done something about it and if appropriate rung the police.
So just a camera he's a photographer but with a scope as well perish the thought he is referred to as a birder.
Jamie can you not see how insensed it makes people like me and other "photographers" who (hopefully) do nothing wrong feel when the blanket term photographer is used??
It might seem to you to be a very trivial gripe but believe me it is a genuine one on my part.
In any event if someone is doing wrong then why give him a lable anyway?
It isnt the camera or scope doing wrong it's the guy with them.
So it's the bloke with the camera or the bloke with the scope.
How difficult is it to have a subject "When will people learn" and a post "There was a guy with a camera intent on getting as close to a nesting penguin as possible"
I must be getting too old and losing my marbles if I can't convince you that there is a different way of doing things without upsetting even one person.
I do think you are been rather sensitive but if he was looking through the scope I would call him a birder but if he was taking pictures I would call him a photographer but personally I cant get very excited about what people are labeled - its what they are doing.
Anyway, I have now had enough of this debate in which I think I was just pointing out that people do (and will do doubt continue to in some places) refer to people taking photographs as photographers.
Jaybee - are you really expecting this debate to descend into a discussion about semantics, at the end of the day, a guy with a camera is a photographer, what else do you expect him to do with his camera? The discussion should be about how we deal with the problem and not how we should refer to it. If you are confident that your behaviour is exemplary, which I'm sure it is, them you really shouldn't be bothered about what words are used. Regardless of what equipment people have, bad behaviour is bad behaviour and it needs addressing. People should not be afraid to approach strangers and politely explain to them where they are going wrong.
Approaching someone is not always a good idea, they may think they are right and become aggressive. (and at times they may be right). Have to say i'm leaning towards Jaybee on this one.
Quote from: Col D on November 19, 2012, 06:49:21 PM
The discussion should be about how we deal with the problem and not how we should refer to it.
By getting a birder who takes photos to write an article in a photographic magazine explaining how things should be done?????
Come on.
Quote from: Col D on November 19, 2012, 06:49:21 PM
Jaybee - are you really expecting this debate to descend into a discussion about semantics
The more that I think about that comment then the more I say yes I do.
I hold what I do as a photographer in high regard.
I've spent 50 years and a lot of money in the pursuit of this hobby and I genuinely object to the flippant use of the term photographer whenever someone does something wrong.
Quote from: Col D on November 19, 2012, 06:49:21 PM
at the end of the day, a guy with a camera is a photographer.
No - A guy with a camera doing the right thing can be called a photographer - a guy with a camera doing the wrong thing is just a guy doing the wrong thing.
Hi Jaybee, Like Jamie, I am rapidly becoming exasperated with the whole affair and your baffling obsession with the semantics. In your last posts, you have cut a section of another contributor's post in a sarcastic attempt to address my comment about how to handle the problem rather than offering a more sensible resolution yourself. This speaks volumes about your lack of commitment to the problem. I agree that writing articles will serve little purpose as it will not impact those who either don't know they are doing wrong or don't care. As I have mentioned before, handling those who don't care won't be easy but if nobody attempts to address inappropriate behaviour, then we wont be helping those who are inexperienced or naive. Both Dave Braithwaite and myself have proved that if approached in a polite and non-confrontational manner, most people will accommodate your requests, if they don't then simply walk away but if we don't try then nothing will change. It seems we have an increasing number of people who readily complain from the safety of their keyboard but are not willing to take any action. I really don't have anything further to offer as you seem unable to see past self preservation and reach the true problem.
It has been mentioned, that people are possibly accessing the website in a bid to find out where certain birds species are located, would It not be a better Idea to restrict access to the said sites to MEMBERS only. This would affectively help reduce the amount of information getting into the wrong hands and in effect increase the membership to hopefully a more responsible and caring people, whether birders, photographers or both.
I'm not saying that It would totally prevent anything like this happening again, but the main question was What to do about disturbance. QUOTE by Toby. (be they walkers, photographers or birders)
The question is, would It take much doing to restrict the site to members only, which contained a front or home page where you are required to join before you can access It.
I do not see the point of being a member of the Forum If, as suggested, members are expected to post photos and withhold the info as to where they were taken.
I thought that the whole point of the forum was, to try and help other members.
Anyway there's a suggestion
Quote from: Col D on November 19, 2012, 08:55:09 PMThis speaks volumes about your lack of commitment to the problem
HOW DARE YOU MAKE THAT ASSUMPTION.
You have no idea what I do to address wildlife related problems.
Maybe you should have asked before making such a judgmental statement.
Hi Ray, that might not be a bad idea, nice to see somebody else offering a reasonable suggestion. If we can all use the website with the confidence that the information we provide will only be used by experienced locals (birders and photographers) then I'm sure it would generate more submissions from both parties, a point that Stew eluded to in an earlier post. As a prime example, I have seen several parties of Waxwings recently but have chosen not to post my sightings. I posted them last year, only to find some photographers who I didn't know arriving the very next day and standing directly under the feeding tree. The Waxwings departed, leaving a berry laden tree, not something they would have done without disturbance. Perhaps a members only area for sensitive information to run alongside the general sightings page as I know the website is a good source of information for responsible birders and photographers from outside the area who may ultimately join TBC or RSPB as a result of visiting the website and/or the area. Cleveland has always had a reputation as an extremely friendly county to bird in and I'm sure we all want to keep it that way. As I have always said, it is not a witch hunt against photographers, its about addressing bad behaviour. Personally, I would prefer to do that by speaking directly to those concerned but I appreciate that some may not feel comfortable doing this. What I find frustrating is people who join in the debate but don't attempt to offer a solution. Our photographers are an integral and respected part of our birding community (without them our local bird report, website and indeed the walls of my study would be a much duller place) which is why I always approach people personally if I feel their actions are not appropriate rather than blame an entire section of enthusiasts. We need to not get hung up about 'tags' or feel we are all getting tarred with the same brush when this isn't the case.
I have seen upwards of 100 Waxwings in various places from supermarket car parks petrol stations and woodland edges with dozens of people around within feet of these birds. They are very tolerant of humans. If they moved on it's likely they found a bettter food store. Regarding with holding info on this forum Bird Forum and other wildlife sites have members giving sightings. Creating an us and them policy won't work, we need everybody on the same side. It's only a small minority of Birders/Photographers causing bad feelings among the vast majority of responsible Birders/Photographers.
Hi Michael, I disagree with your Waxwing analogy but it does prove my point exactly. This is where an in depth knowledge of the birds you are watching or photographing is essential to ensure you are not disturbing them. I agree that Waxwing are usually very confiding, indeed this has been the case with most of the flocks I have seen in Cleveland over the last 25 years but it is not always the case. People with less experience will not know this. The site I am referring to held upwards of 100 birds recently and as they have done in previous years they have stripped the trees bare before leaving. The only year this was not the case was when I published the site and people photographing them scared them off. I agree with a little fieldcraft, you can get very close to Waxwings but these people simply marched up to them and flushed them from tree to tree, preventing them from feeding and ultimately causing them to depart. When I tried to explain that they were disturbing them, they quoted the same rationale as you, stating 'Waxwings are tame and not afraid of humans'. If you follow the thread from its inception, you will see that I am not anti-photographer and indeed have a great deal of time and respect for people who do things properly. All I'm trying to do is to encourage people to politely discuss any issues they have directly with the people concerned but as you have already pointed out this is not something you are comfortable doing which I completely understand.
I think the word 'confiding' can be quite misleading when talking about wildlife. There is an assumption that if something is confiding it means that you can get close to it but there has to be a mutual trust between the two parties. Obviously we know we aren't going to harm them, but does the bird/mammal/dragonfly know this? Always best to earn their trust and let them come to you.
Waxwings are a classic case of using the spiral approach if necessary. Slowly approach at an angle, not directly, to the tree they're in and watch them constantly. If their behaviour changes stop immediately and wait till they return to feeding/behaving normally. Be aware that you are now on their radar and it is then down to your conscience whether to get closer or not.
Without meaning to stir things further and answer Jaybee's question about standing yards from a barn owl box with a camera and scope, it's not what you call him but what he was doing at the time that's important. Being that close to the box there's a good chance his scope would be no use to him at all so wouldn't be using it and I would lean towards them being that close to take photographs. At the end of the day the terminology used to describe someone or the equipment in use by anyone is entirely irrelevant if they are causing disturbance. If they had no equipment or had a dog I would treat them just the same and go over and have a chat and explain the situation.
To try and combine Jaybee's and Alistairs points, I think Jaybee has a lot of experience in doing what he does (and does very well) so maybe when you are on the reserve or out and about you can be a champion of good practise? I don't want to put you on the spot but you might want to let people know where you'll be and when and that you'll have a chat with other photographers and pass on some tips and advice? That would mean wildlife photographers are getting assistance from other wildlife photographers rather than getting lectured by irate birders. I would also encourage the same practise in the birding community as well where both field craft and identification can be discussed by experienced and novice birders. Hopefully this approach will encourage more communication amongst us all at a personal level and lead to interactions across the range of wildlife enthusiasts. We don't want people being lectured or told what to do so need to encourage and support those that want to share their knowledge.
It's good to see some ideas coming through about what to do about the issue of disturbance and would like to stress again that this is the issue, it doesn't matter who does it, it matters that they are doing it and we, as the wildlife loving community, need to work together to educate and encourage best practise across the board.
Toby give me a new set of lungs, a new heart and replace the blocked femoral artery in my left leg and maybe I could get out and about.
Otherwise good practice from me would require the need for to take my car along the likes of Greenabella or around Saltholme.
To a lesser extent try and get rid of the stupid bollards preventing access to Greenabella and I might be able to reach the place and continue my voluntary work with INCA building up a photographic database of the seals.
Putting aside my futile attempts in earlier posts and being accused by ColD of not contributing to the debate here are my thoughts.
Please note that this is just me thinking out aloud and in no way means I condone any type of disturbance etc.
Also reference to laws is down to a a quick Google on what I thought may be relevant.
First of all I have to wonder how much of the bad behaviour reported is in fact bad behaviour or simply our annoyance or frustration at what some one is doing.
We have all had people walk directly in front of us when we have been trying to view/photograph something.
We have sat on a mile long empty beach waiting for waders to come towards us when a dog walker decides to walk straight towards the birds.
Annoying certainly but not something we can do anything about other than complain.
As to what someone may be doing "in the field" so to speak I would suggest it can be broken down into two categories.
1) The behaviour/actions of the person are illegal.
2) The behaviour/actions of the person are not illegal.
The first is easy and requires no action our part other than phoning the police (or landowner in the case of tresspass) and reporting the matter.
I have done so with regards fly tipping on a reserve and illegal pheasant traps and the system works.
Hopefully the relevant authority will deal with the matter swiftly.
I would add that there is a need to be 110% certain the activity is illegal because I think there is such a thing as unlawful accusation.
The second is far more tricky as if it is not illegal activity then it follows that it is lawful activity regardless of how annoying it is to others.
You could approach the "offender" and have a word and he may be very obliguing and say that even though what he is doing is in no way wrong he is happy to conform to your request.
Or he may politely (or not so politely) tell you to bog off and mind your own business.
From that moment I would think you are going to be on the back foot.
If you continue to try and persuade him either on your own or with others however politely then (and if I am wrong I'll gladly stick my foot into the appropriate opening) things like intimidation, his right to lawful pursuit of his chosen activity and his right for you not to impose your beliefs/morals etc on him could come into play.
I think approaching an individual is fraught with possible repercussions and (not an opt out ) I am of the opinion that the eastiest thing to do is just have a good moan/rant and hope he isnt there next time.
Other ideas forwarded.
Password protected members area on forum - never worked and never will work when members are happy to give out the password to non members. Durham bird club have a password protected forum and sighting page that quite honestly is a joke as getting hold of the password is so easy.
Taking a photograph of the person in question or naming and shaming on the forum. Hope you, the club and the webmaster are prepared for the fall out on that one even if the persons activity is highly illegal.
Allowing photographs etc but not mentioning the location of a bird on the forum. Bit like telling people a garage has knocked 50p off a litre but not telling them which garage.
If he happened to be a bird club member you could exclude him from the club but on what grounds? Getting better views than us.
A lot of this behaviour has to be put into perspective.
Each day I imagine tens of thousands of people are out in the countryside. Out of those maybe one or two behave in an annoying way. It isnt an every day occurance and certainly isnt the bulk of people doing it.
Count on one hand virtually the number of posts on this forum since it started that relate to "bad behaviour"
Sorry if the post is so negative but to be frank unless the behaviour is illegal and something tangible can be done all the effort in the world is not going to work unless the person is responsive.
Articles in photographic magazines, posters on fence posts, educating people are never going to deal with what we might see as bad practice but what the "offender" may have every right to do.
As a side note
I suppose the best guide to how someones presence is affecting a bird/birds/animal is to see what affect it is having on that bird etc.
Lets suppose we are all ranting about a "photographer" (legally) stood in the middle of a field when we are all stood 100 yards further away which we think is a more appropriate distance.
If the guy is happily taking photos of birds immediately around him then it has to be presumed that he isn't disturbing them in any way. If that is the case then on what grounds could we possibly try and educate him??
Sorry to drag this up again for those thinking they'd seen the back of it but needs must I'm afraid. Have had a couple of reports of 'nature enthusiasts' not following the TBC code of conduct - http://www.teesmouthbc.com/Main/VolGuide.aspx and ignoring all three guidelines at two different sites in the last couple of days.
The Nightingale is back at Cowpen Bewley and reports have come back of tape luring as well as strying off paths and into the vegetation to look for it. The wardens have a hard enough job there with the council cuts and reduced man power without having to police the area for reckless and irresponsible behaviour from those that should know better. Nightingales are by their nature a very skulking species and also not much to look at so why anyone would go to such lengths to see one and risk disturbing a potential breeder at the northern limit of its range is beyond me ??? Nightingales have declined by 91% in the last 40 years and a fascinating research project was done a few years ago to study their movements - http://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/u27/downloads/bw-nightingales.pdf If it's the same bird as the last two years then there's a good chance this bird has flown a minimum of 25 THOUSAND MILES!! I don't think it has gone to all this trouble just for someone to get a good view or play a tape for it. If you have time, go and listen for it and enjoy it for what it is, a fantastic vocalist.
The second incident is the accessing and viewing of the Great White Egret on Cowpen Marsh. This bird has shown perfectly well, though distantly, from the easily accessible gate at the triangle turn off. The gate isn't hard to see as it is red and has a 'No access to unauthorised personnel' sign next to it. We are managing the marsh to try and encourage breeding waders back onto the site after many years of neglect, overgrazing and drainage and already we have seen an increase in both Lapwing and Redshank in the last two years as well as a doubling of Yellow Wagtail pairs. By walking across Cowpen you are potentially disturbing these species while actively disturbing the Egret as the bird was flushed. Fortunately it didn't fly very far but could just as easily have lifted and left the area completely. Once again no consideration was given to the welfare of the bird, the habitat, or the experience of others who may have wanted to see it.
As a few of you may know I won't be around for much longer as I've taken up the warden's post at the RSPB's Lincolnshire Wash Reserves (Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore) so you won't have to put up with me for much longer ;)
I would just like to take this opportunity to thank the Teesmouth Bird Club and all its members for being so welcoming and hospitable towards both the reserve and myself over the last four and a half years. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here and it will be a shame to leave you all but I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead, though I don't think they will be anywhere near as tricky as trying to convince Messrs Grieveson and Dunnet that we know how to manage our habitats....
Thank you again and hopefully see you down in Lincolnshire soon
T