Entitled Photog at the MIKI Nest

[Alfred Maley]

Had some errands near Durham yesterday, so I thought I’d try for my now-annual kite sighting. After finding a legal parking spot, I walked a ways to the recommended observation spot. There the boisterous kitelet was showing well and its mother showed up, circling around looking for dragonflies and cicadas.

I was about to leave when a car with MA plates drove up and parked on the opposite side of the street, next to a No Parking sign. A man got out with a camera and walked back to get an unobstructed view and started taking pictures. Being cantankerous by nature, I yelled across the street “No Parking signs don’t apply to you?” He turned and said “Well I’m only here for a few minutes.”

He took some more pictures and then returned to his car, opening the driver-side door wide while he stored his camera. The polite drivers on the street stopped to wait for the door to close, which it finally did.

It always amazes me that the mere purchase of an expensive camera can turn an otherwise law-abiding citizen into a scofflaw to whom the laws don’t apply.

Al Maley
Hampstead, NH

[Jady Girlz]

Well said Al!  I don't know why people feel entitled to do obnoxious things with their big equipment.  Absolutely no respect!  I am glad you spoke up!  I had a man 
actually take out his phone and start to play Mississippi Kite sounds.  I told him that was not acceptable, he laughed and put his phone away.  Good thing because he would have had it somewhere he would't want it!

[David Lipsy]

The photog that blocked traffic was one of the individuals that give the rest of us photogs a bad name.  Personally I’m sick of the expressions I get just because I have a large lens.  I’m a birder, and would have jumped down both their throats… the photog and the idiot with the cellphone.  

I wish to stress however, that just because I fell in love with birds so much that I want to take their photograph does not make me a bad person, nor one that disobeys civil laws or the ABA’s Code of Ethics.

I’m in agreement on both issues spoken of here.  Please try to make thee types of comments about the individual… and not leave it open ended towards anyone with a big prime lens.  We have enough problems with the general birding population when we walk up to a group with just bins and scopes... they see the camera and noses get bent.  Not everyone, but enough that I have noticed this too many times for my liking.  Heck, I have bins and a scope too.

Thank you,

David

David Lipsy
Eagle Eye Photography
Eagle Eye Sports Photography
Nature & Sports Photographic Services
Concord, NH

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[Mark Szantyr]

As a 45 year birder and a bird photographer, i have given up many opportunities to photograph birds in Connecticut because i am tired of the irreverent behavior of most of the birding community. There are a few of us with long lenses that seem to be the only ones in the crowd being quiet and respectful of the bird we are recording. We are the only ones wearing muted colors, getting low in the cover so as not to spook the bird, or shooting from our cars because cars are much less stressful on birds that 10-15 moving, talking, laughing “birders” congratulating each other on another notch on their belts. Personally, i am tired of dealing with birders and go my own way rather than make the obligatory chase to every rarity. So far photographing bugs hasn’t gotten this bad. 

Mark Szantyr

Storrs, CT

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[Deb Powers]

So well said David.  it saddens me how all photographers with a big lens seemed to be put in the same category.

Thank you for posting

Deb Powers-south Berwick maine 

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 30, 2019, at 8:13 PM, David Lipsy <dli...@comcast.net> wrote:

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[Geoff Niswander]

As a photographer I can honestly say, I’ve seen far more birders acting inappropriately than photographers. At the Newport GGO field, it was the non-photographers who were yelling out, telling others what to do, or not to, and in general causing a lot more ruckus than the photographers who were there. It was the non-photographers who started yelling at children who were simply playing. If that owl was stressed out, it would have been because of the non-photographers present. This seems to be what I see with my own eyes, more often than not. I too, agreeing with other replies, am beyond tired of being considered vermin among the snooty type of birders who think they exist on some higher road than all others. Or offer their opinions when it’s probably none of their business to do so. I find it easier to live and let live. Not stress out about where along a public road someone parked their car, because I am not a law enforcement officer. I am not going to categorize all photographers together as bad people and unethical birders because I see one park in a no parking zone. I have bigger fish to fry, personally. If someone needs a bit of education on birding ethics, there are far better, friendlier, and more kind ways to go about it than most of the examples I’ve witnessed in recent years. One of our goals should be to encourage new birders, to get more people interested. Not stomp them in to the ground at the first opportunity to do so. Instant, hostile reactions, Sharp, scolding words at youngsters, these are not the ways we should be introducing others to bird watching.

[Jady Girlz]

David, Al was not saying ALL photographers are breaking the law.  I read that he was referring to the 1 individual that did not obey the law.  Citizen is singular not plural in his comment. 

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