Just curious if maybe we can stop the photographer bashing? There’s zero reason to imply that birders with cameras are any less birders than anyone else. This isn’t the forum for it; it’s just unnecessary drama. Just my two cents. 

Alex

> On Dec 5, 2017, at 9:56 AM, Bill Whan <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> It seems this season is a poor one for raptors in the north, and those
> of us who live in warmer climes are seeing more of them now. "Birders"
> with cameras find them irresistible as photo subjects.
>       But there must be a zillion photos out there of owls staring at the
> photographer, usually in the wide-open settings where they most often
> look for lunch. All these photos look pretty much alike alike; once in a
> while a photo might be taken of an owl with bloodied talons or even dead
> prey, but they tend to retreat to eat. Photos of such subjects are
> sought after, even if they are pretty much of identical birds in
> identical settings.
>       I can imagine that owls, if they could and cared to observe humans,
> would notice field characteristics--colorful 'plumages,' typical
> postures and approaches, but potentials that might be dangerous.
> Unlikelier than a tasty warm or vole, humans clumsily tend to hold to
> their faces glassy instruments. Humans have an anxious tendency to edge
> closer and closer to owls, all too often until they become unwelcome.
>       By searching the internet it is easy for us humans to find innumerable
> snowy owl photos. But that seems not enough. We want to see our 'own'
> owls, in our 'own' place, even though it is almost always
> indistinguishable. Each birder must share his or her 'own' identical
> image, tedious as it must be, of a snowy perched on a beach, looking
> suspiciously toward the camera.
>       This is a lot more boring than stamp-collecting, but we seem
> drawn to share out OWN versions of the standard photo. This is just a
> bit strange, and always tedious for folks who view the results; it is
> something the owls too put up with, even if carefully undertaken.
> --Bill Whan
> 
> 
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