The reason to feel offended is because all photographers get lumped into the same group of unethical and rude people when it isn't the case for the majority. Speaking out on bad behaviors is one thing, but making an overgeneralization about a group of people and lumping all photographers into it is rude and arrogant. Just because someone chooses to look through a camera rather than binoculars doesn't make them any less of a birder. Speak out against the behavior, not the people. 

Alex Eberts

> On Apr 6, 2016, at 10:34 AM, Andrew Sewell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> The Greenlawn Cemetery owl nest has been published in the Dispatch, so
> noting its existence on Ohio Birds is not likely to be detrimental.
> However, the original question was about owl roosts, which is different.
> You can go to a spot where owls are reported to roost and never see them
> (I've done it countless times).
> 
> In terms of photographers and behavior, there's a reason the Greenlawn owl
> nest is fenced off. A few bad actors do tend to result in negative comments
> about groups in general, which is why we should feel obligated to speak out
> about unethical or just plain rude behavior when we observe it. Some
> photographers do act in ways that are not only detrimental to birds, but to
> birders and people around them. Unfortunately, it is the bad behavior that
> sticks out in people's minds. No one is going to remember the guy on the
> Magee boardwalk handholding a 400mm lens, standing behind all the people
> trying to see a rare warbler, but they are going to remember the guy set up
> with a massive lens and tripod that you have to squeeze by. And conversely,
> no one remembers the quiet birders who see the bird and move on; they
> remember the ones that just had to get closer for a really good look or
> immediately whip out a recording and ruin it for everyone. When people
> criticize birders for those actions, I don't feel personally offended
> because I don't do what they are complaining about.
> 
> Andy Sewell
> Columbus, Ohio
> 
> On Wed, Apr 6, 2016 at 10:18 AM, Scott E. Zimmermann <[log in to unmask]
>> wrote:
> 
>> We should not be publishing owl nest locations nor should we be belittling
>> photographers. I am personally offended by the comments about photographers
>> related to the GHOW and their nest.
>> 
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