I have not been to this site, but this comment seems akin to that posted
on Tweeters by "ihaterudebirders". Is it possible that one person is
overreacting to one interaction that didn't go quite the way expected?
I'm all for good manners and being a good will ambassador for bird
watchers everywhere, but this strikes me as overblown.

Monika Wieland wrote:
> Hi Tweeters,
>
> I visited the Bothell Harris's sparrow on April 12th and posted about
> it on my blog. This afternoon this anonymous comment was left on my
> blog post, and I thought it was worth sharing with the group at large.
> As a wildlife photographer I know how frustrating it can be when
> non-birders walk through and flush birds, but it's really unfortunate
> some of the locals are leaving with this impression of birders.
>
> "Thanks for the nice post. I would like to comment that this area is a
> public trail therefore the public may be walking on the trail. I have
> not yet run in to one nice 'birder' taking photos out here. If
> somebody asks a photographer with a giant zoom lense, what kind of
> bird he is looking for, that seems like reasonable curiosity to me. So
> far the main thing I get in return is people being annoyed and
> dismissing. Just because I am on the trail without some giant camo
> camera lense people don't have to be so rude as to tell me to move
> along because I am going to scare your precious birds away. I wish the
> Harris' sparrow had never come to this pond. It is not that
> interesting of a bird and I would not have to have met so many MANY
> rude people who think they have some better right to be on the trail.
> To the gentleman I saw today on 4/20/2011, you count as one of these
> VERY rude 'birders'. I hope you got a great picture of your bird. If I
> ever see you again out by the pond, I will be sure to stick around
> until you leave. If you are going to visit the area, please don't be
> so MEAN to people who you may seem as annoying. It is a public place,
> be mindful of that."
>
> Please be respectful out there,
> Monika Wieland
> Friday Harbor, WA
> www.orcawatcher.com
> mailto:monika.wieland at gmail.com
>
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>


--
Michael Brown
Puyallup, Washington

"...I am glad I shall never be young without wild country to be young in. Of what avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map?"

-Aldo Leopold, " A Sand County Almanac"