Hi Tweets

I still don't understand. Bad birder/photographer behaviour is an ongoing
fact of life in North America but in Britain and some other European
countries, on public lands, on a major twitch the birding organisations have
traffic control, sequenced viewing, tons of wardens, all to make sure there
is no bad behavior.

Compare this to the behavior of birders and some photographers at the recent
Ladner Northern Hawk-Owl twitch, where there was no traffic control, no
sequenced viewing, no wardens, no oversight whatsoever, and it has been
chaotic hell on the half-shell, and pissed off no end of people. Oh, well
done.

Which is the preferable model, here?

So why do North American organisations lack similar organisation? That's my
query, and I think it's legitimate. Why is it something the list should not
examine? Have we something to learn here despite the not-before-the-children
posts I've been receiving privately? Are the authorities on this list saying
we should be supine in the face of bad behavior? Why are the Brits so good
at this and North Americans so bad?

And bad gamekeeper behavior? That's on private estates where aristocracy has
very undemocratic, very un-American privilege. Not the default; otherwise
the RSPB has much more influence in Britain than, say, the Audubon Society,
in the US (Happy B'Day, John James A, BTW) does in the US. The RSPB has
*rules* that people actually follow. North America has no equivalent except
for ABA guidelines which are often mocked by non-compliance. Don't get me
started.

But I am not 'flinging dung' at one particular group as another poster has
it; I am asking that why do no North American organisations have similar
substantially ameliorative protocols as the RSPB in place when there's a
major twitch. I think that's a fair question. And I'd like a
fair---emphasise fair--- answer.

best wishes

Michael Price
Vancouver BC Canada
loblollyboy at gmail.com

Every answer deepens the mystery.
- E.O. Wilson
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