Jile:
What good is chasing down a rare bird without documentation....real documentation. A good photo is worth more than any verbal or written description. Anyone can write a bird up word for word from a field guide. Besides, the common birds are way more important than some lost bird that everyone chases and sucks gallons of gas in doing so. Do suggest that all birders and photographers should behave the the same way is a bit controlling. Yes, there are photographers that break every code of ethics, but there are plenty of birders who play tapes and pish, and fail to contribute to anything. There are also plenty of conscientious people too. I didn't know National Geographic was available to photograph every bird? Besides, you don't think Nat Geo behaves inappropriately to get footage? They probably have people on staff that are the farthest thing from conservationists.
Without photos, we wouldn't have filed guides, and without video we wouldn't have educational programs. We could just get together in a big circle and talk about our sightings. I love looking at nice photos, and most people are aware of photos that were taken in the process of disturbing birds. I do agree on one point, why do people photograph birds at nests. Probably because magazines and books reward them by publishing and paying for them. What's next, tell all the magazines and publishers how to act?
Jonah S.