I can't resist throwing in my 50 cents (though its actually worth about 2 cents). Michael summed it up well that both groups (and many of us are active members of both groups) can have effects on birds and both can produce positive things. I've seen just as many birders harass birds or violate good manners that had no camera as I've seen photographers. What the original poster may be forgetting is that people with "big honkin'-ass lens" are disturbing the birds much less for a good photo than somebody with a 200mm lens. Most birders that I know have migrated to photography as a way to capture images while birding, either for personal enjoyment, further study or documentation. When I get a nice shot of a bird, I'm just as proud of it as if I found a local rarity, both make my day!

I'd also like to echo other comments that if somebody finds a "big honkin'-ass lens" for 2000.00 that's in good condition, please post as I'm sure there will be a bidding war among about a 100 of us! If I could find a "big honkin'-ass lens" for 2000.00, I wouldn't be using my 300mm w/1.4X nearly as much.... :)

Finally (and hopefully this doesn't cause a slap on my wrist for posting guidelines) what makes me puke are judgmental people.

Ok, back in my corner now. Down Scott. Good boy....

Scott Downes
downess at charter.net
Yakima WA