With today's high pixel cameras or by digiscoping, you can take a photo of a shorebird from a respectable distance and severely crop the image to show just the face if you want to. On the 19th, no one, IMO, in the group of 12 or more birders (all of us with cameras) approached the PUSA too closely, in fact the bird walked towards us on its own on more than one occasion. No one then, or nobody I bird with, would want to be responsible for a 1st state record bird to fly off because of their need for the year's best photo, especially since it was foraging in the narrow Blue River where it was always fairly close. Also, in Colorado, birders seem to be interested in knowing why it is here, what it is eating, how long will it stay, what age is it (1st year) more than just adding a tick to a life list. One interesting fact I did not know but found out when I got home is Purple Sandpiper, the chunkiest shorebird, eats both night and day and this one never stopped foraging in the 30 minutes I watched it.
Here is the same photo of the bird I severely cropped and posted just the head and bill of earlier to see if someone, thanks Dave Leatherman, might have insight into the food in the shallows of Blue River where the bird was foraging the day I was there.
Respectfully,
Bill Maynard
Colorado Springs, CO
-----Original Message-----
From: cobirds@googlegroups.com [mailto:cobirds@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Duane Nelson
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2016 4:41 PM
To: cobirds@googlegroups.com
Subject: [cobirds] Purple Sandpiper viewing ethics
Birders,
I hate to bring this up, but I know I'm not the only person thinking this. Every day, people seem to be edging closer and closer to the Purple Sandpiper at Lake Dillon. I think the welfare of this bird should come before the "money shot" photograph. We should all feel fortunate just to witness this special visitor. We, as birders, are under the scrutiny of a much larger audience, and I want us to surpass expectations for our exemplary behavior. I beg that people stand back, let the bird forage with a little space, and remain here as long as it chooses. If it's flushed, where else can it go?
I know a little about allowing people to observe rare birds from an appropriate distance and for an appropriate duration. I don't know what I can do about the Purple Sandpiper, but I'm thinking I'd better consider the implications of reporting mega rarities in my neck of the woods.
Respectfully,
Duane Nelson
Las Animas, Bent County, CO
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