Thank you Norm and to all who have chimed in on this birding ethics topic. The plea for appropriate birder behavior and common sense has been well and clearly made. Thank you for keeping things polite and for avoiding any personal attacks. Unless there is some new substance to add to the discussion, please refrain from further posts to CoBirds on the ethics aspect. Reports about the bird's continuing presence, behavior, etc are, of course, very welcome.
-- David Suddjian
CoBirds list moderator
On Wed, Dec 21, 2016 at 11:11 AM, 'Norm Lewis' via Colorado Birds <cobirds@googlegroups.com> wrote:
I think all of the panic over disturbing this bird is probably a little overly dramatic? I was up there yesterday, and everyone was staying in the previously created viewing area (about 50-60 feet from the bird). My only previous experience with purple sandpiper was at Cape May in January, where I repeatedly encountered them on rock jetties while scanning for seaducks, pelagics, etc. I walked up on them a number of times- gray birds on gray rocks, and therefore hard to see, so my encounters were mostly by accident and not by stealth. In every case the birds seemed unconcerned with my presence and went about their business without paying much attention to me. I was often within a few feet of them. Our east coast birders (Tony?) cold probably comment more knowledgeably on this than I.I think we all recognize the important of not disturbing birds in general and "staked out rarities" in particular, but this bird has been hanging out and feeding in the same area, under circumstances which must seem entirely natural to it (habitat and temperatures, if not geographic location!), for several days while literally dozens (hundreds?) of folks observed.it. While I was there it foraged and fed and seemingly paid no attention to the observers. If you see someone approaching a bird like this to within five feet, that is the time to speak up. If you have not observed such behavior, you might not want to jump to conclusions as to what other birders are doing.In my one visit to the site, everyone was courteous to both the bird and other birders, and no one approached closer than what I would consider an appropriate distance. Just my two cents. We have a great bird here and we should collectively enjoy the bird as long as it remains without having to lecture one another on how to observe it.I would encourage the Moderator to discontinue this thread before we have a Birding Civil War over it.
Norm LewisLakewood, CO
-----Original Message-----
From: Kay Niyo <kay@kayniyo.com>
To: gwensminiroses <gwensminiroses@gmail.com>; dnelson1 <dnelson1@centurytel.net>
Cc: cobirds <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wed, Dec 21, 2016 9:50 am
Subject: RE: [cobirds] Re: Purple Sandpiper viewing ethics
I agree totally with gwen and duane. Have these people not ever read the ABA birding ethics? Such behavior is not that of an ethical birder who thinks only of a stressed, lost bird's well being. Stay away if they can't bird like a real and ethical birder.
-------- Original message --------
From: Gwen Moore <gwensminiroses@gmail.com>
Date: 12/21/2016 9:06 AM (GMT-05:00)
To: dnelson1@centurytel.net
Cc: cobirds@googlegroups.com
Subject: [cobirds] Re: Purple Sandpiper viewing ethics
I so agree with Duane. Painful to watch people getting within 5 or 6ft of the bird. Come on, people, have some respect for the bird!
Surely 10 or 15ft is close enough! We remember the woodcocks being flushed by people who want to get just a little closer. Back off!
Why is the bird unbothered? Perhaps it has never encountered people before, having been hatched on the far tundra. Nevertheless, what profits the bird in becoming accustomed to our species? Not every human will be friendly towards the bird. I fervently hope that no person, coyote or bird of prey is so unrecognizable that it can kill this bird!
Please don't approach this bird or any bird so closely! Yeah, let the chickadees come to your hand, or the pygmy nuthatches feed all around your feet. Have a little reverence for wild bird. Please!
Gwen Moore
Sent from my iPhone
> On Dec 20, 2016, at 4:41 PM, Duane Nelson <dnelson1@centurytel.net> wrote:
>
> 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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