Re: [cobirds] Wood Stork (Broomfield County)

Sad to see, but certainly not unprecedented.

 

In our experience, there are about five types of people we come across on the birding trails. First are the hikers and runners, oblivious to the avian wonders around them. Number two would be the bird watchers and birders of all levels, out to enjoy, view and even list the birds they see and identify. Next we have birders who take pictures with all variety of photo equipment from point-and-shoots to cellphones to more expensive DSLR cameras. Number four would be photographers who know and abide by the ABA Code of Ethics and have great respect for nature in general and birds specifically.

 

Now number five - clowns like the one Tyler saw who only live for "the shot". One beautiful morning in Madera Canyon, AZ, we were with a fairly large and well behaved group of folks watching an Elegant Trogon from a nearby pathway. Along comes what must have been the president of group five. He actually crawled up in the tree, ignoring calls from the crowd. His reason? You guessed it. He had to get "the shot".

 

I hope someone knows this person and can at least try to educate him in the ethics of the situation.

 

Good birding, everyone.

Mel Goff

Colorado Springs, El Paso County

On 09/05/2025 5:56 AM MDT Tyler Stuart <tylerhstuart@gmail.com> wrote:

 

 

COBirders,

 

My schedule over the past several weeks kept me from being able to make the trip to Broomfield to see the continuing Wood Stork. Fortunately, the bird stuck around long enough for me to visit and enjoy it yesterday morning. I am appreciative, for the bird's sake and mine, that birders have behaved well enough around the Wood Stork that it has felt safe to stay.

 

 

However, I was appalled to see a person IN THE POND yesterday morning with photography equipment, not 20 feet from the bird! I suppose had the bird truly felt threatened, it would have flown off, but regardless, it is completely inappropriate and disrespectful to the bird to be in the water and so close for the sake of photos or videos. I hope this is not someone in the COBirds community, but please consider this as a reminder to put a rare bird's well-being before your own.

 

I apologize for using the COBirds platform to bring this up, but after watching it play out, I couldn't not say something.

 

Tyler Stuart

Colorado Springs

 

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