First, the distinction between “birders” and “photographers” is about as a clear as that between liberals and conservatives. Some birders worship their practice as a religion while some photographers would trample a sanctuary and stand on their dead relatives to “get the shot”. More commonly we now find BWAC or birders-with-a-camera. Each group is often heard to say that they “have got” some specie or another (be it on a “list” or CF card) with photographers lusting after the perfect BOASS (bird-on-a-stick-shot).
To the argument on baiting: it seems more than a little presumptive to believe that humans can live near birds and other animals without influencing their behavior. Many animals have even evolved adaptations to human presence; e.g. early wolves living near humans adopted genes allowing them to metabolize carbohydrates in foods discarded by villages so that our modern, domestic dogs can readily digest sticky buns while wolves cannot. Peregrines and other birds build nests on just about every human structure from skyscrapers to traffic signals. We see coyotes, opossums, skunks, raccoons, deer, moose, bear and even cougars visiting and even thriving in long established cities that have taken over their habitats. Most nature preserves have bird feeders set to attract birds for human viewing.
Too many people are making too many people. As long as that continues we are doomed to further damage indigenous wildlife. Mind you, I’m NOT saying that baiting should be adopted as a widespread practice (a bit moot since it already has), it just seems a bit silly to raise a stink over tossing the occasional rat to an opportunistic bird. Be it to get a fine shot or just to get rid of the rat.
First, the distinction between “birders” and “photographers” is about as a clear as that between liberals and conservatives. Some birders worship their practice as a religion while some photographers would trample a sanctuary and stand on their dead relatives to “get the shot”. More commonly we now find BWAC or birders-with-a-camera. Each group is often heard to say that they “have got” some specie or another (be it on a “list” or CF card) with photographers lusting after the perfect BOASS (bird-on-a-stick-shot).
To the argument on baiting: it seems more than a little presumptive to believe that humans can live near birds and other animals without influencing their behavior. Many animals have even evolved adaptations to human presence; e.g. early wolves living near humans adopted genes allowing them to metabolize carbohydrates in foods discarded by villages so that our domestic dogs can readily digest sticky buns while wolves cannot. Peregrines and other birds build nests on just about every human structure from skyscrapers to traffic signals. We see coyotes, opossums, skunks, raccoons, deer, moose, bear and even cougars visiting and even thriving in long established cities that have taken over their habitats. Most nature preserves have bird feeders set to attract birds for human viewing.
Too many people are making too many people. As long as that continues we are doomed to further damage indigenous wildlife. Mind you, I’m NOT saying that baiting should be adopted as a widespread practice (a bit moot since it already has), it just seems a bit silly to raise a stink over tossing the occasional rat to an opportunistic bird. Be it to get a fine shot or just to get rid of the rat.
First, the distinction between “birders” and “photographers” is about as a clear as that between liberals and conservatives. Some birders worship their practice as a religion while some photographers would trample a sanctuary and stand on their dead relatives to “get the shot”. More commonly we now find BWAC or birders-with-a-camera. Each group is often heard to say that they “have got” some specie or another (be it on a “list” or CF card) with photographers lusting after the perfect BOASS (bird-on-a-stick-shot).
To the arugment on baiting: it seems more than a little presumptive to believe that humans can live near birds and other animals without influencing their behavior. Many animals have even evolved adaptations to human presence; e.g. early wolves living near humans adopted genes allowing them to metabolize carbohydrates in foods discarded by villages so that our domestic dogs can readily digest sticky buns while wolves cannot. Peregrines and other birds build nests on just about every human structure from skyscrapers to traffic signals. We see coyotes, opossums, skunks, raccoons, deer, moose, bear and even cougars visiting and even thriving in long established cities that have taken over their habitats. Most nature preserves have bird feeders set to attract birds for human viewing.
Too many people are making too many people. As long as that continues we are doomed to further damage indigenous wildlife. Mind you, I’m NOT saying that baiting should be adopted as a widespread practice (a bit moot since it already has), it just seems a bit silly to raise a stink over tossing the occasional rat to an opportunistic bird. Be it to get a fine shot or just to get rid of the rat.
First, the distinction between “birders” and “photographers” is about as a clear as that between liberals and conservatives. Some birders worship their practice as a religion while some photographers would trample a sanctuary and stand on their dead relatives to “get the shot”. More commonly we now find BWAC or birders-with-a-camera. Each group is often heard to say that they “have got” some specie or another (be it on a “list” or CF card) with photographers lusting after the perfect BOASS (bird-on-a-stick-shot).
To the augment on baiting: it seems more than a little presumptive to believe that humans can live near birds and other animals without influencing their behavior. Many animals have even evolved adaptations to human presence; e.g. early wolves living near humans adopted genes allowing them to metabolize carbohydrates in foods discarded by villages so that our domestic dogs can readily digest sticky buns while wolves cannot. Peregrines and other birds build nests on just about every human structure from skyscrapers to traffic signals. We see coyotes, opossums, skunks, raccoons, deer, moose, bear and even cougars visiting and even thriving in long established cities that have taken over their habitats. Most nature preserves have bird feeders set to attract birds for human viewing.
Too many people are making too many people. As long as that continues we are doomed to further damage indigenous wildlife. Mind you, I’m NOT saying that baiting should be adopted as a widespread practice (a bit moot since it already has), it just seems a bit silly to raise a stink over tossing the occasional rat to an opportunistic bird. Be it to get a fine shot or just to get rid of the rat.
Keep up the good work Conrad.
Feb 03, 2013 at 03:29 PM
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