Well done to Bo for raising this issue
I am a photographer and birdwatcher and my complaint about Bo Beolens’ comments about ‘Snap Happy Birders’ is... well ,I’ll come back to this in a minute. In the meantime we could all agree on one thing about birdwatching: motivation is critical. Unsurprisingly, people who watch birds are driven by a variety of motivations. Some watch birds because they want to ‘trophy hunt’ for personal lists and others because the simply enjoy bird behaviour or record species for a benefit, beyond themselves for greater good. Some even watch birds because they want to kill them; and some for money. Having worked in countryside management for 35 years, with gamekeepers, ecologists, landowners, ranger services, environmental and community groups and National Parks: I have observed and contributed to many heated debates. Photographers who choose natural subjects as their source of inspiration are welcomed and applauded, but only if they do it in the right way. Anyone who chooses to express their creativity in the visual arts must always ask the question of themselves, “why am I doing this?” Many photographers will be clear about their objectives and motivations. Personally, I did it because I loved the subjects and for the money; but the money never came before the subject. As in many fields of recreation, often those with the least experience of their craft use technology as a shortcut, perhaps to gain status in a peer group. ‘Birdwatching’ means just that – watching birds. Observing closely, enjoying carefully, learning slowly and celebrate daily, feeling always. If it’s just a tick list you are after, then you should pick something less vulnerable as your subject; collect stamps or photograph trains – the birds don’t need to be photographed. Getting close up pictures of birds or any other living creature doesn’t make you an expert in the subject. So, back to my complaint about Bo Beolens’ comments. He was too diplomatic, and, if a professional conservationist and author (even if he is grumpy) can’t highlight a clear issue of concern for many without ruffling a few human feathers, then where does that leave the birds, who are engaged only with the essential and challenging occupation of survival?
The rule is clear: “do not disturb”.
Chris Calvey, Scotland