[Tweeters] re "an important article"

[Robert O'Brien via Tweeters]

This article raises some important issues as Dennis points out.  But at the
same time it is a sad conflation of two very different situations.
The images alone bring this out.
The Capercaillie image is undefined but it could be the intrusion of an
eager photographer onto the breeding grounds of a rare grouse.  This very
likely could be a serious problem if that is what this (potentially
staged?) photo represents.  This would not normally be called twitching.
The other two images show what can be called twitching.in Europe.
The group of photographers behind a closed gate undoubtedly represents a
vagrant bird whose viewing is obviously well controlled.  i don't believe
this represents any problem for this ;rare' species because it is rare only
in this location (whatever it is).  This is twitching as normally defined.
This represents no threat to this particular species because this bird is
so out of range it is unlikely to return, and in most such cases it is
abundant in its normal range.
Ditto for the Scarlet Ibis. Surely this is an extremely rare bird in China,
because its natural range is South America.  Where it is abundant and
widespread.  These birders/photographers represent zero influence on the
species Scarlet Ibis.  Note also that the ibis is paying zero attention to
the photographers.
The main problem with occasional appearances of vastly out of range
occurrences of common birds is for 'twitchers' to scare it away so that
others don't 'get there in time' to see it.  I don't believe this has any
bearing at all on conservation of the vast majority of 'vagrant' twitchees.
I also am a subscriber to the Guardian because it presents important world
situations.  And disturbance of threatened or endangered birds is likely a
real problem in some areas of the world.  But the Guardian misrepresents
this problem quite seriously here.
Bob OBrien  Portland



On Mon, Sep 30, 2024 at 12:21 PM Diann MacRae via Tweeters <
tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:


> Hi, Tweets

>

> I am for the most part a supporter of the *Guardian* and certainly

> understand the story, which is scary. Isn't it similar here when the powers

> that be decided which owl is to be "saved" in certain areas. Yes, I know

> both sides so don't lecture me, it's just that when people want to see

> things or publish what they see they don't always give much thought to the

> final outcome, no matter where they are in the world. I don't know if leks

> in our state have been negatively affected but I know there are warnings to

> not go close during breeding season. Sorry, I am mildly horrified when I

> see photos of huge groups of birdwatchers looming over one ibis or

> capercaillie or, as occasionally in Washington, a rare raptor.

>

> Just my comment on an interesting situation.

>

> Cheers, Diann

>

> Diann MacRae

> Olympic Vulture Study

> 22622 - 53rd Avenue S.E.

> Bothell, WA 98021

> tvulture at gmx.com

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