The Dark Side of Birding: Top 5 Birding Controversies You Need to Know About

While the birding community is normally pretty friendly, there are definitely some controversial topics that people have differing opinions about. Here are the top 5 controversies in the birding community that you need to know about.

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Photographers in cover image and slides by Mike G (CC by 2.0, edited)

Ivory-billed Woodpecker in cover image and slides by Eden, Janine, and Jim (CC by 2.0, edited)

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[bobpourri]

I didn't realize birding was such a stressful undertaking. Think I'll take up something relaxing....like cave diving.

[JamesCasatelli]

This goes both ways. One day I was out birding when I saw some black capped chickadees. I stopped to get some pictures from a distance. One flew to a tree right next to me and started checking me out. Then it flew over and landed on my shoulder. I thought, "Oh cool, I'm a Disney princess now." Next thing I know, four of his buddies flew over and started trying to get into my pockets and biting my hands looking for food. I think they were trying to mug me.

[johnpatton]

Here in south Florida a few years ago a group of photographers were photographing a spoonbill rookery. They were standing in waist deep water a respectable distance from the rookery. All were using lenses that ranged from 500 to 1200 mm. The birds were going about their normal routine. That was until a pontoon boat from the local Audubon Society showed up and motored between the photographers and the rookery. The leader of the tour got on a PA system and told the photographers they were too close. As soon as the person started speaking the spoonbills were frightened and took flight. When it made the local news the leader of the tour said the photographers were harassing the birds.Other witnesses, including some on the tour boat, said the tour leader was wrong and that person was the one who frightened the birds. Conflicts of this nature are not uncommon at this time of year here in Florida. There is a wetlands near Viera where birders have been known to block the roads so that only their group can get through.

[JeffandLeslie]

While taking photos of wildflowers, I saw a group of birders trample through an environmentally sensitive and fragile habitat destroying numerous wildflowers, some of which were wild orchids. They didn't care, even after I pointed out to them the orchids they trampled, they got the bird on their monthly county list. No argument wanted here but folks tend to ignore their own egregious behavior. I have seen horrendous behavior from photographers, birders, hikers, trail runners, school groups, off roaders, fishermen, and even scientists (I saw a bird bander break the wing of a song sparrow while getting it out of the mist net at a banding station. We think the bird was destroyed). So, any group who points fingers at another group really needs to look in the mirror. No single activity is immune from jerks, uncaring individuals or selfish behavior. Bad apples are bad apples regardless of which group to which they belong.

[joshuaprietophoto]

I've met a lot of birders who simply want to tick a species off on their target list and then leave three minutes after spotting them. I spoke a man who'd come from the US to Australia, telling me he'd been to several birding hotspots and seen and photographed several much loved species. We met in far north Queensland. We spoke about the local cassowaries and when when came along the beach, he took two pictures and got in his car and left. I spent a while from a distance watching its behaviour and it seemed to get used to me before getting closer for some great photos.

[photoboyjet]

This video really hit home. I've only been photographing birds for a few years, but I've run into gatekeeping and playback. One of the main birders in my area uses playback to attract birds. This person knows that it is a bad idea, especially in breeding season, but does it anyway. I've also had people ask me to take down location information on rare birds. Not because they are on private property, but because they want to get some good shots before everyone else does. Birding can be a crazy hobby.

[puffingtonsmythe]

My rules as a wildlife photographer are as follows: 1. Sit still & quite for as long as it takes without disturbing any bird especially nesting season. 2. If there aren’t any birds about to photograph then that’s tough. 3. Use as long as possible focal length lens to keep your distance away from the bird or animal (same rules apply for any wildlife). In my experiences, dog owners are worse as they don’t understand that some birds nest on the ground and can be scared away from their young very easily and will abandon their chicks or young. There is no shame in visiting bird world reserves at all to photograph them. If you use a hide and sit still you will eventually be rewarded. Again dog owners are under the elusion that whenever they walk their dogs in the countryside. They can let them off the lead, this is not the case in the UK for instance as they have to be under control at all times. (Country code)

[YetiUprising]

Another controversial topic is when I stand on my roof naked, flapping my arms and making bird calls. My neighborhood just doesn't get it.

[torinkyifh]

Birding/Birder Etiquette should be outlined and talked about more often in the community! Thanks for the video!

[tacostastegreat]

I remember driving to someone's house to get some wood, and a whole group of people were standing all over the road and looking into their cameras to get pictures of the eagle nearby. That eagle hasn't returned to that nest, but when I go hiking (even simple ones my grandparents go on) I've seen a handful of eagles and other uncommon birds. Don't feel entitled to anything in nature, be glad you were lucky enough to encounter the amazing animals.

[LannyChambers]

Some birders are anti-banding, which is self-defeating as banding is the primary tool for gathering data necessary to protect wild birds and their habitats. I band hummingbirds, and occasionally trap, band, and document "out of range" hummers, especially in winter. Some birders seem to resent my use of measurements to identify young or female hummingbirds, as if it were cheating. Some believe that banding will spook a rare bird and ruin their chance to see it, though every off-season hummer I ever trapped returned to the same feeder within hours, if not minutes.

[rumin]

I am definitely a bird photographer and not a birder. I often take pictures first and identify later. Bird photography has gotten me much more interested in birds and their well being. Also I share my photos with others outside the bird community which can only be good for pro-bird politics. Two different hobbies using the same resource, mutual respect is called for. I will say that mirrorless cameras with silent electronic shutters and high iso cameras should reduce shutter/mirror noise and flash, both of which could definitely be intrusions by bird photographers on the shared use with birders.

[jgyekis]

I would add birders who allow their own cats outdoors and birders that don't treat their home window glass to prevent collisions and honorific names are some other good ones to discuss if you ever do a second video.

[ForrestWest]

Bird photographers abusing the playback of bird sounds is one thing that I've experienced. I've seen where even playing a bird sound once or twice changed the activity of the birds nearby and the sounds they were making. I've decided not to do it at all.

[heimdall]

One legit reason for gate keeping is leaving the bird alone to breed in peace.

[desertdarlene]

Gatekeeping is probably what irritates me the most about birding, especially if the bird is in a public space. However, it is frustrating when you go out to view a bird and there's a large crowd of irritable birders there. I can definitely understand a homeowner not wanting a mob on their private property, though.

[andrewbrown]

I also thought of cats (primarily the outdoor and feral ones) and eBird Reviewers playing favorites and/or not requiring the same evidence from all birders. Thanks for the video guys, love your work!!

[missjoie]

I’m not part of the birding community, but I have observed similar debates in the herping (reptile) community 😅 Especially the gatekeeping and invasive species discourse

[ElizabethFranquiEsq]

Wow. I'm just a bird admirer and never heard about how wild birders can get. I'll stick to watching them at my bird feeding station.

[samaraflener]

Great video and topic!
My #1 rule is do no harm. Birds and nature in general are under so much pressure that I consciously try to minimize my impact as much as possible. Of course, I also know my mere presence will have an impact on bird behavior but I try to be respectful and keep my distance always. What gets to me are the folks who feel entitled to it all no matter what. In a recent FB bird group post, the photographer thought nothing of walking under a Red-tailed hawk that was hunting from a power line just to flush the bird in order to get a flight shot. The invasion of space, the pursuit and the total lack of respect…. I can’t even. 😐Hopefully we can keep talking to one another and learning. Once we know better, we can do better and we’re really going to have to do better. I want to thank all of the fellow nature/ bird lovers out there for keeping it ethical! ✊😎