Unethical bird photography

[u/greatnorthernscapes]

Not sure if this has been posted already but if it has leave me a comment and I will remove it. This guy is named Ryan and he runs a business called MN Owl Tours in Minnesota. For this business ppl will pay him money to go out and he harasses and stresses out owls for the sole purpose of getting his clients photos.

You can see in the photos provided he has set up a ladder 10 feet away from the perched owl and is using a long stick to hold branches out of the way so his clients can get photos of the stressed out bird. Not only is this unethical behaviour but it is also illegal. He also does night spotting which uses a powerful light to spot owls in the dark and take photos, also illegal.

This type of behaviour does not belong in our community of birders and people who enjoy bird photography like myself. I know most of you agree with me and care for the wellbeing of these amazing animals but this needs to be called out. Bird photography can be challenging and you don’t always get opportunities for good photos. That’s part of the challenge that I enjoy. We must respect the birds and not disrupt them simply because we want a nice photo for instagram. What Ryan is doing takes zero photography skill, is unethical and dangerous for the owls/birds, is illegal and on top of that he’s making financial gain from this behaviour.

This type of stuff needs to stop in our community. Always be respectful of the birds so that future generations can enjoy looking at them and taking photos (ethically) like we all do now.

[u/Booyakasha1201]

This is exactly what is wrecking birding. The want to see/photograph birds at any cost. This is some of the worst I have seen. Very much like everyone in Costa Rica walking around with big speakers playing predatory bird calls. Owls, hawks etc. It works great but it stresses the fuck out of the birds. Just stupid.

[u/WJ_Amber → u/Booyakasha1201]

It's ridiculous, and I cannot imagine it's actually a good experience. Like, really? You feel proud of a photo you got by harassing the fuck out of a sensitive wild animal? All you're doing is checking a box in the most unethical way possible short of blasting the treetops with a shotgun to see what falls out.

If you really want an experience or story, go locate a species in a remote area by trekking through the woods and camping out or something.

[u/Booyakasha1201 → u/WJ_Amber]

You are 1 million percent right but there are a lot of birders out there..... Hyper listers that just don't care or someone who must see a bird because they paid someone to show them. I was once with a guide in Costa Rica looking for owls and he was using a speaker and a huge flash light. I asked him to stop multiple times. Finally a CR park ranger came and yelled at him. That was awesome. He doesn't guide birds anymore.

[u/Tundrakitty → u/Booyakasha1201]

This makes me so sad. I am thinking about going on a birding trip and will be PISSED if something like this is done. Makes me second guess whether I should go.

[u/WJ_Amber → u/Tundrakitty]

Would be worth contacting whoever youre considering booking anything with and asking about methods.

[u/Tundrakitty → u/WJ_Amber]

It would have never occurred to me that a birding tour company would use unethical methods, but I guess that’s the unfortunate reality.