Etiquette -- feeding in the field

Just wondering, if you are going to be at a site for photos where other photographers are expected as well then is it OK to bring say bread for water fowl, seed for songbirds etc.

I don't know about that, but when we're visiting Whitefish Point during migration, my wife always brings cookies, brownies, etc. for the waterbird counter. . .

Hey Brian,

This is an important question -- rarely do I shoot birds, and even rarer still are the times when this kind of situation presents itself in the situations I usually shoot. However, as the annual pilgrimmage to Homer is coming up, I'll speak of my experiences there.

Probably 95% of the eagle images you see from there are taken of eagles feeding on baitfish thrown into the bay by photographers. It can make for very irate photographers if the various folks engaged don't work together .. I must admit, I have some concern over this every year: it's an expensive endeavour (travel, film, time off, etc) and one not to be taken too lightly. It can be a real problem when different groups start trying to dominate the action, throwing and shooting without regard to how it affects the action for others in the area. This is one of the reasons I won't go to shoot there alone .. there's strength in numbers. Organized photo groups and workshops have been the worst offenders, in my experience there.

I won't speak of the concerns of feeding the birds, because it's not an issue, as far as I'm concerned .. it's perfectly legal. Beyond that, it's simply an awesome experience!

Cheers

Carl

Brian,

My feeling is to feed only in circumstances where it will not have any detrimental effects on the wildlife. I will never feed substances which are not good for them and I try to match the food that I feed to the natural food that my expected subjects would obtain.

Items such as bread and chips should not be on the menu IMO and you should stick to crushed corn and seeds that will not germinate. With small mammals and other birds that would naturally feed on carrion, I try to find road kill and table scraps that would fit that bill to use as attractants.

Always keep the animals welfare in mind and other photographers and wildlife watchers in the area as well. Working together will bring more subjects to everyone rather than creating a competition.

I am sure others will have opinions but this is the way that I approach the subject.

I am in complete agreement with Les on this issue. Use cracked corn for ducks, not bread.

Craig Lipski wrote:.... my wife always brings cookies, brownies, etc. for the waterbird counter. . .

I don't know , Craig...... the thought of cookies & brownies being fed to birds instead of to me is simply beyond comprehension!

This brings up a interesting issue since most wildlife lovers have bird feeders but you might want to check your state/federal wildlife agency about the current laws about feeding wildlife. If you can clear that issue and have nutritious food for the birds bring some chocolate chip cookies for the other photographers and you should be OK.

Alan Melle wrote:I am in complete agreement with Les on this issue. Use cracked corn for ducks, not bread.

Craig Lipski wrote:.... my wife always brings cookies, brownies, etc. for the waterbird counter. . .

I don't know , Craig...... the thought of cookies & brownies being fed to birds instead of to me is simply beyond comprehension!

Alan I agree -- we should get the cookies and brownies

BrianS wrote:Just wondering, if you are going to be at a site for photos where other photographers are expected as well then is it OK to bring say bread for water fowl, seed for songbirds etc.

If you have to ask yourself, then the answer for you is clearly "no." When I was sumberged into the world of bird photography, I was taught that baiting animals and birds was acceptable so long as it did not harm the bird. I have since changed my mind.

Even though I know the species will survive in the long run, I still won't do it because having lived with intelligent birds, I know how important rituals are to them. They're not mindless creatures who simply go elsewhere when there's no food. They like the food we provide. They accept it and they learn to depend on it. They even teach their young where the "easy food" is so they can come back year after year and be healthy. You have to answer your own question but I absolutely do not feed birds in order to catch their attention and make a better shot. Good bird photography means so much more than getting a great bird image.

Alan Melle wrote:
I am in complete agreement with Les on this issue. Use cracked corn for ducks, not bread.

Craig Lipski wrote:
.... my wife always brings cookies, brownies, etc. for the waterbird counter. . .


I don't know , Craig...... the thought of cookies & brownies being fed to birds instead of to me is simply beyond comprehension!


Alan I agree -- we should get the cookies and brownies

Read again, guys; The goodies are for the poor waterbird counters, who spend endless hours freezing their @$$ off counting migrating specks over Whitefish Bay. But we do share with other birders, photogs, etc, so if you're ever there and someone whips out a box of cookies, (and maybe a flask of single malt. . .)