Let's open up a controversial subject-baiting raptors

[bajadreamer]

This is a Bonelli's Eagle, an endangered species of Europe, especially of Spain and Portugal. This shot was taken from a blind near the Portugal-Spain border in protected area, Parque Natural do Douro International. There is one pair of breeding Bonelli's Eagles near here; one of only 11 pairs in Northern Spain. The park gives a concession to a company that has a permanent hide (11 years). Once per week they place a dead rabbit on rocks in front of the hide which attracts both the male and female during the nesting season. Photographers are allowed to go to the hide before dawn (in the dark) and leave after dark at night. The bait (dead rabbit) is placed once per week so as to not disrupt the normal feeding and territorial behaviors of the Eagles. All money charged goes into a trust that is used to purchase more land for the reserve. In "non-COVID" times, this hide is reserved years in advance.

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These are magnificent birds and we felt blessed to see and photograph them. This is only the first of many shots that I will be processing from this shoot.
Any way, I realize that baiting raptors is a controversial subject. We felt that the benefits gained by the birds outweighed any negatives.
Your feelings?

 

[NorthernFocus]

Nice shot of a beautiful bird. Well done.

 

[Wink Jones]

What a beautiful bird and a beautiful exposure too.

I am a hunter of ducks and geese, and if you were shooting ducks and geese over bait, you would be in violation of Federal law in the US. I am in full agreement with that law.

However, if you are helping the survival of the species by providing limited bait and allowing the birds to be photographed as a means of providing the funds to provide both habitat and food, I have a completely different take. It seems to me that this is sort of like Eagles Unlimited. (Ducks Unlimited has purchased millions of acres of habitat since it was founded and there are a lot of us who donate to the cause every year, attending fund raising banquets and parties and generally having a great time while helping the birds that we love.)

I am pretty sure I do not understand why this would/could be a bad thing when done properly. I can see how it might be abused, but this case certainly does not sound like abuse to me.

 

[Woody Meristem]

Very nice photo. Although I'm sure others may disagree, I fail to see any ethical difference between feeding raptors and feeding suet to woodpeckers or seed to seed-eating songbirds. Most raptors will eat carrion from carcasses that died a natural death and few would argue that setting a portable blind (hide) near a carcass in order to photograph feeding raptors is unethical -- why would placing a carcass in front of a permanent blind (hide) be any different?

The practice of using the funds derived from photographers to increase or enhance habitat for an endangered species is about as ethical as anything we photographers ever do.

 

[RikWriter]

Very nice photo. Although I'm sure others may disagree, I fail to see any ethical difference between feeding raptors and feeding suet to woodpeckers or seed to seed-eating songbirds. Most raptors will eat carrion from carcasses that died a natural death and few would argue that setting a portable blind (hide) near a carcass in order to photograph feeding raptors is unethical -- why would placing a carcass in front of a permanent blind (hide) be any different?

The practice of using the funds derived from photographers to increase or enhance habitat for an endangered species is about as ethical as anything we photographers ever do.

Totally agree with you.

 

[FB101]

What I object to are practices that actually threaten the survival of endangered species. Repeated, frequent feeding with the wrong kind of food and increased exposure to humans can have devastating effects on bird survival by modifying their behavior.
Clearly the operation here is designed to take those aspects into account, minimize risks to the birds, protect the animals and provide funding to increase their chances of survival. Based on what is shared, it seems to me the birds would be worse off without that program so it's easier to be comfortable with it.

Oh, and the eagle, and the picture are both stunning.

 

[SonoranDesert]

This is a Bonelli's Eagle, an endangered species of Europe, especially of Spain and Portugal. This shot was taken from a blind near the Portugal-Spain border in protected area, Parque Natural do Douro International. There is one pair of breeding Bonelli's Eagles near here; one of only 11 pairs in Northern Spain. The park gives a concession to a company that has a permanent hide (11 years). Once per week they place a dead rabbit on rocks in front of the hide which attracts both the male and female during the nesting season. Photographers are allowed to go to the hide before dawn (in the dark) and leave after dark at night. The bait (dead rabbit) is placed once per week so as to not disrupt the normal feeding and territorial behaviors of the Eagles. All money charged goes into a trust that is used to purchase more land for the reserve. In "non-COVID" times, this hide is reserved years in advance.View attachment 39190
These are magnificent birds and we felt blessed to see and photograph them. This is only the first of many shots that I will be processing from this shoot.
Any way, I realize that baiting raptors is a controversial subject. We felt that the benefits gained by the birds outweighed any negatives.
Your feelings?

I agree with @Wink Jones @Woody Meristem and @FB101
….and stunning portrait.

 

[MikeJ]

I also agree with the sentiments above. And that is a stellar image!

 

[bajadreamer]

Nice shot of a beautiful bird. Well done.

Thank you. This is the male. Later (both in time and in my processing) the female shows up. About 1/3 larger.

 

[bajadreamer]

What a beautiful bird and a beautiful exposure too.

I am a hunter of ducks and geese, and if you were shooting ducks and geese over bait, you would be in violation of Federal law in the US. I am in full agreement with that law.

However, if you are helping the survival of the species by providing limited bait and allowing the birds to be photographed as a means of providing the funds to provide both habitat and food, I have a completely different take. It seems to me that this is sort of like Eagles Unlimited. (Ducks Unlimited has purchased millions of acres of habitat since it was founded and there are a lot of us who donate to the cause every year, attending fund raising banquets and parties and generally having a great time while helping the birds that we love.)

I am pretty sure I do not understand why this would/could be a bad thing when done properly. I can see how it might be abused, but this case certainly does not sound like abuse to me.

Thank you. I also understand that it is easy to abuse an otherwise good thing.

 

[bajadreamer]

Very nice photo. Although I'm sure others may disagree, I fail to see any ethical difference between feeding raptors and feeding suet to woodpeckers or seed to seed-eating songbirds. Most raptors will eat carrion from carcasses that died a natural death and few would argue that setting a portable blind (hide) near a carcass in order to photograph feeding raptors is unethical -- why would placing a carcass in front of a permanent blind (hide) be any different?

The practice of using the funds derived from photographers to increase or enhance habitat for an endangered species is about as ethical as anything we photographers ever do.

I absolutely agree with you. Hummingbird feeders, seed feeders, even planting "bird" friendly flowers can be construed as "unethical". I do admit that the sunflowers I plant in my back yard attract many Lesser Goldfinches and about once per week or so, I see the Cooper's Hawk come cruising through. I feel bad at times about that but one has to consider the "greater good".

 

[bajadreamer]

I agree with @Wink Jones @Woody Meristem and @FB101
….and stunning portrait.

Thank you. A great bird-not colorful, but majestic. Somewhat like our Bald Eagles.

 

[bajadreamer]

I also agree with the sentiments above. And that is a stellar image!

Thank you for your thoughts.

 

[Anjin San]

Very nice photo. Although I'm sure others may disagree, I fail to see any ethical difference between feeding raptors and feeding suet to woodpeckers or seed to seed-eating songbirds. Most raptors will eat carrion from carcasses that died a natural death and few would argue that setting a portable blind (hide) near a carcass in order to photograph feeding raptors is unethical -- why would placing a carcass in front of a permanent blind (hide) be any different?

The practice of using the funds derived from photographers to increase or enhance habitat for an endangered species is about as ethical as anything we photographers ever do.

Yep…some of the ethical photography folk get really almost religious about the topic…my thoughts mirror yours pretty closely.

 

[NorthernFocus]

... I am pretty sure I do not understand why this would/could be a bad thing when done properly. I can see how it might be abused, but this case certainly does not sound like abuse to me.

Unfortunately those that are passionate about the subject focus only on the potential for abuse and strive for regulating everything to the lowest common denominator. Usually excepting themselves of course since they know better than the rest of us.

...I fail to see any ethical difference between feeding raptors and feeding suet to woodpeckers or seed to seed-eating songbirds...

Poor thing, you just don't understand. Let those who know better make those important decisions

...Repeated, frequent feeding with the wrong kind of food and increased exposure to humans can have devastating effects on bird survival by modifying their behavior...

There is a lot of rhetoric/anecdotal information and "expert opinion" along this line but little/no supporting facts/science. At least not that I've been able to find. Granted I've not made it my mission in life to do so.

 

[Rassie]

Nice image. I don't see an issue with the specific circumstances of using bait in this case. It would be a problem for me if the bait is placed or replaced on a daily basis.

There's a guy in my province who determined where the snowy owls hang out in a specific rural farming area not far from where he lives. He obtained permission from a few farmers to go on their land an act as a guide for photographers to photograph the owls. The birds like to hunt the snow-covered farm fields. Apparently the same owls return to the same places every winter. So this guide advertises his services, gets folks to sign on, then he meets them near where the owls are and takes them to those farms in his vehicle for some shooting.

The problem is that he purchases a bunch of mice from breeders and puts them in a beverage cooler (room temperature). Once he gets to a site he locates the owl, usually perched high on the roof of a barn, and he then puts out a live mouse on the ground. The owl comes and grabs the mouse, flies of some distance and eats the mouse. He then puts out the next mouse, and the owl comes back and grabs that one again. This carries on for as long as the photographers are happy to stay and shoot. During the course of a day he can feed as many as a dozen mice to the owl this way. I don't think I'm alone in seeing this practice as a problem.

 

[bajadreamer]

Nice image. I don't see an issue with the specific circumstances of using bait in this case. It would be a problem for me if the bait is placed or replaced on a daily basis.

There's a guy in my province who determined where the snowy owls hang out in a specific rural farming area not far from where he lives. He obtained permission from a few farmers to go on their land an act as a guide for photographers to photograph the owls. The birds like to hunt the snow-covered farm fields. Apparently the same owls return to the same places every winter. So this guide advertises his services, gets folks to sign on, then he meets them near where the owls are and takes them to those farms in his vehicle for some shooting.

The problem is that he purchases a bunch of mice from breeders and puts them in a beverage cooler (room temperature). Once he gets to a site he locates the owl, usually perched high on the roof of a barn, and he then puts out a live mouse on the ground. The owl comes and grabs the mouse, flies of some distance and eats the mouse. He then puts out the next mouse, and the owl comes back and grabs that one again. This carries on for as long as the photographers are happy to stay and shoot. During the course of a day he can feed as many as a dozen mice to the owl this way. I don't think I'm alone in seeing this practice as a problem.

Absolutely agree with you. I think this practice is one major reason why raptor baiting has such a bad reputation and evokes much emotion. Certainly will reduce the owl's natural reluctance to allow human presence.

 

[bajadreamer]

Unfortunately those that are passionate about the subject focus only on the potential for abuse and strive for regulating everything to the lowest common denominator. Usually excepting themselves of course since they know better than the rest of us.


Poor thing, you just don't understand. Let those who know better make those important decisions


There is a lot of rhetoric/anecdotal information and "expert opinion" along this line but little/no supporting facts/science. At least not that I've been able to find. Granted I've not made it my mission in life to do so.

As in so many things in life.; refusal to attempt to understand both sides of an issue and to accept that there are few things in life that are "all good" or "all bad". A major contributor to the strife we all see and feel today, IMO.

 

[Oosty]

Nice image. I don't see an issue with the specific circumstances of using bait in this case. It would be a problem for me if the bait is placed or replaced on a daily basis.

There's a guy in my province who determined where the snowy owls hang out in a specific rural farming area not far from where he lives. He obtained permission from a few farmers to go on their land an act as a guide for photographers to photograph the owls. The birds like to hunt the snow-covered farm fields. Apparently the same owls return to the same places every winter. So this guide advertises his services, gets folks to sign on, then he meets them near where the owls are and takes them to those farms in his vehicle for some shooting.

The problem is that he purchases a bunch of mice from breeders and puts them in a beverage cooler (room temperature). Once he gets to a site he locates the owl, usually perched high on the roof of a barn, and he then puts out a live mouse on the ground. The owl comes and grabs the mouse, flies of some distance and eats the mouse. He then puts out the next mouse, and the owl comes back and grabs that one again. This carries on for as long as the photographers are happy to stay and shoot. During the course of a day he can feed as many as a dozen mice to the owl this way. I don't think I'm alone in seeing this practice as a problem.

I agree this isn't ethical at all - the owls could not only become dependant but also too habituated to humans. This is just as bad as putting papyrus through the gills of a fish and snapping an image as the eagle picks it up - guaranteed to be spectacular but totally unacceptable.