Dr.Boletus
Well-known member
Just was curious about other people's opinions.
In the UK, long-eared owl roosts are not revealed, red-backed shrike breeding locations are kept a tight secret, and other things. When asked why it is so, people generally respond that they are afraid something will be disturbed/picked. Yes, true, it is possible, but isn't that a paranoid position?
I've been in these situations myself. Last year, I was asking people where to find the Serapias bergonii orchid which had appeared in Suffolk. Everyone said they wouldn't reveal the location. That was upsetting and in my position I felt I was punished, along with many others, for the potential actions of someone which may or may not happen. Another time I asked about seeing goshawks and turned half of an (another) internet forum against me when I was warned my 'requests were getting too specific'.
Today I was reading about the Nene Washes and saw enraged birdwatchers complaining that three people had been photographed disturbing short-eared owls. When I observed that owl in the same place, I got rather close and it showed no sign of disturbance, so what these people did to flush the birds I do not know. That is bad practice, and it is unacceptable to disturb wild animals for photos, but I believe this would have never happened had there not been so much secrecy.
You should have seen the crowds looking for long-eared owl there. The problem, I think, is these birds are hidden so much that when something leaks, desperate birdwatchers lose inhibition and want to take photos from excitement. Whilst I am categorically against disturbing birds, I am also against hiding locations, because it causes unstable situations like that to occur and also prevents considerate people from enjoying views of a species they want to see. I know from personal experience that if someone knows a general location and just carefully searches, they will be more careful.
Online, someone recently posted a video of the tree Methuselah from California. I can verify that is the correct tree. Later on, people started commenting, demanding it be removed and claiming that the tree will be destroyed because of that. That is a paranoid viewpoint which has no basis in reality, and is, once again, punishing everyone for paranoia.
In the UK, I think people are most worried about photographers, egg collectors and shooters. Most people are very considerate and careful, and only a tiny minority can cause problems and won't be able to do so at a well-known and watched site. Instead of hiding that Thetford Forest Ride 7 is a good place to see goshawks for years before it finally leaked, reveal it (like now), make it well-known, and the enhanced publicity is already a layer of protection, especially for a species which lives on/near a firing range anyway.
Like with the bergonii tongue orchid, and also say Essex's tongue orchids, I know the locations now, but many others do not. I have not once refused to tell a person where to find them when they asked.
If, and when, the Montagu's harrier returns, it will probably be kept a close secret. If at that point the location leaks, it will be a massive rampage that will result in breeding failure. If, instead, a watchpoint is established like with the bee-eater colony in Trimingham, people can enjoy views, and the birds will not be driven out of the area.
I'm curious to see what others think. I am against hiding locations, but I think most people do hide them on this forum
In the UK, long-eared owl roosts are not revealed, red-backed shrike breeding locations are kept a tight secret, and other things. When asked why it is so, people generally respond that they are afraid something will be disturbed/picked. Yes, true, it is possible, but isn't that a paranoid position?
I've been in these situations myself. Last year, I was asking people where to find the Serapias bergonii orchid which had appeared in Suffolk. Everyone said they wouldn't reveal the location. That was upsetting and in my position I felt I was punished, along with many others, for the potential actions of someone which may or may not happen. Another time I asked about seeing goshawks and turned half of an (another) internet forum against me when I was warned my 'requests were getting too specific'.
Today I was reading about the Nene Washes and saw enraged birdwatchers complaining that three people had been photographed disturbing short-eared owls. When I observed that owl in the same place, I got rather close and it showed no sign of disturbance, so what these people did to flush the birds I do not know. That is bad practice, and it is unacceptable to disturb wild animals for photos, but I believe this would have never happened had there not been so much secrecy.
You should have seen the crowds looking for long-eared owl there. The problem, I think, is these birds are hidden so much that when something leaks, desperate birdwatchers lose inhibition and want to take photos from excitement. Whilst I am categorically against disturbing birds, I am also against hiding locations, because it causes unstable situations like that to occur and also prevents considerate people from enjoying views of a species they want to see. I know from personal experience that if someone knows a general location and just carefully searches, they will be more careful.
Online, someone recently posted a video of the tree Methuselah from California. I can verify that is the correct tree. Later on, people started commenting, demanding it be removed and claiming that the tree will be destroyed because of that. That is a paranoid viewpoint which has no basis in reality, and is, once again, punishing everyone for paranoia.
In the UK, I think people are most worried about photographers, egg collectors and shooters. Most people are very considerate and careful, and only a tiny minority can cause problems and won't be able to do so at a well-known and watched site. Instead of hiding that Thetford Forest Ride 7 is a good place to see goshawks for years before it finally leaked, reveal it (like now), make it well-known, and the enhanced publicity is already a layer of protection, especially for a species which lives on/near a firing range anyway.
Like with the bergonii tongue orchid, and also say Essex's tongue orchids, I know the locations now, but many others do not. I have not once refused to tell a person where to find them when they asked.
If, and when, the Montagu's harrier returns, it will probably be kept a close secret. If at that point the location leaks, it will be a massive rampage that will result in breeding failure. If, instead, a watchpoint is established like with the bee-eater colony in Trimingham, people can enjoy views, and the birds will not be driven out of the area.
I'm curious to see what others think. I am against hiding locations, but I think most people do hide them on this forum
