pbjosh
missing the neotropics
For some birds like breeding raptors or owls, I think keeping things secret really does help. For the Capercaillie, I think it probably helps, though there's already a lot of disturbance from non-birders in the zones I know to look for them.
But overall I basically agree with you Frank. I don't think it helps as much as the usually good intentioned decision makers think it does, but is certainly makes birding more clique-based and makes it more important to be "one of the cool kids" and to know the right people.
Re: Little Bittern, it for me has been reliable at Büsisee during the Summer. I'm not sure what arrival dates are like (could perhaps find out from eBird and/or Vogelwarte) but I see it there fairly regularly in season. Early or late in the day is best, occasionally one is perched in view but more frequently you just see one fly across the pond if you're sitting there quietly a half an hour or something. Recently there has been some vegetation trimmed though which exposes the pond more so hopefully that won't impact the birds there. It's just a spot I like to go and sit and have some tea or read and it's where I usually first check when I bike over to Chatzensee to bird so I've seen it there a number of times.
But overall I basically agree with you Frank. I don't think it helps as much as the usually good intentioned decision makers think it does, but is certainly makes birding more clique-based and makes it more important to be "one of the cool kids" and to know the right people.
Re: Little Bittern, it for me has been reliable at Büsisee during the Summer. I'm not sure what arrival dates are like (could perhaps find out from eBird and/or Vogelwarte) but I see it there fairly regularly in season. Early or late in the day is best, occasionally one is perched in view but more frequently you just see one fly across the pond if you're sitting there quietly a half an hour or something. Recently there has been some vegetation trimmed though which exposes the pond more so hopefully that won't impact the birds there. It's just a spot I like to go and sit and have some tea or read and it's where I usually first check when I bike over to Chatzensee to bird so I've seen it there a number of times.