I get it that guides make a livelihood from the info they share with clients, and clients spreading info could potentially erode the guide's unique selling point.
I also fully get it when GPS is not shared because of the risk of trapping, hunting, ... especially in a country like Viet Nam.
However, I just don't understand the reasoning:
" I have not included GPS locations as I believe only those birding independently should share such information. "
It seems from this sentence, it's OK (and the word 'should' even implicates some kind of obligation) for independent birders to post detailed info, while guided birders have a good excuse not to share info. I don't agree because of the following reasons:
1. the report refers to helpful independent reports. So the author benefits from the exact info he feels he shouldn't share. This feels like he's ok by taking info, not by giving. You pay for a guide, but you get free info from independent birders... Shouldn't you pay them for their reports (a rethoric question)?
2. Many places on the birding circuit where staked out by independent birders, universities, expeditions, early explorers, and ofcourse also local guides or professional international birding guides. Commercial birding benefits and profits from people freely sharing info (think about recent sightings on ebird, guides using bird sounds from XC, not allowed actually, but that's another discussion). This should ofcourse not be a competition who shares the most: as a matter of fact, sharing info works (best) in both ways (e.g. many guides put all their sightings on ebird, if you want to talk about guides who are not afraid of sharing and losing their livelihood!). And while there is no obligation at all to share info, it is always appreciated.
3. Ignoring the issue of trapping / hunting / vulnerable species, a big problem in e.g. Viet Nam, Indonesia,... (a reason I also suppress certain sightings in my reports), the sharing of detailed information is almost never the deciding factor between opting for a guided tour or an independent tour. People chose for guided tours for various reasons, but the lack of more specific gen about where to find certain target birds is no factor for 99% of birders (factors are comfort, lack of time / interest preparing the trip in terms of logistics and birds, safety, having someone who speaks the language and understands the culture,...). The only outcome is that independent birders, who you relied upon in your pre-trip preparation, will be a bit more frustrated and lose more time in those areas where information is scarce / not updated...The same way as you could state that guides' unique selling points erodes if you share info, independent info will erode if people stop contributing and sharing.
If there are no places like e.g. cloudbirders, xeno-canto, ebird, observation, inaturalist, birdforum, and especially if there are no people feeding info to those sites because they feel entitled not to share info (for various reasons, some very valid, others debatable)... there is simply no independent (international) birding community.