Baiting birds into close proximity for photographic purposes is a highly controversial subject, especially when it’s done to raptors. Often live bait such as store-bought mice are thrown in front of the photographer so that photos can be obtained of the bird (owls especially, but other raptors too) in flight as it swoops down for the rodent. But ingenious variations on that theme exist, from using dead fish and store-bought meat to electronic bird calls and stuffed owls (raptors and other birds often mob a perched owl out in the open).
Personally, I find the practice abhorrent for a variety of reasons. First and foremost is the potential for harm to the birds from the spread of disease and increasing the likelihood of injury or death to the bird as road kill or from acclimation to human activity. There’s always a certain element of human society that will harass wildlife at every opportunity and “taming” raptors increases that potential. See this link for a particularly disturbing local example of the type of human scum that wildlife of any kind should stay as far away from as possible.
For me, baiting birds is not “nature photography” – it’s more akin to studio or zoo photography. I want my subjects as free and wild as possible and their behavior to be natural. Yes, that makes the shot much more difficult to get but when I do get it I’ve really got something. I have no Marty Stouffer-esque aspirations…
But there’s another, more selfish reason why baiting gets my dander up. I refuse to bait myself or to photograph birds that others have baited but that distinction can be very difficult to make in the field. Baiting is often done at prime raptor locations and it can draw in many if not most of the raptors in the area so you’re sometimes left with two choices – photograph birds that may have been baited by others or suck in your gut and go home. I’ve been forced to do the latter many times.
I really like this image. Northern Harriers have unusually long tails and wings but that characteristic is usually almost impossible to appreciate unless you can get them in a difficult flight pose like this.
I got this shot on January 2 of this year as the bird swooped down onto what I thought was a dead carp half buried in the phragmites. It turned out that the “fish” was really a store-bought chicken that photographers had placed there to bring in eagles and harriers. But other birds were feeding on it too, including hordes of coots.
I got many nice shots of harriers in the vicinity that day. But now I know that at least some of them were baited so I’ll either have to delete those images or disclose that they were baited whenever I might use them, which I absolutely despise doing.
Two winters earlier I was photographing eagles in the same area that were feeding on carp (the fish are killed by refuge personnel to control their destructive habits to emergent vegetation) with a group of other photographers. We were all shooting with tripods (unusual for me) when one of the photographers asked if “anyone minded” if he went out and moved some of the fish to more photogenic locations where the eagles coming in would be easier to photograph. This of course would be just another form of baiting. I figured that since he asked he really wanted an honest answer so I told him (nicely) that yes, I did mind since that would be baiting.
He did it anyway. I couldn’t resist documenting him stabbing the carp in the tail with a screwdriver so he could move it to a “better” location. I packed up my gear and left.
The winter of 2008-9 was the best winter for photographing Bald Eagles that I can remember. There were many hundreds of eagles in the wetlands surrounding the Great Salt Lake but most of them were drawn to the refuge as soon as they did the carp kill. Some might argue that this is a form of baiting in itself since the fish were killed by humans but personally I’m ok with it since they were killed for conservation purposes rather than for photographic purposes. But it’s a fine line, I know…
I got many images of eagles that winter that I like a lot, in a variety of settings and poses and in some incredible light.
But I had a nasty surprise one morning late in February.
After shooting eagles all morning with many other photographers (most of us from our vehicles) I left the prime spot to look for harriers. By the time I returned it was late in the morning and the light was less than ideal so most of the photographers had left. As soon as I pulled up this is what I saw – one of the photographers had waded out into the water and was moving some of the carp to “better” locations with the shouted directions from another photographer.
I was astounded. When one of the other photographers (very well-known in the nature photography community) noticed my chagrin he very sarcastically said to me “so, you won’t bait yourself but it’s ok as long as the baiting is done by someone else?” I realized that this practice had likely been going on for at least part of that winter. They would wait until every one else was gone to move the fish so that others wouldn’t know it was being done – they obviously weren’t proud of what they were doing. So some of my very favorite eagle images may have been baited and I don’t know which ones. And that makes me angry.
My point: If I choose not to bait, my decision has no effect on others. But those who bait often give the rest of us no choice but to shoot birds who may have been baited or go home. I’m not alone in my feelings about baiting – many of us feel the same way.
This winter, baiting at the refuge was rampant and obvious so I almost completely avoided the place but I wasn’t happy about it.
Ok, I’m through with my rant but it was a catharsis of sorts for me to get this off my chest…
Ron
On a technical note, if you remove the teleconverter you could fit the baiter’s face into the photo. I think baiters, when caught, have no right to privacy. It’s only through peer pressure that such behavior can be discouraged.
Hi, Ron, like you, I oppose this kind of baiting. One important thing I’ve learned from your blog is about inadvertently photographing around baited areas. Until I moved to the Northwest where there’s a healthy Bald Eagle population, I wasn’t aware of how many people move fish in this manner. I will be highly attuned to that possibility next time I’m photographing eagles on a river.
On a related note, I realize I’m often the lone voice in taking this perspective, but you know how much compassion I feel for all animals. So, I would argue there’s another important distinction between a backyard bird feeder and the baiting of a raptor — and that difference lies in the “bait.” I could not be more adamantly against using a live animal to bait another animal for the purposes of a photograph. I don’t support live baiting for other purposes either, because for me, it’s a cruelty issue that transcends even the valid ethical problems with baiting itself. As I say, I’m in a minority presenting this view in most discussions on raptor baiting, but I can’t imagine in a million years, purchasing and carrying a box of live pet store mice and killing them for such frivolous, egotistical ends.
Unless it concerns a law, or a rule in a photo competition, it comes down to individual opinions and what degree of this they tolerate. I personally think the extremes of this you described are rather appalling, particularly if it isn’t good for the wildlife. Wasting their energy mobbing an owl decoy for example. And a photo that has anything fake in it is not as good as one that doesn’t. A plastic owl, a white lab rat…not really a wildlife shot, more a staged event. The other stuff, like moving a dead fish that was already there, not as big a deal. It’s a matter of degree I suppose. You’re to be commended for sticking up for your ethics. I suspect it shows in the high quality of your work. Some people take a lot of shortcuts and I think it shows.
Cindy, even when it concerns a law or a “rule in a photo competition”, lots of folks cheat. So many that it makes me cringe. Believe me, I know that from experience. So it comes down to ethics and trying to instill them in new generations of photographers. I’m skeptical about attempting to change the ways of the cheaters and fudgers among us now because they just don’t care unless they get caught.
I think that the majority of nature photographers are ethical but those that are not often get the kudos and win the contests (a big part of the reason I don’t enter contests) and that just sucks more people into their way of “thinking”.
Hopefully I’m just being pessimistic about this but I doubt it…
I wanted to comment on your statement in the third paragraph of your post: “Yes, that makes the shot much more difficult to get but when I do get it I’ve really got something.” –I came across a very friendly, relaxed, and experienced bird photographer at the Colusa Wildlife Refuge in Northern California. We were watching and photographing waterfowl. He said “nothing about this is easy.” Such a simple and seemingly obvious statement, but one that I think about often, especially when I get discouraged that I missed some wonderful moment or my shots are poor quality. If it were easy, it would not be as engaging.
Well put, Sharon. If it were easy it wouldn’t be as engaging AND good shots of truly wild creatures would be commonplace and nothing special.
Beautiful images – as always. Thank you. However, you have me questioning myself a bit here. As you know, I do feed the birds around our home. It isn’t baiting precisely, but I may be treading a fine line here.
Elephant’s Child. It’s my opinion (for what that’s worth) that feeding birds at a backyard feeder generally presents no risks to the birds and often is to their advantage. And your photos aren’t presented as having been taken in the wild. I would have no qualms about doing what you’re doing. I enjoy your bird images very much, especially for the “exotic” species (to me) that you have in Australia.
And Ron, isn’t it true that because of the nature of songbird feeding habits — foraging at multiple sites — there is no harm whatsoever to the birds’ natural behavior, unless, of course, one doesn’t keep the feeders clean?
Gorgeous post Ron. I really enjoyed these magnificent wingspreads.
Thank you, Maria.
Hi Ron, I totally agree with you. As a non-photographer, I was unaware of the practice until I read one of your posts on the subject last year. As you and I have discussed, my “hawk talk” presentation that I give to bird clubs and school groups is dependent on the kindness of photographers, each of whom has given me permission to use their images. After reading last year’s post, I did some research and carefully looked at some of the images I had been using. I immediately stopped using all images from folks who are known to bait and I also stopped using those photos that “felt” as though they fell into that category. Bottom line: Thank you.
Cheers,
Dick
That comment means a lot, Dick – more than I can express. Thank you.
Your comments on bating are very interesting and make me think. I guess we are baiting because we regularly feed our backyard birds. I haven’t given it much thought so I don’t know how I personally feel about the subject yet. If it harms the birds, I can just say as a knee jerk reaction, I am opposed to it. Yet in one of our wildlife areas I discovered a nesting pair of Eastern Bluebirds. So, a couple of times I have driven out with mealworms for them. Am I baiting them?
I also recall a lady who took the photographers form a well known national magazine out on a shoot one day and they cut down a tree so no one else could get the same shot. She called the magazine and told them not only would she never take their photographers out again, that she intended to spread the word about their destructive habits. I must admit that every time I see photos fro this magazine, I think about it.
I would really be interested to hear your thoughts on backyard bird feeding or of my taking food out for the nesting pair of bluebirds. I have great respect for your opinions.
Thanks!
Charlotte
Charlotte, I’ve just answered some of your questions in my response to Jane Chesebrough, below, but I’ll elaborate since you asked. I’d say that if you were simply feeding those bluebirds it isn’t baiting. But if you used the food to get better shots of them, then it is. That’s my opinion. Baiting must have a purpose for the baiter – photography, hunting, trapping etc.
And even if you were baiting them for photography it likely had no negative effects on the birds. That happens most often with raptors.
I’ve heard the story many times about the cut down tree and the magazine. I don’t know for sure if it’s true or not so I won’t name the magazine (they don’t come any better known or generally respected than that particular magazine either). I sure hope it isn’t true but the “rumor” has been very persistent.
Ron, I also agree with you and the comment about “zoo” images. This maybe a great area to practice but to show as Nature images is far from the truth. I know many workshops with top “Nature photographers” where they use bait stations to capture their images and charge high prices to photographers. The bottom line is your individual character and what standards you have for your images, after all we are our own best critic!
I agree, William. It just isn’t nature photography but they so often try to pass it on as just that, especially when they don’t disclose their methods.
I realize that I have baited by going to the feeders to shoot photos of birds or by feeding the chickadees out of my hands and the mess at the feeders from humans breaking branches or putting up so many feeders that it becomes a junk yard and it is hard to get a photo of a bird on a clean branch without clutter in the background. I do prefer natural behaviour and the behaviour of geese, ducks and gulls is not natural at all if people are feeding bread or whatever directly to them. it makes the people feel good but is not at all good for the birds.I saw a great photo by a man and I was impressed until he proudly announced that he had baited with mice-I was disappointed.I admire your intentions and though it is harder, I will and do make efforts to go out in the field to take photos ‘au natural.” (not me, the birds) Thanks for sharing.
Jane, I have feeders too. And I’ve photographed songbirds at those feeders, though it’s been for practice or to test out new gear. It’s a great way for novice bird photographers to improve their skills, it does no appreciable harm to the birds and personally I don’t think there’s necessarily anything inherently wrong with it, though I wouldn’t ever post or print any of those shots except in very unusual circumstances (documenting a behavior or something unusual physically about the bird) and even then I would disclose that they were setups. Songbird setups don’t appeal to me in the least but that’s just me.
But in my mind, baiting raptors is completely different because of the inherent dangers to the birds in those situations and because the practice is selfish as it often forces other photographers to shoot baited birds or not shoot at all (as I explained in my text, above).
Many ethically challenged bird photographers who bait raptors try to justify their methods by saying it’s no different than photographing songbirds at feeders. That’s hogwash, in my opinion.
I totally agree with you! When you bait to get good pictures, it takes away from the purity of the photograph.
Thank you, Sam.
Nice shot of the carp-stabber’s beer belly! 🙂 I watched the link and it reminded me of things we’ve seen in Yellowstone National Park: a man who was trying to get in the face of a female elk, who, fortunately for the man just kept moving away from him; and a boy who badly wanted to kick a bison in the butt. I just don’t get that kind of stupidity. I have to say that I have taken photos of birds in zoos and similar places, but strictly for the memories. I take what would generally be considered snapshots, with a point and shoot camera – I do not consider myself to be a real photographer. I’m with you on the baiting issue, and understand the frustration of not always knowing which shots were of baited birds. It would be a shame to have to get rid of good images that you later found out were baited. But the most important thing is to be true to your moral standards. Sometimes that will mean permanently losing a great shot, but at other times you’ll have the opportunity to get even better shots. To me, baiting is what lazy people do when they want notches on their photographic belt. I’d rather see whatever you manage to get without baiting.
Susan, I’ve photographed animals in zoos too and I wouldn’t be surprised if I do it again. Zoo shots can be very good for what they are – just like studio shots can be. I’m certainly not disparaging either one, but in my mind they’re not “nature photography” and that’s my primary goal wth my photography.
The reason I so enjoy your blog is that I have similar photography polices and feelings as you do!
I will NOT bait, birds, mammals or anything to just get an image. I will NOT go on private property to get an image, to bird, to hunt UNLESS I have the property owners permission. If I loose out on an image or observing a rare bird, so be it!!
Back in 2001 we were on a Birding Trip to Australia, and our leader suggested we go on private land that he had NOT gotten permission ahead of time. The homestead was far, far away, we seemed to all alone no one around. Some of the group went, we and several others did not!
It is NOT a ‘goody to shoes’ thing, it is respect for the wildlife and personal property rights, simple as that!!
Many thanks for sharing!
Dick, I agree – it basically comes down to respect.
Ron – For the first time in my birding career I had to turn down the opportunity to see a rare bird for our area (Denver). We had for a few days a Brambling (very rare visitor from Eurasia) staying in a local park (Bear Creek Lake Park) last fall. I naturally was excited to get out and see the bird for myself. Until… I found out that there was a bag of birdseed left at the site area to be used to bait the bird in for viewing and photographing. In fact, a park ranger had told the birders that it was against the law to feed wildlife in the park. Well the birders came back to park officials that feeding birds was quite legal – and it is. Because of the feeding situation I did not go out to see this rare bird. It would have been a life bird for me – but I am not into baiting birds at all. Keep up the good work!
That must have been a tough opportunity to miss, Mark. There’s sometimes a price to pay for having strong ethics but the payoff is a clean conscience and being able to sleep at night…
I’m with you 100% on this one. I don’t photograph at zoos, rehab facilities or anywhere else with captive birds. I don’t bait, never have and never will. Of course, I don’t get photographs like yours, either. I don’t photograph where other ‘shooters’ are — no lock and dams in winter, no club / group photo meets. I don’t believe I’ve ever even ‘accidentally’ benefited from someone else’s unknown baiting. My eagle photographs are all made totally in the wild, unaided by…well…anything. I also choose to avoid the photography of those who make their images in any of these ways.
BUT…though I’m adamant about this myself — as you are — it does walk a very very slim philosophical line. The difference between going to a place with a fish kill in hopes of seeing raptors, and having some of that fish kill moved to a better location, is small, to say the least. Traveling to where Eagles — or others — hunt or fish regularly is pretty close indeed to going to where they find food provided by…whomever.
Or even this stretch: Humans build a grain-milling facility. Railroad serves the facility. Grain is spilled. Pigeons (and other birds) flock to the easy meal. Hawks follow the pigeons; photographers follow the hawks, photographing them as they kill the pigeons eating the food spilled by the trains brought there by man. My gawd, it’s endless.
I prefer to just go out where I think there may be birds to photograph. I go alone, on my own schedule. I carry ONLY my camera, period. No dead bait, no live bait…nothing except…rarely but sometimes…a monopod.
And no disrespect meant, since I have very much the opposite for you, but I never EVER photograph from roadside in a vehicle. EVER! (What’s more…and of course the quality of my photos demonstrates it…I never set up any blind or hidey hole. The most I ever do is stand behind a tree. There are so many degrees of, shall we say, helping the birds to become subjects. So far at least, and at the expense of doing better photography, I don’t do any of them.
I agree Terry, as I said it’s a fine line sometimes.
Judgments must be made and we don’t all make them the same, which is to be expected. This post simply outlines where I stand and how I feel about the subject. I appreciate you sharing your opinions on the subject.
The opinions of others will vary…
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the subject of baiting Ron and using your moral compass in the matter. It shines through in your Art. I guess you can only stick to your principles, even though you can’t anticipate what others might do to achieve their goal.
Thanks, John. I guess it’s one of those “do the ends justify the means?” sorta things…