First birding shots ever - 7d - 70-200 f4 is - Sigma 1.4x - Great Grey Owl - CC please

I can certainly relate to this.  I am a long-time birder myself and was actually into birding and wildlife observation before I got into photography.  I know that people get very emotional about the birds and they do sincerely want what’s best for them.

As far as the location of the birds goes, it isn’t too difficult to find out where these particular birds are and, well, the baiting activity is pretty much world famous at this point.  It seems like that cow is way out of the barn at this point.

I also think it is telling that these birds keep coming back even with all the human activity going on.

I certainly feel for the mice being fed and I do personally struggle with live animals being used as bate.  I know it is common practice for people to use worms for fishing, or feeding small bunnies to their pet snakes…  On the whole I don’t really like the practice but I am not wildly against it either.

I can also relate to your feelings about the “cheapening” of the photos of these birds.  There are a lot of people who feel the same way about setup photography, which is becoming so popular.  I have heard it being equivalent to deer hunters who sit up in blinds with high-powered rifles next to feeding stations where deer are accustom to being fed.  I do, however, think these are more human issues than bird issues.  In the photos are what they are and I think other photographers are a lot more bothered by disclosure than the general viewing audience.

I don’t know if it actually harms the owls either or not but I do certainly think it is worth thinking about.

Greg