Hey Andrew,
Thanks for your reply and concern mate, I'm struggling at the moment but things have certainly been better.
In all honesty mate, I would never have pegged you with doing anything wrong by our birds and I can see through your questions to the Forum, that you too, have been trying to steer your way through the ethics associated with today's approach to Bird Photography.
I was up at Lake Wendouree the other day and found a Crested Pigeon nesting on a very low but well hidden branch. I immediately moved about 3-4metres away from the subject and through the branches of another tree focussed and took a few snaps and then left the bird alone. Walking away, a thought came to me and I said out loud "Oh shit, I just photographed a nesting bird.", at which time I looked around for any prying eyes from any predators who might have seen my activities. It never dawned on me until after the fact, that I knew that my actions were wrong and I have since taken the 'me' time to have a bit of a think about my approach to the birds that I love sooo much?? At least you are going about it the right way, asking before you act. . .
I have noticed on a couple of Facebook Forums that there has been a lot of night time images of Raptors, Owls mostly, and these are said to have been photographed using the edge beam of a powerful torch. You can see from the images that the Ow's eyes are fully dilated for the evening light and torch beam or not, I think that the light would be uncomfortable? I read one of the OP's remarks when queried on the subject and he stated that "the light didn't bother the Owl, because I could hear it crashing through the branches as it flew away" !!! "Crashing through the branches", would suggest to me, that the Owl had lost its vision and couldn't see where it was going and that it was scared enough by the OP's activities that it decided to flee?
I've also noticed that one thread has turned a little 'ugly' and that thread is due to the posting of images of an Eagle's nest with fledgling chicks standing straight and tall.
As you say Andrew, some direction from the Committee would be very helpful and I also know that other FB Forums loosely follow our BirdLife Photography Code of Ethics and a change in how we do things me help create a flow-on effect through the community?
Hope that you are well mate and getting around, by the sound of pre-dawn Fill Flash, I'm happy for you.
Kindest regards,
Bruce