Are Shetland residents turning against twitchers in wake of 'boorish' behaviour by a few?

                                                     

The harbour at Lerwick, Shetland's main town  - arrival point for many rarity-seekers

ONE of Britain's top birding commentators has warned that 'sentiment' among Shetland residents may be turning against birders following incidents of less than responsible behaviour.

In his lively weekly column in the Rare Bird Alert online bulletin, Jon Dunn makes reference to the request by a landowner that the location of a recently-sighted Tengmalm's Owl should not be shared with the birding community.

Writes Jon: "Nobody will want to hear this, but there’s a sentiment held now by some Shetland residents that they don’t want any part of the crowds that gather at a rarity. 

"There have been enough small incidents of damage, disruption, and boorish or thoughtless birder behaviour in recent years to colour perception of twitchers and visiting birders generally."

The columnist, who lives on Shetland, further notes that local "word on the street" is that information about the brief presence of a Great Spotted Flycatcher last October may have been suppressed until after it had left for fear of attracting birders who might not behave responsibly. 

He concludes: "That may make for uncomfortable reading, but there it is - we have collectively reaped what some of us have sown. 

"A timely reminder, then, that wherever we are birding, in Shetland or anywhere else for that matter, we need to be on our best behaviour, and challenge any of our tribe letting the side down.

"Failing that, we’re going to miss birds, among them 'firsts' for Britain.

Rare Bird Alert is at: https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/