I recently went in search of migrating warblers and other bird species at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area near Oak Harbor, OH. It was the peak of the Biggest Week in American Birding, sponsored by the Black Swamp Birding Observatory. Thousands of folks from around the world came to the annual event.
Magee Marsh has a well-maintained boardwalk for birders to observe up close the many beautiful birds that flit around. The boardwalk meanders through the various favorable habitats, woods, marsh, water. At times, the walkway is packed. People clump up to get a view of a showy or rare species, with birders helping birders to find the bird. That’s just how birders are. Well, most of them at least.
When I came upon this photographer aiming his huge camera at something, I had to take his photo. He was the only person I saw all day that totally blocked the boardwalk. This individual wore all the right clothes and used the best photography equipment.
He clearly only had one thing in mind, and courtesy wasn’t one of them. His camouflage outfit and camera said it all. He was there to shoot photos of birds. He seemed totally oblivious to the fact that thousands of others wanted to do the same and were unable to pass the way he was set up. Also, the boardwalk rules, both written and understood, clearly state, “No tripods.”
I’m glad this photographer was the exception, not the rule at Magee Marsh. “Camouflaged” is my Photo of the Week.
© Bruce Stambaugh 2015
Roadkill Crossing 
Bruce, this is great! I saw this same fella in the 4 days that I stayed up there. I shook my head at him every single time that I passed him as he was either taking up the boardwalk or pushing his way into a crowded spot. I saw his picture on your blog and just cracked up laughing! There always has to be one, just glad that there were not many like him! Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks, Mandy. If he was there that long, I wonder how many people said something to him. I just can’t believe he was that rude and obnoxious.
Bruce
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His camouflage was not working. Everyone saw him blocking the boardwalk.
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Ironic, wasn’t it, Marvin.
Bruce
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Good grief, he must be getting cash for those pics. How else would you explain going full-on “Rambo” on a birdwalk? Unless he really is just a jerk…
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Or both.
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Of the same ilk as those described here… http://www.audubon.org/magazine/may-june-2015/too-close-comfort
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Indeed it is. I’m familiar with this article and the FL incident since it happened when we were down there last year.
Bruce
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In both cases, more dollars than sense, as the saying goes…
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Yep.
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