Philadelphia Vireo - Fantasy Island 2

When this pandemic began, when it became clear that changes in behaviour would be required of us, seeing a number of guidelines for birding being posted in various birding fora, I decided it would be a good idea to do the same in the Irish Rare And Scarce Birding Group .

Every general birding or forecast post made during the various lockdowns, I made on the premise that people would follow restriction guidelines, but when someone asked whether I really thought people would follow restrictions I had to say no.

Obsession does not often go hand in hand with rationality unfortunately and so I knew if the rarity was juicy enough people would run.

I could not, however, have predicted that the first notable rule breaker would be a high profile birder in Wexford, traveling to Tacumshin at whim, not even for a rarity, but just to carry on birding as normal, especially after opining on Facebook that we all do our part and do what's being asked of us.

What I could have predicted, with an abundance of certainty, is that the vast majority of Irish birding would say nothing against this behaviour.

In Britain, it's accepted that Dominic Cummings destroyed trust in government guidelines (indeed academic studies were conducted to assess this). 

In Ireland golfgate undoubtedly did the same. And so I hope there are none so intellectually dishonest as to suggest seeing an Irish guru in breach right at the outset might, ever so slightly might, have had a similar effect? I suspect my hopes there will be dashed. 

Irish birding had it's chance, there and then, to stand together and define that behaviour as unacceptable. 

They bottled it.

And so we come to the unsavoury affair of the Galway Philadelphia Vireo. 

Galway birders, after Tennessee Warbler had been seen on Inisbofin the previous week, and birders from around the country had either physically attempted to twitch it or intended to, decided they would actively prevent that twitch and would suppress news for the foreseeable. Now that's fair enough to me. Their choice. Understandable.

When found, news of the Philly leaked out, reaching birders elsewhere in the country. These birders decided to go. They shoudn't have. I have no issue saying that.

From here, however, things break down. Two groups collided, on the ferry and on site, and both sides condemn each other's behaviour, claiming hostile and aggressive behaviour on all fronts. From the outside it's difficult to truly know what went down. Generally, it sounds very nasty.


Dramatic reconstruction of the twitch

But on one point one thing has become very clear. Galway birders are throwing stones from glass houses in what I consider a classic case of tribal bias. They are trying to pretend that the ferry to the Aran Islands is not public transport. 

The reason for this is obvious. Under level 3 restrictions, public transport is reserved for essential workers and reasons, and twitching a bird or going birding clearly doesn't fit that definition.

The relevant transport restriction


If they have stayed out on the island, sharing accommodation, they will have further broken the visitors/gatherings restrictions.

The pretence being put forward is that the ferry is a private company and therefore not public transport. It's a ridiculous premise, and puts other birders in a difficult position. 

I cannot say why perhaps the ferry itself is not highlighting the restriction at this time, however they did so during the first lockdown period. I'm gonna go with "chancers" on that one.



Of course, a ferry company not spoon feeding people does not absolve anyone of personal responsibility.

If we assume the Galway birders truly believe that public transport restrictions do not apply here, it raises questions of intelligence. 

If we assume they don't really believe that, questions on honesty.

I don't think anyone here is stupid. 

Would anyone try to pretend that privatised rail in Britain for example was not public transport?

Again, ridiculous.

Further adding to the problem, the cliquey nature of birding means that there are those out there, who only a week ago were singing the praises of the Galway birders, now clearly faced with the reality that they themselves broke restrictions, and are going along with the pretence.

Anyone who attempts to make the point that the Galway birders were also in breach has been attacked, conflating pointing out the simple reality of the situation as being on the other side, or pro restriction breaking. 

So, once more with feeling, no one should be breaking restrictions.

However, there is a tendency, especially in Irish birding, to polarize into two uncompromising camps.

This can be further complicated by the level of anorakism in birding, the best example I've come across being the marginal comparison of those breaking restrictions to Ghandi or Mandela.



Getting ridiculous now.

In my opinion none of this need be the case. 

Seeing non-galwegians getting on the ferry, the Galway contingent could have taken a different route other than outright hostility. They could have made their opinions clear on the matter, but seeing the damage was done, worked with the other birders to keep things further under wraps, and ensure everyone present enjoyed the bird safely. 

Sadly in Irish birding, the approach most often opted for is to view every problem as a nail which requires hammering.

We need to get rid of this stone throwing mentality that plagues birding. At this point, with very little hope of everyone suddenly following the restrictions, we should focus on the outcome of not adding to the masses of existing grudges and vendettas in birding. 

Two more weeks and it will be November. With any luck it will be miserable and birders will go into hibernation, as per usual, and things will calm down a bit.

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