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Originally Posted by Oscar2006  Sorry Nightshade I disagree with this "sweeping statement" for several reasons, but do not have time to fully elaborate. 
There are many folks out there with licences to photograph rare and scarce breeding birds and they will be doing it professionally; that is making a living out of it, and will undoubtedly push their boundaries to get the picture to put bread on the table) 
As I mentioned previously, the welfare of the bird (or anything else for that matter) must come first, (I assume we both agree whole heartedly on that one?  ) but there are many opportunities for many people to record birds at the nest without disturbing them.
Hands up those who will not be watching "Springwatch" beacause they have cameras in the nestboxes? 
The defence rests its case |
vis a vis proffesional and indeed responsible amateur photography you undoubtedly have a point oscar - although most pros dont generally push the envelope because licences are renewed yearly and irresponsible behaviour one year would lead to no licence the next which would more than outweigh any temporay gain in income
and there are as you rightly say many opportunities to photograph birds at the nest without disturbing them - however as far as wab goes it would be impossible for the mods and edds to tell how much disturance had been caused in getting any particular nest shot and thus i believe that stu has made the right decision that a blanket ban is the only practicably and ethically correct approach for the site to take