{"id":83696,"date":"2022-11-28T10:00:22","date_gmt":"2022-11-28T14:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/?p=83696"},"modified":"2025-03-07T11:22:28","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T15:22:28","slug":"my-sunday-morning-no-vulture-trees-pledge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2022\/11\/28\/my-sunday-morning-no-vulture-trees-pledge\/","title":{"rendered":"My Sunday Morning No Vulture Trees Pledge"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today’s NANPA\/ASMP Tidbit<\/h3>\n

An e-mail from NANPA Member Jerry Bauer<\/strong><\/h2>\n

27 November 2022
\nRE: NANPA-ASMP Merger<\/p>\n

Arthur:<\/p>\n

I thank you for letting members know about the merger situation between NANPA and ASMP. I do not want to take sides until I have more detailed information. But it bothers me a great deal that:<\/p>\n

1) as a long time NANPA member the association did not consult with or notify membership about discussions with ASMP and merging into one organization. I did not know anything about this situation until I received an Email from you (Arthur Morris) on 18 November 2022.<\/p>\n

2) in a recent email I read an attachment titled, “Some Important Facts from the NANPA President\u201d. This fact sheet slammed you and clearly stated that this agreement is \u201cnot a merger\u201d. I believe that if NANPA was operating in a clear, transparent manner they would not badmouth members who state their opinion and write an open letter to other members.<\/p>\n

These two actions by NANPA leadership make me very suspicious about this agreement between NANPA and ASMP and what exactly is going on. Thus, I ask:<\/p>\n

1. Why is NANPA so defensive when a member states their opinion?<\/p>\n

2. Why was the general membership not involved or notified of discussions with ASMP. This is very suspicious to me.<\/p>\n

3. Why is NANPA saying this is not a merger? If it is not a merger then what is it?<\/p>\n

4. What authority did leadership have to make this decision without member knowledge or involvement?<\/p>\n

5. This letter from NANPA President is more of a defensive justification to members than a notification. This also makes me very suspicious.<\/p>\n

6. Also this letter from NANPA President states that the agreement is all ready approved, she is not asking for member approval, it sounds like a done deal. So now they will hold a town hall meeting, but for what? To justify the already made decision?<\/p>\n

7. The paragraph \u201cWhy not negotiate this openly with the membership?\u201d Is particularly bothersome to me. Basically it is telling membership to take a hike, we know what is best for you so we make decisions.<\/p>\n

8. The paragraph \u201cWhy not negotiate this openly with the membership?\u201d States that “What potential partner organization would ever want to subject themselves to being attacked and torn apart in uncivil ways?” I do not feel that your (Arthur Morris’s) letter to members was uncivil or attacking. So I am confused as to what NANPA President is trying to convey here. Is there an hidden agenda that members are not aware of? As a NANPA member I am concerned that our President says such thing about another member, I am sure many may members to do feel this way.<\/p>\n

9. My personnel opinion is that NANPA is controlled by a small \u201dclique\u201d of friends and associates. And has been for quite some time. I am not well-known in NANPA, although I am very well-known for my photography in the region where I work (mostly Central America and Caribbean where I have raised millions of dollars to support conservation and sustainable development through photography). For a long time, I have wanted to become more involved in NANPA. In 2010 I was awarded the NANPA Mission Award (for which I am very grateful). I thought this might create an opening for me to become more involved. But I was very disappointed at how I was treated at the Summit, basically ignored. It was evident that I was not part of the click. I volunteered to help with the student committee and I was asked to do a few reviews and work with some High School students. I did, just one time. Then I was just dropped. Again, I felt that I not part of the clique. At one time I saw an announcement of a discussion to hold a Summit in Puerto Rico. I live in PR and I think at that time I was the only NANPA member living in PR. I reached out to NANPA to volunteer to work on this Summit, but never received a reply. I guess this idea was never advanced as no Summit was held in PR.<\/p>\n

So these are some of the reasons why I am not involved more in NANPA and not all that surprised at NANPAs actions today in this \u201cmerger\u201d that is not a merger. I do not think NANPA leadership is being honest with members or working in best interest in all members. <\/p>\n

So as I stated, I am trying not to take sides, but I do want to know more about what is going and why, and I think all members have this right to know. I think it is very unprofessional for a NANPA President to write a \u201cfact sheet\u201d (Some Important Facts from the NANPA President) such as she did. This fact sheet will divide and not bring together members. This is not leadership.<\/p>\n

So again, thank you for making members aware, and so very sorry for the way the President and Board is reacting to your opinion. Feel free to share this note to any NANPA member.<\/p>\n

Regards,<\/p>\n

Jerry Bauer
\nNANPA Member No.: 11212124
\nNANPA Mission Award 2010<\/em><\/p>\n

My Reply, In Part<\/h3>\n

Thanks Jerry, you are a hard man to convince. But you sure ask a lot of questions that need to be answered. Way to go on your conservation work. FYI, I too was cast aside by NANPA after attending Summits (and taking a table) for 14 of 15 years, working with the Scholarship Students at nearly all of those, and receiving two major awards from NANPA. <\/p>\n

with love, artie<\/em><\/p>\n

What’s Up?<\/h1>\n

I did make it down to the lake yesterday morning. As it was a somewhat foggy, the sun was peeking out every so often. It was not a very productive morning until the last minute. <\/p>\n

Today is Monday 28 November 2022. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes two hundred forty-six days in a row with a new, educational post just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. <\/p>\n

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT<\/a>. You will be amazed at how much you will learn! <\/p>\n

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange\/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.<\/p>\n

Please remember that if an item \u2014 a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head \u2014 for example, that is available from B&H and\/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and\/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation. <\/p>\n

Brand-New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords BAA Discount Policy <\/h3>\n

Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.<\/p>\n

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Money Saving Reminder<\/h3>\n

Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here<\/a>, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail<\/a> or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please. <\/p>\n

Important Note<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link on the right side of each blog post page). My affiliate link works fine with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW \ud83d\ude42 <\/p>\n


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Gear Questions and Advice<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN<\/a>, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.<\/a> If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.<\/p>\n

My Sunday Morning No Vulture Trees<\/em> Pledge<\/h3>\n

As I drove down to the lake on Sunday morning, I thought, “Enough vulture soup already.” So I promised myself to look for other subjects and head down to the end of Banyan Drive. There were no birds on The Perch (despite repeated checks). There were lots of Great Egret fishing in the marsh. I deleted all of those, more than 200. I kept two Sandhill Crane images out of about 100. It had not been a very good morning for bird photography. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This image was created on 27 November 2022 down by the lake near my home. Working from the driver’s seat of my SUV with the window completely lowered, I used the BLUBB<\/a>-supported Sony FE 600mm f\/4 GM OSS lens<\/a> with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter<\/a>, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.<\/a>. ISO 640. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1\/1250 second at f\/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger<\/a> showed that the exposure was a bit brighter than dead-solid perfect. AWB at 9:23:32am on a mostly sunny morning.<\/p>\n

Tracking: Spot S\/AF-C with Bird-Eye\/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. <\/p>\n

Image #1:Crested Caracara holding shell of long dead turtle — slightly crouched posture<\n