When you see those wonderful wildlife photos, do you ever wonder what was on the other side of the lens? Do you ever think of the cost of the picture to the creature itself and the wider environment? How many others were there, taking the same picture - drawn by an obsession to tick off another 'trophy' and get the best score?

There is responsible wildlife photography and there's twitchers. If it's responsible, the photographer is respectful of the fact that the animals are wild and should not be disturbed.

Twitchers, on the other hand, don't care about the cost, financial or environmental. It's a competitive occupation to shoot the most and the rarest and to have the most expensive camera equipment to do it with. If they can't get close enough with their powerful lenses; walls, gates, other wildlife and private property will not get in their way. They feel a God-given right to follow their mania, no matter at what cost.

This site shows, in real life, a side of the story you may not have thought about.

The Boddam Wildlife Sanctuary exists to protect wildlife of all kinds, particularly from those members of society who would disturb wildlife in their quest to score more rare species than their competitors. Bird spotting is regarded by us in the same light as train spotting - an exercise more akin to obsessive compulsive disorder than genuine concern for the welfare of the fauna and flora. These bird-brains, with 'mair money as wit', swarm like locusts and allow nothing to get in their way.

We are besieged. There is what appears to be an organised gang giving encouragement, though local and international contact rings, to deliberately harass and provoke the owners of the Sanctuary. Interlopers have told us that local councillors and even the police have told them they can go where they like, that we are just being a nuisance and should be ignored. We have had English, Scottish and European foreigners clearly well informed that there is a 'trouble maker' who needs to be put in their place.

At Boddam there is a single track road with passing places through the Sanctuary, but the passing places are often completely blocked by cars and then they park on the grass, or have to use the grass to pass oncoming cars. Arrogant and witless twitchers seem to think that ticking off another bird justifies being rude and damaging the environment. Dogs run loose and people seem to think it's OK to urinate and even defaecate on the land.

The Boddam Wildlife Sanctuary is part of The Sovereign Nation of Shetland. Scottish access legislation does not apply here.  If you have proof to the contrary, let us know, but read a copy of Stolen Isles first, or go to ourfois.com to find the organisations which are unable to show how Shetland is part of Scotland. They range from the UK Government Legal Department and Scottish Government downwards and include the Shetland Islands Council and Police Scotland among others.

See the Rules for the Sanctuary. 

Photo by Hugh Harrop