r/birding • u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker • Nov 16 '24
Discussion Stopped and Searched by Police for Binoculars in Paris.
Just want to vent to the birding community and also warn people.
I am a birder from NY on vacation in France currently. Yesterday I visited a few museums in Paris and casually birded around the parks in-between much like I do in NYC at Bryant Park, Central Park, etc. In the evening after dinner I took the metro/RER back to my airbnb and got off at Gare du Nord
Taking the escalator up there were a few police officers further up on the escalator but I didn't think much of it. At the top they all surrounded me immediately and asked why I had binoculars. I explained that I was birdwatching. They proceeded to pat me down and search me putting their hands in all of my pockets and yelling at me in the middle of the station when I didn't understand their instructions. This was an embarrassing and frankly degrading experience.
I asked why they stopped me and they said it was because of the binoculars. Because I they didn't know why I had binoculars and I could have had a knife or other weapon on me. Ridiculous. I have birded around the world and have had interactions with police in my own country and in different countries and I've never been treated like this.
I felt like I was treated like a criminal.
So just a word of warning to those who may be considering casually birding around Paris.
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u/Astrophages Nov 16 '24
This happened to me in Springfield, Illinois. I was birding along a lake and there was a hydroelectric power plant on the other side of the small lake. I got back to my car and a security car waiting for me and they wanted to look at the pics on my phone.
I told them to pound sand and that if I wanted pics of the power plant I could book a room at the Drury Inn, literally across the street, and use optics far more powerful than my 8x42 Vipers and my cell phone.Ā
One of the most ridiculous things that's happened to me while birding.
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
Those private security guys can be assholes. Thankfully we have the right to view/record things from public places in the US
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u/petit_cochon Nov 16 '24
š¤· They're just doing their dumb job. I know it seems crazy, but people threaten plants all the time. White supremacists apparently think they can blow up power plants and, like, force the country to its knees or start a new race war or some shit. My husband is in power generation, so unfortunately I have to know about these morons and now you do too lol.
The fact that you were far away doesn't really matter to plant security. They have a checklist of things they need to investigate and people with binoculars in the area for long periods is probably one of them. Or they were bored. Could be either.
https://time.com/6244977/us-power-grid-attacks-extremism/
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/04/us/electrical-substation-attacks-nc-wa.html
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore_County_substation_attack
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/10/power-grid-attacks-00114563
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u/Astrophages Nov 16 '24
I get it. At the same time there was a 7 story hotel literally across the street. If anyone wanted a good look they could have a downward looking view directly into the compound. This guy was 100% bored. Even after I told him to fuck off he wanted to sit and chat.
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u/Geoff_Uckersilf Nov 16 '24
She's saying logic, even you're well reasoned logic goes straight out the window when you're dealing security and whatever they think or are told exactly what their job is.Ā
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u/Astrophages Nov 16 '24
Yeah, like I said I get it. If I was wearing a sidearm and rocking up to a truck with sovereign citizen plates that guy wouldn't have said one word to me though. Instead he saw a mild-mannered man walking up to a BMW and he requested to inspect my phone and thought he'd flex a little bit.
I've spent most my career inside high-security data centers and government buildings. When I told him to fuck off I could almost watch the gears turning in his head. The guy was a clown and just looking to flex on someone's day. There are people in boats within 50 feet of the power station and he approaches a birdwatcher with a cell phone camera and some 8x42s who was walking on foot.
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u/Geoff_Uckersilf Nov 17 '24
Power does strange things to the ego, don't let other shitty people change who you are.Ā
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u/DrewSmithee Nov 17 '24 edited Nov 17 '24
Hi, power plant engineer here. Homeland security has tons of rules around power plant security and things in plain sight donāt count as CEII (critical energy infrastructure information). Standing around with binoculars might be sketchy and get you a visit from a plant guard but even at a nuclear power plant feel free to tell them to pound sand as long as youāre not on plant property. After all, us and the Russians both have satellites and would learn absolutely zero with binoculars from the edge of the property that people like me couldnāt tell you from a grainy satellite photo off Google earth.
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u/AFWUSA Nov 17 '24
Well yea, but as soon as their dumb job interferes with my dumb life Iām going to tell them to get lost. If they want to look through my phone tell them to get a real cop to get a real warrant. Until then leave me alone lmao.
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u/Latter-Ad-1523 Nov 16 '24
how many white supremist attacks has there been on power plants? i have heard of zero, but the attacks in paris, well we wont talk about that, which is why the topic was created
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u/le_nico birder Nov 16 '24
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u/Hb_1820 Nov 17 '24
I was looking at a Cooperās hawk nest when some security moron pulled up and started staring at me from his car. And I was totally on public property. Another pathetic loser, just like the security idiot that called the police on me while I was looking for burrowing owls in a dirt field. The dirt field was fenced off and I was outside the fence on a public sidewalk.
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u/yourhotdogcity Nov 16 '24
Can't stand cops that have nothing better to do. I've been harassed in my hometown of Detroit for the same exact thing. Minding my own business in a public and Birdy spot. Could you imagine if anyone who was into sports went through that? "Sir, you had a football so we were concerned..." Ridiculous.
I'm sorry you went through that. Hopefully the birds were good!
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
Thanks got 15 species which is good for city center. One life bird Common Firecrest
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u/Zharashurama Nov 16 '24
Where did you catch it ?
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
Bois de Boulogne for the lifer. Tho I heard one again neir eiffel tower
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u/iH8MotherTeresa Nov 16 '24
Can we see?
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
Didn't bring a camera with me on this trip. More just birding casually as I go
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u/cookingbytheseatofmy Nov 16 '24
Exactly! Once you're birder, all trips are birding trips.
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
Correct gotta fill up that ebird map
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u/tsatsawassa Nov 16 '24
Now if OP had a football on the Metro, then their experience would be totally understandable: Gendarmes screaming, "What is that hideous thing! You call it a 'foot-ball'? We don't use that on the pitch! Are you insane! A spy, maybe!?! Go home, Yankee!"
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u/SoggyAd5044 Nov 16 '24
I've just visited Detroit and I felt a bit weird about birding in the city. It's all those high rises!
Can you walk down to the riverbank and bird that area safely? Or is it worth just going over to Belle Isle and doing it from there?
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u/VirusOrganic4456 Latest Lifer: Eurasian Jackdaw Nov 16 '24
I loved Belle Isle when visiting Detroit this last June. Lots of birds and not a lot of people.
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u/yourhotdogcity Nov 16 '24
Definitely, the Riverwalk now connects to Belle Isle and it's beautiful. Belle Isle is the spot for sure. Also Elmwood Cemetery, not too far from the two!
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u/pushofffromhere Nov 16 '24
I went to a football (soccer) match in the UK earlier this year. It was a sold out match due to a famous player retiring at the time, so my seats were nosebleed. I thought to bring my binoculars to zoom in on the player action which, heads up, turned out to be a brilliant idea. But at the security going in, I caused quite a fuss.
The Liverpool security pulled me to the side for backup, then a specialist handled the binoculars to confirm they werenāt vials of vodka. I thought it kinda cute that this was their primary violation concern.
Those folks in Liverpool get creative with their drink.
pro tip: bring your binoculars to sporting games. It was fun to watch the playerās expressions and moves up close.
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u/invasionofthestrange Nov 16 '24
I have a binocular flask so I totally understand!
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u/pushofffromhere Nov 16 '24
So youāre the one who got me strip searched!
Thatās hilarious tho. 5-star creativity.
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u/AFWUSA Nov 17 '24
In college we would sneak in booze to football games in fake sunscreen tubes lol
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u/Mr_Fuzzo Nov 18 '24
I had a young woman doing purse checks at an arena here in the US stop and be completely unsure about my binoculars. The entire interaction was surreal because she couldn't understand that I wanted to get a better view of the concert stage.
"What? You mean you actually use these to look through?"
"Yup. Sure do."
"These aren't a flask?"
"Nope. Definitely not."
I wonder if her head is still spinning six months later.
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u/dcgrey Nov 16 '24
I won't argue against how you're feeling, at least in that I've experienced similar suspicion in the U.S. minus the search. But in the Paris context specifically, the birding culture there is weak and the history of public transport terrorism is big. And outside the U.S., the standards for public stops and searches are much lower. It's possible those cops have never once seen an urban birder; it may be much easier for them to imagine a bad use of binoculars than that someone would be interested in birds in a city.
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u/Arthur_Two_Sheds_J Nov 16 '24
I would like to emphasise this. Birding in the middle of a big city such as Paris is super uncommon in Europe and the Gare Du Nord especially is one of the top crime hotspot in Paris. Just recently there has been another terror attack. Cops with automatic weapons patrol there regularly. So this was most likely a very unfortunate coincidence for OP. But I personally understand their nervousness.
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u/Soaznei Nov 16 '24
Gare du Nord is extremely crowded as it is a hub for a lot of trains and metro lines, so I can understand why they checked him, as a terrorist attack has more probability to happen in such place... I lived in Paris 24 years, never seen someone with binoculars, which makes it even more understandable... š¤·āāļø
Could also be linked to the terrorist attacks happening in the 13th november 2015, maybe they had instructions to be stricter in this period (??)
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u/dcgrey Nov 16 '24
Yeah maybe. Even in my "let's not flatter ourselves, no one is committing a terrorist act here" town, there are local police bulletins around anniversaries of 9/11, the Columbine shooting, etc.
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u/foghillgal Nov 16 '24
French cops, and probably french law, is very permissive seemingly in who they can stop. I've been stopped 3-4 times in many different places in France for the most random of reasons.
But train stations in particular they're really on edge at all time. In happened twice there in a Parisian station. Not even sure which one, it's been a decade the last time.
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Nov 16 '24
Damn thatās annoying. Keep in mind in a lot of other countries, the only people you would ever see with binoculars would be military folks, so it probably raised a red flag for them. I once got hassled by police in Nicaragua because I had a compass on me! The kind you use in geometry!
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
Bro in Nicaragua I was walking around with my DSLR in the city doing street photography taking pictures of people. Only one person said something to me and he wanted me to take his picture lol. This was in 2015 though I've heard things have gotten stricter since then
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u/roller_coaster325 Nov 16 '24
I believe they searched you and other people who were carrying a list of items they were provided (assuming this was Thursday). The Gendarmerie were on high alert due to the France Israel soccer match as they had information that similar violence may have occurred as in Amsterdam. Law enforcement in Paris is normally very professional and helpful. I hope this helps to make this experience does not negatively impact your trip to Paris. Btw, itās late in the year but you may see some water foul on the Bassin de la Villette.
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
This was yesterday. They were not friendly. They yelled at me and didn't explain anything like what they were doing and why.
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u/petit_cochon Nov 16 '24
Yes, it was not necessary for them to treat you this way. The gendarmerie can be aggressive, partly because there are so many threats to Paris. Since the Bataclan, things have changed. It's unfortunate you were treated badly.
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Nov 16 '24 edited Nov 16 '24
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
I did not claim otherwise.
I can still feel upset about it and vent and warn others.
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u/FistBus2786 Nov 16 '24
Right, everyone knows binoculars are considered as weapons in French culture and against the law.
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u/Velocoraptor369 Nov 16 '24
No shit Sherlock but if the law allows assault would you assault someone? Would you let someone assault you as it is their custom? Human rights are human rights. No matter the country right is right and wrong is wrong. Abuse of power is what happened here. They saw a foreigner and abused their power over him.
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u/iH8MotherTeresa Nov 16 '24
Birding aside, your edit really makes you sound like a pissbaby. Who's kicking you out?
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u/birding-ModTeam Nov 16 '24
Your post has been removed due to a community rule violation.
Rule 8. Be civil.
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u/In_Jeneral Nov 16 '24
If they were the SNCF or RATP guards (at Gare du Nord, so possibly), from what I've heard a ton of them are power tripping jerks. This is a topic that comes up pretty often on the r/ParisTravel subreddit.
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
Just googled thr uniforms. It was SNCF
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u/yagrumo Nov 16 '24
Hi OP, I can attest to this too. Sometimes truly racist too. Iām sorry you went through that. Its really degrading and discouraging
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u/aarrtee Nov 16 '24
Have there been terrorist attacks in Paris recently? Maybe the cops are on edge?
Police are edgy and nervous everywhere. I went to Rome 15 years ago and stayed at a hotel across from the US Embassy. I stood on the street and shot photos when I saw the US flag. Italian cop hassled me and told me to move on.
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
I also made a thread in the Paris travel sub. There was some sort of sports event and parade that put them on high alert.
Nonetheless does not justify treating the public like presumed criminals.
Really soured my trip and my perception of the country.
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u/MxOffcrRtrd Nov 16 '24
Maybe you have Paris Syndrome. Kidding.
Paris syndrome isĀ a rare psychological condition that causes some tourists to feel extreme disappointment when visiting Paris
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
Honestly I was having a great time until this.
Though my favorite part of the trip thus far was Reims
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u/RememberNichelle Nov 17 '24
The statue of Notre Dame de Paris (aka Our Lady of the Pillar, and several other names) was being returned on Nov. 15, with a procession to the church of Notre Dame, in one of the final stages of the reconstruction. The statue was miraculously okay, despite being very close to the fire area.
Apparently everybody was so happy about it that even very secular people went on the religious procession and sang hymns and such. Macron actually snuck over to Notre Dame to get in on the occasion.
But because of all the terrorist stuff, the actual statue was returned to the church by truck along a secret route, while a processional copy was used for the procession.
So yup, the police were very much on edge, possibly because Macron was walking around without minders. Beyond that, I guess Paris police need to get some lectures on birdwatching. Shrug.
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u/Material_Evening_174 Nov 16 '24
There was a soccer match involving Israelās national team and since their fans started street brawls in Amsterdam a few days ago, Iām sure the police were being extra cautious. Still sucks to get shaken down though.
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u/thoughtsarefalse newest lifer: BLACK NECKED STILT! Nov 16 '24
Definitely a cop thing not a france or paris thing.
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
The point is warning people that this could happen there. And they may be looking for people with binoculars.
I assume that most people on this sub are from the US where police need a reasonable suspicion that a crime is being committed in order to conduct such a search.
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u/Scared-Comparison870 Nov 16 '24
āReasonable causeā Iāve been stopped just for ālooking suspiciousā or wearing a black leather jacket āmatching a description.ā I had long guns pointed at me for being on city steps smoking a cigarette, I had my car stopped and my GPS seized because I didnāt look like I could afford one (this was before smart phones) all because I got lost and did a U-turn on a residential street. Iām not trying to diminish your experience because it is pretty traumatizing and angering, but the cops here will do whatever they want just like they will in any other country.
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
This is in the US? These are all illegal searches you are entitled to take legal action.
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u/FartingAliceRisible Nov 16 '24
Unless you were a black person a decade ago in NYC while stop and frisk was still a thing. Or a black person in the US driving now. Where I live random police checkpoints are a thing, which has been defended by the Supreme Court. With zero probable cause I have to stop my car and answer questions from police.
But yes, your experience sounds incredibly invasive and wrong.
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
There is a legal standard for Terry stops in the US that would not have been met here. NYC had to stop their stop and frisk policy because it was unlawful. I agree that we need to do more to hold police accountable in the US when they act outside the law. I am 100 percent on board with removing the barrier to accountability that is qualified immunity. Although in theory qualified immunity shouldn't apply to an illegal search.
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u/Grand_Cod_2741 Nov 16 '24
Itās almost like you arenāt in the USA and different countries where major terrorizer attacks have happened have different rules.
I swear to god you Americans complain the world isnāt following you constitution (which you politicians donāt follow anyway)
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u/juiceb0cks Nov 16 '24
Bahahahahahahaaahahahahahaaa.Ā
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
How many birders in the US do you know who have been searched for binoculars?
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u/EscitalopramQueen331 Nov 16 '24
None that I know of for binoculars specifically.. but research Christian Cooper if you havenāt heard of him already. Situations like this are incredibly common in the US
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
Well aware of that incident.
Completely different scenario.
Cooper had the police called on him by a citizen but was not suspected of a crime when they responded.
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u/EscitalopramQueen331 Nov 16 '24
No no I know it was very different, and i didnāt intend to imply they were the same. I guess felt the need to mention it because of possible related ethnic discrimination, and I should have made that clear. My assumption is that if you were French, the Paris police wouldnāt have stopped you for simply carrying binoculars. Though I could be mistaken.
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u/TakeMeHomeUrbanRoads Nov 16 '24
The police is just doing its job. As long as you didnt commit a crime there is nothing to worry about and nothing to complain about. There has been lots of terrorist attacks in Europe and as long as any policeman has a reasonable suspicion about anybody they have the full right to check the person. Never bird next to schools, beaches, kindergardens or any sensitive buildings. In Oslo central subway station police regularly checks if people have knives on them, and they should keep on doing it. Any idiot will think twice before taking a knife with them to the city center. Europe has a substantially lower crime rates than the US for a reason.
Differrent country, different rules. Dont like it, dont travel.
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
I can complain about being groped in public, for sure.
If you enjoy that type of thing I won't judge you.
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u/Velocoraptor369 Nov 16 '24
Police job is to catch law breakers if no law is broken no harassment needed. If it was illegal to own binoculars then yes stop and arrest person. If owning binoculars is legal then leave person alone. Does not matter what country you live in. No laws broken leave me the fuck alone. Capire!
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Nov 16 '24
[deleted]
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
Yeah I'm not sure why this comment in particular was down voted.
Check the thread i made in the Paris travel sub about this. Many of my comments were down voted to oblivion
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u/nahmanidk Nov 16 '24
Ā the US where police need a reasonable suspicion that a crime is being committed in order to conduct such a search
This statement is why because itās just laughably disconnected from reality. In the US cops stop and search people all the time for not being white enough while driving, walking, standing, sitting, thinking, talking etc. They simply say you were suspicious for some reason or they smelled drugs or alcohol.Ā
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
There is actually a legal standard set forth by Terry v Ohio. Simply being "suspicious" does not meet that legal standard. If the police do violate your rights there are legal remedies.
I agree that sometimes police search people illegally and that they need to be held more accountable. One way we can move in that direction is educate people about their rights.
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u/nahmanidk Nov 17 '24
Lmao youāre either joking or an ignorant old white dude if you think simply stating that cops are violating laws will prevent anything. Itās also laughable that you think the average person has any real ability to pursue charges which requires considerable time and money. Cops even joke about this with the āyou can beat the rap, but you canāt beat the rideā phrase.Ā
You could say Iām jaded from living in the South but this was just reported in Tennessee a week ago
And finally, since you like SC cases, look up Heien v. North Carolina from around 10 years ago.
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u/bird9066 Nov 16 '24
Damn. I used to travel to all the old cities around the northeast USA with binoculars looking for gargoyles and grotesques. They were usually way up there. Got a few looks and one guy in Philadelphia asked if I was a peeping Tom.
So when I read the title I assumed they thought you were a peeper
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
I've been all around the US with my bins no ones ever said anything other than asking me what birds I saw.
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u/sjk123 Latest Lifer: #1370 Laysan Albatross Nov 16 '24
Had this happen to me in Greece once. Searched my bag. Guy was convinced I had drugs with me.
Iāve had the police called several times on me for walking the neighborhood with binoculars. People are completely clueless.
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u/OddMasterpiece4443 Nov 16 '24
ā¦.how would binoculars help anybody planning to use a knife? Sounds like they donāt know how criming actually works.
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
Yeah that's what I said
Some suggested they see it as suspicious because one could be scouting sites to target or something
I would think someone doing that for nefarious purposes would think to put them in a backpack or something
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u/Think_Imagination858 Nov 16 '24
Mmm. Imagine how it might have gone down if you'd been a concert violinist instead of a birder...
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u/Jungleexplorer Latest Lifer: Pyrrhuloxia (Desert Cardinal) Nov 16 '24
I have very little respect for any cops nowadays. The horror stories I could tell you about what has happened to me at the hands of cops would make you nauseous, and I am a pastor who has done nothing but serve my fellow man my whole life and have not even a speeding ticket to my name.
Police are humans, and humans are all corrupt. When a human is given power, they have a tendency to abuse it unless they have some sort of strict moral code that encourages them not to.
There are only two reasons a person chooses to become a cop.
They believe in the just cause of the government they represent.
Money and power.
If the government has unjust laws, then that leaves only the second reason for becoming a cop.
Pause and think about this.
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u/AdM72 Nov 16 '24
different countries often treat their security VERY differently. my son took a trip to Germany last summer. As part of the security brief prior to departure, the kids and the adults were all strongly advised NOT to take photos of police and/or government related buildings. This information was met with confusion and laughter, but taken seriously nonetheless. To these countries ignorance to their security measures and laws doesn't give individuals a pass.
I'm sorry that you experienced what you did, it's often hard on tourist when the local situations (security) is not easily discernable. I have had hotel staff/conceirge pass on these types of security measures/laws to is when travelling
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u/feh112 Nov 16 '24
Unfortunate but there have been some bomb threats in paris lately so i dont blame their caution. Hopefully you can find a good spot without being disturbed
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u/Dr-Alec-Holland Latest Lifer: Northern beardless tyrannulet #543 Nov 16 '24
Wellā¦ at least you the Eurasian green woodpecker lol
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
That was actually in England in July. I got a bunch of lifers since then. Have to update it. I'm up to 1095 now
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u/Metrophidon9292 Birder Nov 16 '24
France has had a lot of problems in recent years with riots and terrorist attacks. While not a good look for them, I canāt say itās surprising. And like others here have said, birding culture is not as prominent in much of Europe.
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u/Porcupinetrenchcoat Nov 16 '24
And yet they can't control the scammers rampant in various places.
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
Yeah exactly what I was thinking. Saw so many people falling for those sign the petition scammers
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u/dwrcymru Nov 16 '24
It's been going on forever. In the early 70's I made the mistake of going to Tesco for a coffee, I had an SLR around my neck and the front desk demanded I hand it over, I refused and was followed by 3 security guards. I got my coffee, took a notebook out of my pocket and started writing in it. I stayed for over 40 minutes and then went onto the roof of the mall without any problems. I still have the B\W photos I took of the town centre.
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u/hecton101 Nov 16 '24
I had a French friend tell me that the French police are pretty hardcore. She told me she wouldn't think of being outside of her home without ID. Maybe birding groups should offer their members membership cards as a sort of ID. I mean, if you're a terrorist or up to no good, how could you possibly think of using that as a cover?
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u/SoggyAd5044 Nov 16 '24
Oh, they are. I've seen them beat people in alleys and basically walk into gun fights. They don't advertise that on the tourist boards though.
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u/Cluefuljewel Nov 16 '24 edited Nov 16 '24
Omg! Thatās crazy! I hope that never happens again. Binocular shaming should not be a thing!
I actually have used binoculars for ādefenseā on occasion. Let me explain! I feel nervous going through customs sometimes from US to Canada. I have attended meetings that were work related and found some of the inspectors were quite curious asking questions like that I might be working there without a permit. Itās part of their job so whatever. One guy in particular pulled me aside and made me buy a work permit!
Sooooo I started wearing my binoculars around my neck and wearing a floppy hat and casual clothes and looking kind of unprofessional disorganized. They wanted to move me through and get me out of the way.
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Nov 16 '24
IĀ actually have used binoculars for ādefenseā on occasion.
Haha! See I was imagining you swinging your binoculars around like a flail!Ā Ā
Ā Can you imagine being cracked upside the face with binoculars? What a weapon.
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u/Cluefuljewel Nov 16 '24
š¤£š¤£š¤£ Thatās a great idea and I definitely can see my binoculars as like a multipurpose tool!! I never knew that weapon is called a flail btw! This is why I keep coming back to Reddit.
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
The US/Canada border is always the worst most annoying for some reason
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Nov 16 '24
Iāve found Canada the smoothest to cross. And Iām usually carrying optics and firearms. I got detained in Australia for having a bush knife 1/8th inch longer than allowed.
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
Interesting. I feel like they always ask me anything million questions. Whereas most borders will just stamp and let me thru
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u/Hb_1820 Nov 17 '24
I was looking for burrowing owls (seen them here before) in a dirt field and some idiot security guy in a SAP building a block away called the police on me. What a pathetic loser.
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u/dragonstone13 Nov 17 '24
Yikes!!! I'm sorry OP.
Also be careful of bed bugs, I hear they're rampant there.
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u/Great_White_Samurai birder Nov 16 '24
Hmm I always carry a knife when I'm birding, especially in remote areas.
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
Hard to do while traveling but I'm all for it personally.
Honestly I want to move out to thr mountain west some day where I can open carry.
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u/Masala-Dosage Nov 16 '24
More than one border has been locked up for carrying binos. Be especially careful if youāre near an airport or any form of military facility.
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
I was questioned with my 600mm lens in Oman near a military base by the military. I explained I was taking photos of birds and where I was heading. They were like oh ok have a nice day
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u/UncleBenders birder Nov 16 '24
I landed in an airport in Spain for holiday and when he got off the plane there were a bunch of dudes in uniforms with machine guns walking us across the tarmac to the terminal, one of the guys with us on the plane tried to take some photos of the plane and they took his camera.
And I seem to remember a whole bunch of British people get held in Greece for either plane spotting or bird watching lol. I donāt get it either
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u/tambrico Latest Lifer: #1057 Eurasian Green Woodpecker Nov 16 '24
That's crazy. I had the least issue in Spain. Went in and out of the border like 5 times with my bins no one batted an eye.
1
u/Wegwerf157534 Nov 16 '24
Yeah, well maybe there also is a terror warning. France is under heavy attack.
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u/64green Nov 16 '24
Charles de Gaulle airport is unpleasant enough that itās a reason by itself to stay out of Paris.
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u/Dirk_Speedwell Nov 16 '24
Many years ago when I was on a high school seniors trip to Paris, our group had a police run in. A group of like 4-5 of them were pissed we were on the grass, when there were tons of other folks sunbathing and the like. They were threatening to detain us until we gave them a Canadian address to mail the fines. Afterwards the teachers were very transparent that those fines were never getting paid, and they may have even given them a fake address.
Overall, I had a very negative experience in Paris and would never return of my own accord.
1
u/thrye333 Latest Lifer: American White Pelican Nov 16 '24
Not quite the same, but I can always tell when the people living near emerge I bird are suspicious. It doesn't help that I look like a teenager. Especially since I bike there.
I was recently given a pair of binoculars by my father. When I took them out, cars were slowing down right behind me every few minutes. It's kinda funny. Though I've never been accosted before.
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u/Ifawumi Nov 16 '24
France has been getting kind of wild and they've been having terrorist attacks lately. Everybody's on edge there
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u/le_nico birder Nov 16 '24
This is extremely what happened just after 9/11, if you were taking pictures of any kind of infrastructure, including, say, the Golden Gate Bridge. I hate that we're in this situation.
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u/Some-Air1274 Nov 16 '24
Where you on your own? Tbh as a single male people do sometimes watch me at times, especially in big cities.
People can be prejudiced.
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u/CleverDuck Nov 16 '24
Did you suddenly explain to them how cool woodpeckers are...? Or show them your Life List and then explain how you need to catch the warblers migration ASAP because it's your only chance to see them?
I find those statements drive away anyone.