Using flash for birding photography?

[Mike and Susan Molloy]

Does anyone use fill flash like the Better Beamer when shooting bird photos?

Does this disturb birds (or birders)? Is it frowned on by anyone?

Thx,

Mike

[David C Stephens]

There was a discussion of this a few weeks back at www.birdphotographers.net and the conclusion was that the birds aren't disturbed at all by fill-flash in daylight or wooded shade. OTOH, there's evidence that flying owls at night are blinded by the light and might run into things.