Concern for animal welfare is always worth considering. However, it seems climbing to nests is quite different than observing a bird. In some circumstances, crows will abandon nests with chicks if someone climbs to the nest.
Here is what the BNA account says: Sensitivity To Disturbance At Nest And Roost Sites Timbering activities near nests can cause failure, especially during incubation (Anonymous 1989<http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/298/articles/species/298/biblio/bib013>, Boal and Mannan 1994<http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/298/articles/species/298/biblio/bib034>). Logging activities, such as loading and skidding, within 50–100 m of nest can cause abandonment, even with 20-d-old nestlings present (JRS). However, see Zirrer (1947<http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/298/articles/species/298/biblio/bib242>) for descriptions of repeated renesting attempts despite extreme disturbance. Camping near nests has also caused failures (n = 2; Speiser 1992<http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/298/articles/species/298/biblio/bib202>). Research Impacts Disturbances associated with research are usually of short duration, apparently having little impact on nesting birds. Viewing nests for short periods after young have hatched does not cause desertion. Trapping adults during nesting for banding or attaching transmitters apparently does not cause abandonment. The percentage of nesting pairs with radios that successfully raised young (83%, n = 8, 1988–1989) was similar to those without radios (82%, n = 10, 1987–1990; Austin 1993<http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/298/articles/species/298/biblio/bib018>). I don’t see a pressing concern here, personally. Kevin From: bounce-118707197-3493...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-118707197-3493...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of John Confer Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2015 4:04 PM To: Donna Scott; Joshua Snodgrass Cc: CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Northern Goshawk Fingerlakes National Forest, Schuyler Co. HI Folks, The barn door is open or the cat is out of the bag, BUT I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT DESCRIBING LOCATIONS OF N GOSHAWK WHEN THEY ACT SOMEWHAT AS IF THEY HAD A TERRITORY. Northern Goshawk are known among banders who climb to hawk nests to frequently abandon a nest, especially early in the nesting cycle, although not so much after the young have hatched.Individual birds can become accustomed to human disturbance at a low level and provide an exception. Other birds that rarely see humans may well abandon a nest if disturbed. At this time of year, they probably haven't started laying and, even if the bird is considering nesting nearby, at this time of the year the bird might just move away. However, if they did start to nest and someone visited the well described site a couple months from now, the bird might abandon eggs. I know there is an excitement in seeing a good bird, and it is very nice to share providing a very good motivation to share a siting with others, e.g., the Schofield Short-eared Owls, which do not seem to be at all disturbed by humans watching them in a car. Other species of birds may have reduced nesting success if people visit them, and goshawk are known to be so affected. Discretion in individual circumstances is advised. Cheers, John On 1/15/2015 11:14 AM, Donna Scott wrote: Where is Foster Pond, please? Sent from my iPhone Donna Scott On Jan 14, 2015, at 6:19 PM, Joshua Snodgrass <cedarsh...@gmail.com<mailto:cedarsh...@gmail.com>> wrote: I went birding at Foster Pond this afternoon, because high twenties feels like spring compared to the last few days. Past the frozen pond and down Backbone trail I ventured into the brushy field to get a better look at some waxwings when I flushed a Northern Goshawk from low cover. Life Bird! She (I'm guessing based on the size) perched in a small tree and posed for a long time. Excellent views. Adult with a bright eyestripe. I took pictures until my hands and toes went numb. She never flew away. As I was returning to the trail two Common Ravens flew over calling. Awesome Day! Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/123875591@N03/16096262487/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/123875591@N03/15662257883/in/photostream/ Sorry I didn't post earlier, but I have a dumb phone. Good birding! Josh -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> Archives: The Mail Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> BirdingOnThe.Net<http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> Archives: The Mail Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> BirdingOnThe.Net<http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> Archives: The Mail Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> BirdingOnThe.Net<http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
