Now that the Snowy has been mentioned on the news, all kinds of nut jobs will be out and about. I hope he (Snowy) comes back. This really is a quite subdivision.
Chuck -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Tom Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2010 2:44 PM To: Colorado Birds Subject: [cobirds] Re: Snowy Owl -- El Paso The Peyton, Colorado Snowy was on top of a metal barn very close to the west side of McKissick Road just south of Scott Rd W. at 9:10 am today, Thursday. Several birders and I were standing on McKissick admiring this big and beautiful bird, really white and magnificent. Then a knucklehead birder got out of his car with his point and shoot camera and walked across private property toward the barn to get a better photo. He kept moving forward taking pictures until finally the Snowy flushed and flew east. I guess the knucklehead was finally satisfied, so he turned around and walked back across the vacant lot to his car. I went up and got his name and told him I thought his actions were "very dumb." He was not apologetic. His harassing the owl was inconsiderate on more than one level: --inconsiderate to the owl, who I heard is missing a couple of tail feathers and has a weak left wing. It has traveled a long way to find food and harassment does not help it. --inconsiderate to fellow birders. I was going to set up my tripod and photograph the owl from the road, but the birder flushed it before I could, so after 2 hours of driving, no photo. At least I got a brief look at it. All of us birders on the road were dumbfounded by this guy's chutzpah. --inconsiderate of property owners. What does trespassing do for the image of birders in this subdivision? The Snowy went east and landed far away on the ground. Soon two crows came in to harass it. Then it wearily flew even farther east, practically out of sight. A birder told me a couple of bird photographers were there yesterday baiting the Snowy with mice, so they could get a better picture. I don't know if that is helpful to the Snowy or not; generally habituation to humans is not good for wildlife. Maybe someone should remind local birders of the ABA code of ethics. I don't think tresspassing and harassment are encouraged by the ABA. Thanks and better luck! Tom Wilberding
