Chris, Sorry, but that is research. While I agree that seeing a bird with = colored wing tags, bands, etc definitely reduces the esthetic experience = of finding and observing it, I also have to argue that the knowledge = gained is important to the continued well being of birds in general. = Furthermore, much of what we take for granted as general knowledge of = bird behavior, migratory movements, distribution and taxonomy is a = result of field research, some of which is intrusive. Having banded, = wing-tagged, and yes painted, many birds myself I can only say that I = and everyone I have ever worked with feels a deep responsibility to the = bird being handled, the population we are studying, and to the people = who might happen upon that bird.
What would interest me is finding out what is being learned on this = study. Mark Martell Director of Bird Conservation Audubon Minnesota 2357 Ventura Drive #106 St. Paul, MN 55125 651-739-9332 651-731-1330 (FAX) -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]on Behalf Of Chris Fagyal Sent: Monday, February 09, 2004 10:12 AM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: [mou] Gyr Sat. in WI What diminishes it is when the Snowy Owl has a big bright patch of dye on the top of its head and a huge wing tag. Im sorry, banding for the sake of science is one thing, and doing it discretely with small metal bands around the leg is fine. Painting a birds head and then putting a massive tag on its wing is completely another and it disgusts me.=20 Somehow seeing a snowy owl that is painted green just doesn't do it for me. Leave the birds alone. That isn't research. =20 Chris Fagyal Senior Software Engineer United Defense, L.P. Fridley, MN (763) 572-5320 [email protected] >>> Ann and Manley Olson <[email protected]> 02/08/2004 20:26:58 PM >>> What is unfortuneate about seeing a marked bird?Many of the Perigrines we see in Minnesota are banded.When you are leading an MOU field trip do=20 you discount banded birds if you happen to see the band? I suspect for most of us a free-flying Snowy Owl is welcome on our lists and the joy of seeing it is not diminished by the fact that it is part of someones research study. Manley Olson Michael Hendrickson wrote: > On the Wisconsin State listserve a birder reported seeing the=20 > Gyrfalcon is the Superior Harbor on Saturday in the afternoon but the > exact time was not given. I thought I give this a heads up for those > that might be heading this way. > =20 > The Hawk Owl is still being seen in Spooner WI and the Snowy Owl at=20 > the Superior Airport. Unfortunately the Owl is marked with dye with=20 > a green tag wing tag. > =20 > I guess if you want to see a unmarked bird go to Hutchinson, Mn.=20 > =20 > =20 _______________________________________________ mou-net mailing list [email protected]=20 http://cbs.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mou-net _______________________________________________ mou-net mailing list [email protected] http://cbs.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mou-net
