Dear all, I respectfully disagree with the policy that Owls’ locations should not be public. Here is why:
In the last few years, I have not seen or heard of any owl that had been injured or had died because of public posting of its location. This is from information I gathered for owls in NYC area strictly. I also have not heard of any owl that was hurt or injured by the presence of birders or photographers in the nearby. During the same period, many owls were injured or ended up dead around the city because of many other reasons. Here are some examples of these dangers: 1- Raptors: Owls can be injured or killed by other raptors like the Snowy Owl I found in Floyd Bennett Field last year and if it wasn’t for the public posting and the help of the birding community, it would’ve been killed by a raccoon. Thankfully, it was saved by Bobby Horvath. 2- Weather storms: Such as the northeaster that destroyed an owl’ nest in Jamaica bay last spring. 3- Fishing lines: A nesting male owl was injured by a fishing line in Prospect Park last spring. The bird was rescued but eventually died because it was too late to save it. [That nest location was kept a secret. I wonder if the location was made public and birders were allowed to observe the nest, the ailing owl would have been discovered and rescued earlier before the situation become terminal. Sometime, more eyes on birds might provide more protection.] 4- Glass buildings: Five Saw Whet Owls were brought to Wild Life fund for rescue after they hit glass buildings in Manhattan in the last few weeks only. 5- Other species harassing owls: many birds are harassing owls roosting in their trees. If you visit any owl roost you will find a group of crows, jays or even titmice harassing owls. There are many example of owls abandoning their roosts because of other birds’ harassment. There is one example of birders/photographers harassing owls and this is strictly to Snowy Owls because photographers are trying to get a perfect shot. This is by no mean is correct behavior and by no mean I endorse it. But likewise, I have not seen or heard of any Snowy Owl being injured or died because of this behavior. The Owl usually flies and escapes to a quieter place away from the mob. In extreme cases, the owl might fly to a nearby island like what a Snowy Owl did last spring when photographers approached it in Floyd Bennett Field. I am sure people might have different experience with this issue. Some might have witnessed owl being injured because of this behavior. But I think these events are very rare and should not be reasons for putting policy banning public posting of locations. Educating the public should be focused on informing birders and photographers on the proper behavior around roosting owls but should not be focused on the reasoning for banning public posting. [I like what Jamaica Bay officials did when they restricted access to the Owls’ nest but they didn’t prevent birders from seeing the nest from a distance.] If a birder/photographer breaks the rules and his conduct become harassment of the bird, then call the responsible authority. Don’t go after birders who just want to share happiness with other birders. I read recently a very beautiful quote by the screenwriter and film maker John Builello that says: “Seeing the birds is like touching the hand of God. This is the Church of Many Feathers." And there is no bird that fits the meaning of this quote than a Snowy Owl. Seeing this owl is like touching the hand of God whatever that is to you; God, Allah, Krishna, Buddha or Darwin. Everyone has the right to touch the hand of God. Gus Keri -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
