A follow up to my previous post, and many thanks to bringing this up, Diana.
I am aware that the Short-eared Owl viewing situation at Nations Road in Avon,
NY is nothing short of a 3-ring circus at times. (And probably other places
too) Some of the human activity has perhaps become disturbing to the owls. I
haven't been there, so I'm unaware of what it's been like first hand, but I can
imagine.
Considering the well-being of the wild animal you're trying to enjoy or
photograph, is paramount to me. Many of these seasonally exciting birds, like
the Short-ear and Snowy Owls, have traveled far distances and may be weak,
hungry, and exhausted. Please respect the space needed by these birds to roost
and hunt. Disturbing them during either could very well lead to their death.
Maybe not because one person flushed one, but if many people are visiting and
getting out of cars, talking loudly, walking around, and maybe getting too
clsoe, you can see how it can quickly get out of hand.
The locations I mentioned are, by their nature, not that accessible unless you
are dedicated to tromp through FEET of snow to get closer to the hunting
grounds. There are great viewing opportunities from the roads or parking lots,
depending on where you go. Some will suggest staying in your car, and I don't
disagree. If you do want to get out to get a better view or angle, use your car
as a blind. There were 15 of us last night, and we kept the cars between us and
the field where the owl was hunting. There was no indication that we were
disturbing the owl as it was actively hunting, and coming close and moving away
equally as it was perusing the field. I read or heard a good thing to remember:
Don't sacrifice the well-being of the animal by approaching for a better look,
just because you don't have the gear to get those good views. Invest in
binoculars, a scope, a lens, and you will have great opportunity to watch these
birds with out getting too close.
I'll end with this link for more information regarding ethical
birding/photography. This comes from Braddock Bay Raptor Research in Greece,
NY: https://bbrr.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/owl-trail-rules.pdf
--
Alyssa Johnson
Environmental Educator
315.365.3588
Montezuma Audubon Center
PO Box 187
2295 State Route 89
Savannah, NY 13146
Montezuma.audubon.org
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
From: Diana Green
Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2021 11:00 AM
To: Johnson, Alyssa
Subject: RE: [oneidabirds-l] Short-eared Owls in Montezuma Wetlands Complex
Dear Alyssa, Thanks for this wonderful information. Some people are saying
that the SEOWs (snowy owls I'm assuming) are being adversely affected by the
commotion of many people & photographers. Should we be aware of this & what
precautions do you recommend?
From:
bounce-125403319-88442...@list.cornell.edu<mailto:bounce-125403319-88442...@list.cornell.edu>
[mailto:bounce-125403319-88442...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Johnson,
Alyssa
Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2021 10:47 AM
To: Cayuga Birds mailto:Cayugabirds-L@cornell.edu>>;
geneseebird...@geneseo.edu<mailto:geneseebird...@geneseo.edu>;
oneidabird...@cornell.edu<mailto:oneidabird...@cornell.edu>
Subject: [oneidabirds-l] Short-eared Owls in Montezuma Wetlands Complex
Hi all,
Just wanted to share a few spots where SEOW viewing is possible.
Last night about 5:30, I drove through the "Route 31 Muck Flats" and on the
eastern half, before you go over the Seneca River bridge I saw two flying high
together. They were fighting or playing, not sure because I was driving and
couldn't stop there. But they were definitely SEOWs and interacting. A friend
of mine drove through that same spot an hour prior and said she had great views
of them as she was driving, and even one landing and sitting in a tree right
along 31.
>From there, I was headed to West Loop Rd/CR 38 in Montezuma. Once you go over
>the bridge (on 31) look for W. Loop Rd on your left, turn up there. In 2018-19
>(I believe) the DEC and Ducks Unlimited were working on a big project at the
>flood plain there right between West Loop Rd and the Seneca River. That's a
>seasonally flooded area, and gets quite wet in the spring. Last year record
>numbers of Northern Pintails were counted there in March during the peak of
>the waterfowl migration. At this time of year though, it's a frozen
>grassland/wetland and has been a regular viewing area for SEOWs and Northern
>Harriers. They are repeatedly being documented during the Winter Raptor Survey
>the DEC conducts. I wanted to see if I could find them there, and as I was
>driving up, I saw one immediately. There is a little gravel pull off similar
>to the one on East Road, but it hasn't been plowed. There are quite a few
>houses on the east side of the road, but on the west side, that gives the
>be