Through being an active birder in the Albany area and now being involved in e-bird, I've gotten to make some contact with the Air Traffic control folk at Albany International Airport.
They are reluctant to report owls, because of situations like this. Basically, the Owls because of their size are a threat to airplanes taking off and landing. If I recall, they need to make an effort to discourage the owls from hanging out on the runway, but if those fail, then can and do shoot the owls. This is not limited to JFK, but can happen at any airport. While not ideal in my mind, you will be hard pressed to find anyone, especially in the government who would potentially risk hundreds of human lives for one, two or even 3 Owls. Its the same reason why Canada Geese are culled in many areas. Just another risk Snowy Owl's have to deal with when they come this far south. Will Raup Albany, NY ________________________________ > From: nutrich...@rcn.com > To: nysbirds-l@cornell.edu > Subject: [nysbirds-l] Snowy Owls being shot at JFK > Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2013 07:22:53 -0500 > > > Just wanted to bring everyone’s attention to this article in the Daily > News this morning regarding the Port Authority shooting Snowy Owls at > JFK airport. > > > > http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/snowy-owls-added-port-authority-kill-list-article-1.1541823 > > > > > Christina > > -- > NYSbirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and > Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > > Archives: > The Mail > Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l%40cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> > BirdingOnThe.Net<http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html> > Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! > -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
