Here is my two cents based off of over 30 years of birding in this state. I
find this entire discussion absurd and think that everyone has pretty much
missed the real point. I have no clue why people get so up in arms about
flushing owls. Let me preface this by saying that some of the people that I am
about to criticize are people that I bird with frequently, people that I have
known for over 20 years, people that have been to my home and my wedding. I
find it all extremely contradictory and hypocritical .
The same people that are finger pointing and bad mouthing and video taping and
planning secret groups because a few people get too close to a bird, have no
problem walking through the east pond and fulshing hundreds if not thousands of
migratory shorebirds that are desparately trying to refuel for their huge
migration south. Is is possible to walk the east pond without flushing loads
of birds? Does any one care if they flush a flock of peeps, dowitchers or
yellow legs or even give at a second thought while they are searching for a
Godwit or Stint? They have no probelm walking through a field in the fall and
flushing hordes of birds in the hopes that a Clay Colored or Lark Sparrow be
found amongst the hordes of Savannah Sparrows and Song Sparrows and more common
species. Can anyone see a sparrow in NY without flushing it first? These same
people have no problem pshing in any number of song birds during migration.
Doesn't that disturb these birds more than an occasional flush by a
photographer or flash? The examples are endless. What birder has not flushed
flock after flock of Dunlin and Sanderling while walking on the beach at Breezy
and Jones Beach looking for one of those Snowy Owls? What birder has not
crashed through median strip at Jones Beach looking for Crossbills or Sawwhets
and not flushed Yellowrumps and Juncos, etc. What birder has not walked the
trail out to Breezy and not flushed numerous Yellowrupms and Cardinals and
blackbirds. What birder has not walked near a pond and not had every duck swim
to the other side of it? What birder has not flushed loads of Ring-billed and
Herring Gulls on the beach while trying to find a Glaucous or Iceland Gull?
What birder has not walked through central park and not flushed a Hermit thrush
or Ovenbird? I have never gone to Point Lookout and seen the Harlequin Ducks
without them continuously swimming away from me. Maybe they just don't like me
but I think that they are obviously wary of people and do their best to keep
their distance.
The obvious answer to all of my questions is that it is impossible to be a
birder and to not continuously disturb birds. Do any of us really think that
everytime we walk on a beach or thrugh the woods or in a field that we are not
disturbing the birds that are trying to see? I am not in any way condoning
someone who is purposely flushing an owl or approaching unnecessarily close.
But we need to keep in perspective what it is that all of us (certainly
including myself) are doing every time we enter the field? I do not think that
you can randolmly decide what birds are OK to disturb and which ones are not.
That seems to be an absurd thing to do. All of us, photgraphers and birders
alike need to be aware of our impact on our surroundings and stop pointing the
fingers at others.
And now for what may get me lynched. I think that birders cause significantly
more disturbance than photographers do. Do we all really think that when 30
people are lined up (even at a reasonable distance) from a Snowy Owl that you
are not "on its mind", that it is not extremely aware of your presence? Do you
think that it feels comfortable hunting while a crowd is present? I don't. At
least most photographers will make a reasonable effort to slowly approach these
birds so that they can actually not make it fly. That is how you get a good
picture isn't it? These birds are comming to public places and are surrounded
by dogs and loads of people. When they are bothered enough, they will fly. Is
that really a huge deal if a Snowy Owl flies a few hundred yards down the
beach? I really do not think so and I have no clue why so many people think
that. These birds did just fly hundereds of miles south didn't they? I would
argue that the continued presence of a crowd of birders in a field or a swamp
or the beach has a much greater negative impact on the birds than people may
think. I have seen at least 20 Snowy Owls and I have never seen one actively
hunting. Why is that? Probably because I was there and wether or not I
approached it too closely still did not mean that I was not disturbing the
bird. These birds are choosing to or have been forced to winter in what is
unfortunately a public area. The Breezy owls will have to deal with dogs,
people and loads of 4x4's on the beach. They will do their best to stay away
from the people and when they feel distrubed they will fly. That is about the
best they can do. My experience has been that if you are birding anywhere
(and I have lots of experience having birdered in every continent other than
Antarctica) and you are still and quiet then you will see more birds. The
birds seem to not be disturbed as much and will approach extremely close
without being alarmed or flushing. Ever see a bird and it flies as soon as you
pick up your binoucluars to look at it? You disturbed it by your movements.
Most photoagraphers will lie or stand still and quitely most of the time. In
my opinion that disturbs the birds less than a group of birders talking and
snapping pictures.
So what does that mean for birders vs. photographers. Well it means nothing.
Everyone always thinks that someone else is doing more harm than they are. I
think you look quickly and then leave and that is what will cause the least
disturbance to these birds. I think that 30 people that are at a reasonable
distance does a lot more harm than everyone is talking about. My vote is that
birders are doing more harm than the photograhers. And we all need to look in
the mirror a little bit more before we point the finger toward others.
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