Patty and Andrew I thought you might be interested in this admin message a from NYSBirds-L Cornell. edu . ;-) Cheers, Bob On Apr 8, 2015, at 10:39 AM, Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes wrote:
> I am re-sending this message as a reminder about ethical birding, especially > as it pertains to owls during this winter season. > > Please avoid posting metropolitan-area owl sighting locations to this eList. > > Although the content of this message is on owls, this message may apply to > almost any unusual species. > > In the past, birders have witnessed other birders and bird photographers > acting in a way that does not conform to the American Bird Association’s > (ABA) Principles of Birding Ethics (link: > http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html). > > Several of these behaviors have included, but not been limited to: > > · Getting too close to a resting owl or causing a disruption that > forces an owl to flush from its resting location – this causes wasted > expenditure of much-needed energy > · Using powerful flash photography – this may disrupt the normal > activity of an owl (sleeping, foraging, etc.) > · Releasing unnatural food resources (cage mice) into the environment > – this may cause an owl to associate humans with an unnatural food source > which may also contain unknown chemicals or antibiotics > · Loud talking, pishing or squeaking to attract the attention of an > owl – this may further disrupt the normal activity of an owl > > The discovery of owls or other rare birds may cause larger-than-normal > numbers of people to gather near a rare or unusual bird. This may lead to > undue stress to an already stressed bird. > > ************************* > In an effort to help minimize the negative impacts that we, as birders, may > have upon recently discovered owls, please refrain from openly disclosing the > exact location of any owl on the NYSbirds-L eList. Please keep any postings > that mention owl sightings, as general as possible. > ************************* > > As Listowner of the NYSbirds-L eList, I have little control over how people > behave around these birds; however, I do have control over who is subscribed > to this eList. > > If, while observing an unusual or rare bird, anyone witnesses birder behavior > which severely contradicts the ABA Principles of Birding Ethics, please > document this unethical behavior and find out the name of the individual or > individuals in question. If it is clear and blatant harassment of a bird, > please document this. Report this unethical or illegal behavior to me and > report this to the appropriate Office representing your region at the New > York State Department of Environmental Conservation (link: > http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/50230.html). If this person is a subscriber of > the NYSbirds-L eList, their subscription status will be brought into question > by me. > > Please note, I cannot prevent someone who has documented unethical birding > behavior from posting that information to YouTube or any public forums > outside of NYSbirds-L. If this is documented and publicized, your reputation > may be at stake. Bear in mind that it is *not* okay to openly lambast > specific violators on the NYSbirds-L eList. Please read the NYSbirds-L eList > rules at this link: http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES > > *It is in your own best interest to read, understand, and follow the > Principles of Birding Ethics!* > > Thank you and do not hesitate to contact me off List with your questions or > concerns. > > Sincerely, > Chris T-H > > > -- > Chris Tessaglia-Hymes > Listowner, NYSbirds-L > Ithaca, New York > [email protected] > NYSbirds-L – Archives > NYSbirds-L – Welcome and Basics > NYSbirds-L – Rules and Information > NYSbirds-L – Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > > -- > -- > NYSbirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe.Net > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- Robert Wick [email protected] -- 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/[email protected]/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/ --
