Gus,
There was a question on eBirdNYC about the ethics on posting the location of
Owls. Is this your response to that?
--------
"I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of
others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence." ~ Frederick
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風 Swift as the wind
林 Quiet as the forest
火 Conquer like the fire
山 Steady as the mountain
Sun Tzu The Art of War
> (\__/)
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> Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device!
Andrew Baksh
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com
> On Nov 28, 2018, at 2:19 PM, Gus Keri <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> 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
>
>
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