OHIO-BIRDS Archives

January 2013

OHIO-BIRDS@LISTSERV.MIAMIOH.EDU

Options: Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
"Warren, Mary" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Warren, Mary
Date:
Mon, 7 Jan 2013 19:33:39 +0000
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (56 lines)
Well said Nina, as was Jen Brumfield's earlier message on the same topic.
Think of the birds.   Yes we all love them and want to see them.
But let's not love them to death.     Again, think of the birds,  not your photograph, your life list or anything else.

Happy Birding!
Mary at Magee Marsh

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nina Harfmann
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2013 4:29 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: viewing owls at Killdeer Plains

It's great to hear that long-eared owls are once again being seen at Killdeer Plains, but I'd like to offer 
the first thoughts that come into my head at this breaking news, before hundreds wear a wide path to 
the base of this tree:
For the past several years, long-eared owls have been rarely seen at this once, heavily visited site, and 
although there has been speculation as to exactly why they have chosen not to roost here of late, 
there has been some thought that over-viewing may contribute to the decline--so might the 
advancing age and size of the trees in the stand.
So, my concern involves the distance we birders observe when viewing owls. Long-eared owls rely on 
their ability to hide in plain sight when threatened, meaning that, although it may appear that the owl 
is not bothered by your presence in that it has not flown off the branch, if its posture is one described 
as being stretched tall and thin and wide eyes stare back at you, you ARE too close. If an owl takes to 
the air during the day, its life may be jeopardized--a situation never to be provoked.

I would hope that, as exciting as it may be to have long-eared owls again roosting at Killdeer, 
extreme caution and responsibility be enforced. A spotting scope might be better used than a close 
approach to the tree, and photographs taken with a long lens better than snapshots taken at close 
range.
All of us in the birding community should be able to be pleased simply in knowing that they are there, 
and make choices for our behavior that puts the well-being of these wonderful birds first.

Nina Harfmann
Granville, OH

______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]

______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]

ATOM RSS1 RSS2