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December 2013

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From:
Joe Monahan <[log in to unmask]>
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Date:
Fri, 20 Dec 2013 23:01:24 -0600
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Kenn - Your right, it was the winter before last.

I've had the debate in my own state - I thought it was a worthwhile
mid-winter activity. The snowies are in your states this year, which
is why I'm writing to the OH and PA listservs. I would like to see
people feel as free to feed snowy owls as they are to feed juncos. I
think he owls will benefit from it, and I know the birders will :-)

The point about wild owls associating humans with food and how thats
likely to lead to their demise isn't supported by any facts I know of.
Its easy to conjure up notions of boogie men hunters shooting
everything that breaths, but I don't see that as reality. In the areas
where they are actively hunted the human population is so sparse that
there is little chance of an encounter. Besides, even though there is
speculation that feeding an owl over the course of a week or so will
habituate it to humans, I don't see any evidence of that at all. As
I've said, I saw just the opposite as the owl I was feeding apparently
grew less hungry due to my regular feedings.

What I do see are a number of bird species that thrive precisely
because they have come to associate man with food. But that reality
apparently goes against the grain of the conjecture others have
offered, so it is ignored.

I think there are a number of reasons why some people don't want to
see others feed snowy owls but i think the reasons are sub-conscious -
just beyond the reach of their conscious mind. So they make up pseudo
justifications for their beliefs and quickly jump to support the
assertions of those "more qualified" regardless of how weak those
rationals may be.

At this point, its probably more interesting as an anthropological
discussion than an ornithological one.

On Fri, Dec 20, 2013 at 9:39 PM, Kenn Kaufman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I wonder if our correspondent meant to say that his experiences (feeding
> Snowy Owls in Iowa) took place two winters ago, not last winter. A quick
> perusal of published records shows hardly any Snowy Owls in Iowa in the
> winter of 2012-2013, by contrast to the preceding year. I also wonder why
> he's writing to the Ohio and Pennsylvania listserves and apparently not to
> the one for his own state.
>
> Regardless - I'm all in favor of people following their hearts, but good
> intentions will take you only so far. From the Pennsylvania list, here's a
> comment from Scott Weidensaul, a passionate conservationist and an expert
> on birds of prey. For me the clincher is his point that training wild owls
> to associate humans with food is going to lead to trouble. This link should
> take you to the relevant post:
>
> http://birding.aba.org/message.php?mesid=584287&MLID=PA01&MLNM=Pennsylvania
>
> If you teach a Snowy Owl to approach humans for food, chances are it will
> be shot before long. These are nomadic birds, wandering widely at all
> seasons; even if you're seeing one in a relatively remote area, the bird
> isn't going to stay there. It will encounter other humans who aren't as
> well-intentioned as you are. Something to think about. I know we all have
> the best of intentions regarding these birds, but sometimes the best thing
> we can give them is some space.
>
> Kenn Kaufman
> Oak Harbor, Ohio
>
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