Dear Birders: Enclosed is an email confirming the killing of Snowy Owls at Gerald R. Ford Airport: Jerry Jourdan _via_ (http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1311182&ctx=mail) mailman.great-lakes.net Jan 17 (3 days ago) to Kim, SE Folks, Earlier today I spoke w/ a friend of mine at the Michigan DNR office. It was confirmed that airport personnel called the MDNR requesting assistance with an owl that needed rehabilitation. When the officer arrived he found that the Snowy Owl had its wing shot off by one of the airport personnel at the Grand Rapids Airport. Needless to say, the officer was upset and astounded that the airport folks called to ask for help for the bird. The bird was taken to the local rehabber in Muskegon, but had to be put down. Apparently the FAA has a federal license to shoot any raptors that they feel will endanger flights coming into and leaving the airport. It hasn't been confirmed, but the same policy may be in effect at the Kent Co. Airport, and (rumored) in the Chicago Metropolitan area. Members of the MDNR are as upset about this as many of us are, but have little recourse. This is sad news to hear considering the hardships these owls have had to endure this winter. We can only hope, that if enough people raise a stink, that airport personnel will reconsider and opt for a more humane approach to keeping the flying public and their equipment safe. Jerry _http://jerryjourdan.blogspot.htt_ (http://jerryjourdan.blogspot.com/) Again I am asking for your support and to please sign the petition against the shooting of the Snowy Owls. _Petition | Stop Killing Snowy Owls | Change.org_ (http://www.change.org/petitions/gerald-r-ford-international-airport-stop-ki lling-snowy-owls#share) My Sincere Thanks, Joy Barron Michigan ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]