Horrified to hear of this development. It likely was done by a “birder” and not one of the refuge staff. I did not see evidence of this trimming just the other day when I visited, but it was admittedly my first stop at the site. I too did not locate any owls in the tangles location I was led to believe they reliably used. I was able to find an individual resting peacefully in one of the evergreens off the east side of the parking lot however. Phil Sisto Sent from my iPhone > On Jan 20, 2018, at 13:33, Haans Petruschke <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > Hi, > > The little Northern Saw-whet Owls have been very reliable in the same > location for weeks at CLNP, but are not there today. Examination of the > roost site showed that the tangle had been trimmed with a clipper all the > way back to where one of the little owls would sit. Of course the owl is > no longer there. > > These owls showed remarkable fidelity to this location and tolerance to > close approach by humans which is typical if they are in a protected > location. Cutting the tangle eliminated the protective aspect of the roost > and so the little owls are gone. > > I was not present when the cutting was done and do not know the reason. > Anything I might suggest would be speculative and so I refuse to speculate > for the reason or motive for the disturbance. > > This was great while it lasted, and it is too bad the site was disturbed in > such a gross manner. The fidelity to this site over such a long period > provides good evidence of how tolerant owls can be to human presence so > long as we do not go too far. > > How far is too far? Cutting stuff certainly. Also touching the bird. I > have found that having loud groups taken to see roosting owls also results > in them leaving an otherwise reliable roost. But as Roger Tory Peterson > noted so long ago, Owls can otherwise be ridiculously tame and > approachable. No different than Warblers or Chickadees in the right > situation. > > Haans > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. > Please consider joining our Society, at https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=www.ohiobirds.org%2Fsite%2Fmembership.php&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cbc1d8131c421456ef36a08d560344ca6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636520700091262696&sdata=m5LpfDmtekguFImVaaO464aRoOl%2Bja7Tea1dzujLrj0%3D&reserved=0. > Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. > > > You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: > listserv.miamioh.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. 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.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]