[CT Birds] Maine Great Gray Owl Possibly Hit By Car & In Rehab

[Tim Antanaitis]

From: owner-maine-birds(AT)mainebirding.net =
[mailto:owner-maine-birds(AT)mainebirding.net] On Behalf Of Sean Smith
    Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 10:44 AM
    To: Avian Haven; mainebirds
    Subject: Re: [MAINE-BIRDS] Great Gray Owl update

        This is one of the reasons I didn't go to look at the GGO.  I =
went to see the one in Milford in Feb. '06 and frankly, many of the =
birders there were acting like idiots, standing around chattering loudly =
and certainly distracting the owl from its necessary business of HEARING =
its prey so it could eat and survive.  One birder even had a loudly =
barking dog in its parked car within 50 feet of the owl. =20
         Derek Lovitch addressed some of the issues at the time =
regarding owls and proper birding etiquette.  Owls need very special =
consideration when being watched in wintertime, more so than any other =
type of bird.  I'm not saying that everyone who went to see the owl was =
acting inappropriately, but I'm certain after seeing what went on in =
Milford with the GGO there that there were more than a few "trophy =
hunters" who were making things miserable for the owl.=20

    Sean Smith
    Bangor
      ----- Original Message -----=20
      From: Avian Haven=20
      To: maine-birds(AT)mainebirding.net=20
      Cc: ehynes(AT)maineaudubon.org=20
      Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 9:59 AM
      Subject: [MAINE-BIRDS] Great Gray Owl update

      Eric is correct; we have the owl.  We were contacted by the =
property owner early yesterday afternoon, and asked to come for the =
bird.  Our understanding is that it was hit by a car (not one driven by =
a birder) on Sunday, but eluded capture at that time.  Subsequently, it =
was more stationary and easier to approach than previously.  By =
yesterday morning, the bird was on the ground and apparently unable to =
fly more than a few feet.

      Our first radiograph shows no apparent fractures, but the bird is =
extremely emaciated. This may be due at least in part to a heavy =
parasite load, but the property owner feels that the bird was harassed =
by some visitors.  We understand that he intends to communicate his =
concerns to Maine Audubon. =20

      Meanwhile, we can report that the bird survived the night. We've =
treated the parasites and implemented an emaciation recovery protocol; =
however, it is too soon to offer a prognosis.

      Diane Winn & Marc Payne
      Avian Haven, Freedom, ME
      www.avianhaven.org=20

      At 08:34 AM 1/30/2008, you wrote:

        I have received a second hand report that the GGOW in Jackson =
was captured yesterday by Avian Haven and taken away to be x-rayed as it =
may have been hit by a car several days ago.  If I learn more I will =
pass it along but it is no longer on Bog Road in Jackson.
        =20
        Eric Hynes
        Staff Naturalist / Gilsland Farm Center Manager
        Maine Audubon
        20 Gilsland Farm Road
        Falmouth, ME 04105
        207-781-2330 ext. 237
        ehynes(AT)maineaudubon.org
        www.maineaudubon.org
        =20
        =20

  Ross Geredien
  Good Migrations Photography
  www.goodmigrationsphoto.com
  1-610-850-5035

       
---------------------------------
Never miss a thing.   Make Yahoo your homepage.