[CT Birds] Owls and moderator rules

[Clay Taylor]

Dave -

A very good point, and one that I agree with - the rules are the rules, and 
we should play by them or find someplace else to play.   My post was not 
intended to defy either the rules or the spirit in which they were intended. 
I should have put it this way -

Can we modify the rule to allow owl-postings during obvious times of 
migration?    We can even set a date range to protect birds that might 
already be setting up a wintering territory.   I feel that this would be a 
great help to beginning birders and potential birders to know that such a 
sighting possibility exists.

 I would hope that the content and intent of this or any other list belongs 
to the subscribers.    If the list members as a whole support it, it should 
be so.    Roy's separate reporting list is a different thing - if he or the 
COA decides that it is inappropriate to include migrating owl sightings in 
the Daily Report, so be it.    That shouldn't preclude a CT Birder from 
posting that there was an owl at  XXX place today.    In the interest of 
getting the sighting into the Public Record, I would think we should support 
this.

I received messages from a number of people after my initial message - some 
in total support, others disagreeing with the idea of reporting owls. 
Interestingly, none of those challenged my assertion that disturbance of 
migrant owls is not harmful to them.    The incident I referred to about 
capturing the Saw-whet at Hammo was brought up by one of the people that was 
there, and they still remember with amazement seeing the asymmetrical 
earholes of the bird, and how it was so quiet while in the hand.

One of the people responding commented that whatever gets posted on the 
internet is now out there for the whole world to know, and possibly abuse. 
That is certainly true, but my view is that IF there are a LOT more ethical 
people out there that are aware of the situation, then it is less likely 
that an unethical person will mess up the situation.   Remember, "we're 
watching"....

Clay Taylor
Moodus, CT
ctaylor at att.net



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Provencher" <davidprovencher at sbcglobal.net>
To: "CTBirds" <ctbirds at lists.ctbirding.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 1:36 PM
Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Owls and moderator rules


>I would like to say that everyone has a right to express their opinion and
> everyone has a right to expect their opinion be respected. I believe there
> is no issue here concerning that. However we all participate in this forum
> with the understanding that there are rules put in place by the hard 
> working
> folks who bring us this wonderful forum. We do not have to agree with the
> rules but we need to respect that they exist. I would humbly ask everyone 
> to
> live within the rules as elucidated by Roy. I for one am glad he reminds 
> us
> from time to time just what the rules are since lately I have been so
> harassed by foolish stuff that half the time I struggle remembering how to
> dress myself.
>
>
>
> Dave Provencher
>
> _______________________________________________
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