[CT Birds] Owls and moderator rules

[Scott Henckel]

I also agree with Clay for the exact reasons he stated. I too would not
intentionally defy the rules the Roy put in place. 

The question I asked about Great Horned Owls the other day was about
behavior and I did not even state the town the nest was in. I don't know if
people complained about that but if they did so be it. I have been asked by
birders of all ages to show them owls when I discover or hear about them
because they are life birds for those people. These people are respectful to
other people and the environment and would not "harm" the roost in anyway.
The fact that they don't get the call about Owl sightings is a shame. The
only other way to find out if they're around is to check these postings but
chances are nothing will ever be posted about it. You could try and guess
when they're around and e-mail somebody that might have some info but
chances are if they don't know you they're not going to tell you.

For all of those people who gave Clay a hard time about hand catching that
Saw-Whet at Hammo:

I was young when that happened years ago and I can still remember it like it
was yesterday. That's the closest I've ever been to any owl in the wild and
was truly amazed at the whole experience. I was amazed the owl really didn't
move the whole time Clay was handling it and showing us the anatomy, plus it
still didn't move after he placed it back on the branch. I had just started
birding and that experience made me love it even more. The owl didn't appear
to be stressed in anyway. It fell back asleep soon after he placed it back
on the branch. In addition he also banded them at the time and knew how to
handle them safely. I figured somebody was thinking that.

 Now some people are going to have a problem with what he did and some
aren't but that's just the way it is. You could argue both sides till your
blue in the face and not change anything. I have no problem with what he did
and as a kid I truly came away with a positive experience and more respect
for the bird and environment. I have seen many migrant owls and none of them
seemed disturbed over our presence. Unless the rules change here I will
abide by the ones in place and support them. I agree with the following
statement:

"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"....

Thank you and just my 2 cents;
Scott Henckel
Shelton, CT


-----Original Message-----
From: ctbirds-bounces at lists.ctbirding.org
[mailto:ctbirds-bounces at lists.ctbirding.org] On Behalf Of Clay Taylor
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 12:26 PM
To: David Provencher; CTBirds
Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Owls and moderator rules

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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> for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut.
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