[CT Birds] Owls and moderator rules

[Nick Bonomo]

The take-home message is this:
DO NOT TOUCH A ROOSTING OWL.
That's the last thing we need people thinking is OK. It was a cute
story, but not a model for something that birders should ever attempt.
No matter how calm the birds may look, we should always keep a safe
distance from roosting owls. I really do not think that there's an
argument here.

Also, as far as posting day-roosting owls on this listserv, we should
just follow the rules as they are. I'm not sure that proposing a
cut-off date is a good idea in regard to migrating versus wintering
owls. It's difficult to know for sure when that cut-off should occur
(and there is certainly overlap). Also, and more importantly, migrant
owls often use the same locations as wintering owls. For instance, if
there is a certain annual Long-eared Owl communal roost at location X,
and somebody finds a migrant there within the reportable window, that
communal roost may be compromised now that people will probably be
checking this spot for owls.

Nick Bonomo
Orange, CT


On Fri, Mar 28, 2008 at 12:18 PM, Scott Henckel <scott.henckel at snet.net> wrote:
> 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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