Hi Everyone,
Please read this excellent summary on eBird and sensitive species:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/sensitive_species
Long-eared Owls are the example used in the article, and are almost certainly our most sensitive winter visitor. For anyone lucky enough to find Long-eared Owls, and to anyone who learns of their presence, please exercise great care. As noted in the article, disturbance can lead directly or indirectly to the birds' demise. Especially if roost sites accidentally become broadcasted widely, please consider leaving them be. For anyone who visits a site, be happy with whatever views you get from a distance, and quickly move on. Flash photography, squeaking, moving branches, and so on are totally inappropriate. On rare occasions, these owls select roosts that can be viewed via scopes from a safe distance. Fingers crossed for more opportunities like that.
I know of know inappropriate behavior in recent history, but a seasonal reminder is always in order, especially as our community expands. MDBirds is now nearly 650 strong, by far the largest our on-line community has ever been. eBird provides powerful technology that shares bird records in seconds. These are great things, but they also require us to self-police in new ways.
Good birding!
Bill
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Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland
<bill_hubick...>
http://www.billhubick.com
http://www.marylandbiodiversity.com
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