Some good points there Tim! I also checked eBird and did not find any
recent report showing specific locations of roosting owls.
I'd also add that I don't see it as always necessary to use vague county
level reporting on eBird when dealing with sensitive species. I think
an eBird hotspot is fine when the hotspot itself is so large, e.g. a
thousand plus acre nature reserve, as to deter anyone from searching for
the bird without more specific directions. But personally I'd omit from
the notes of this public database any description that would allow
someone to narrow the search area--I'd leave that for any personal
communications you chose to make on the subject. I'd also avoid
mentioning the sighting on this list.
Good birding!
Jim Moore
Rockville, Maryland
+
On 1/29/2013 4:59 PM, Timothy Houghton wrote:
> I checked eBird for the most sensitive owl species (but not, e.g., screech or great horned) found in MD this month. I looked at each report--not one of them, as far as I could tell, described a precise location.
>
> I understand the necessity for proper behavior at sensitive sites and imagine that most people behave themselves. My guess is that most people can see a sensitive owl species eventually as word filters out. That's better, in some instances, than 20 or more people converging somewhere at the same time. But I would have trouble telling most fellow birders to their faces that I get to see the owl but you don't. Some birders may be content to keep a special find to themselves and their buddies. I get that, up to a point. But every interested birder should have the opportunity to enjoy a species, and I think gradualism can provide balance in certain situations. As with most issues, it's not a black or white matter, not a simple matter--and circumstances vary.
>
> Tim Houghton
> (Glen Arm)
> ________________________________________
> From:<mdbirding...> [<mdbirding...>] On Behalf Of David Flynt (Arlington, VA) [<dflyntemail...>]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 3:44 PM
> To:<mdbirding...>
> Cc: Ross Geredien
> Subject: [MDBirding] Re: Sensitive Species and eBird
>
> Dear Mr. Geredien and Anne Arundel Bird Club members,
>
> Why should birders not share our observation of owl roosting sites? "increasing the profile of conservation" is too vague to have any real meaning. What specifically is a sensitive species and how does human observation negatively impact this species? What are the leading causes of the species to be considered sensitive? Is it human observation or something else such as habitat destruction or disease?
>
> I went to the Anne Arundel Bird Club web site (http://www.aabirdclub.org/) where there is link-heading at the top that says "Conservation" which navigates to a blank page. What has the AABC Conservation Committee done to increase the profile of conservation?
>
> I do not think there is anything taboo about reporting owl roosting sites, but I will listen to arguments or read references that prove otherwise. The purpose of eBird.org is to gather scientific research data through bird siting dates and locations, but this extraordinary resource relies on birders and ornithologists sharing their bird sitings. It is a win for the scientists and a win for the birders. Remove the win for the birders, and you remove the scientific information which could lead to targeted and effective conservation efforts.
>
> In the big scheme of things, encouraging observation rather than discouraging it may stimulate community interest in birds and may be the very best thing for conservation of birds and their habitats.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> David Flynt
> Arlington, VA
>
> On Tuesday, January 29, 2013 10:19:56 AM UTC-5, Ross Geredien wrote:
>> As a member of the Anne Arundel Bird Club Conservation Committee, which is attempting to increase the profile of conservation within MOS and our local chapter's bird activities, I would like to extend the following message to eBird users.
>>
>>
>> A number of recent sightings of sensitive owl species have been reported in eBird in the last few days, all using a specific hotspot site for reporting. Some have even gone
>> so far as to report a specific location within a hotspot. I wanted to remind folks of eBird's sensitive species reporting guidelines:
>>
>>
>> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/about/reporting-sensitive-species
>>
>>
>>
>> In particular, the following recommendations are advised:
>>
>>
>> Use generic, county-level reporting for sensitive species; do not report specific locations or sites.Wait several weeks, or even until the bird(s) have left the area to report themAt the very least, delay reporting observations by a full week to keep reports off the "eBird Notable Birds feed."You can go back and edit your previous checklists to reflect these guidelines.
>> Please help us in protecting the sensitive nature of these owl roost sites by adhering to the above guidelines, especially now that breeding season for owls is drawing near. The benefits could be the first known nesting attempt of certain owl species in Maryland in recent
>> memory.
>>
>>
>> Thank you for your help!
>>
>>
>> Ross Geredien
>> Anne Arundel Bird Club
>> Edgewater, MD
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Follow Me on Twitter
>> @goodmigrations1
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