Thank you, Jim!
A Saw-whet owl in Baltimore City's Cylburn was disturbed when someone cut
off a branch which was making the photographer/oberver's life difficult
since they couldn't get an unimpeded look at the bird.
Gail Frantz
Hanover Rd
Reisterstown, MD
In a message dated 2/6/2013 2:54:49 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
<jugornought...> writes:
Bill Hubick wrote [abridged]:
I received a highly troubling report today that a known Long-eared Owl
roost site has been seriously disturbed. It appears someone has cut branches
from the roost tree to allow for better photography. The cuts were fresh,
only on the roost tree, and clearly not part of a larger park maintenance
effort. At least one of the branches cut was described as being nearly the
width of the observer's arm.
*******************************************
Owls have long been considered special birds throughout history and across
many cultures [Google or Bing "owls in mythology" to get a hint of this].
It's not surprising that the fascination continues in our times. When i
was much younger, i was inclined to search out owl roosts - never
successfully although i did on occasion find where owls had likely been roosting in
the past. Over time this activity lost its appeal, maybe because i was
universally unsuccessful, but also i like to think it was due to a growing
understanding that it was not in the best interest of the owls. I personally
don't believe there is any justification for this activity in the present
day of ever increasing habitat degradation and fragmentation. The stress of
even one intrusion on an owl roost could prove to be too much. I asked
Bill a week or so ago to consider amending the guidelines to make membership
contingent on people agreeing NOT to search for roosts. I realize that
this position is probably ahead of where many are at present, but i think it's
a position worth stating. For the present if you have to hunt for owl
roosts and are successful in finding one, simply don't share your information
with ANYBODY PERIOD. Should you do so, there is no telling how many others
will eventually learn of the location and as someone has mentioned, the
initial caveats to be cognizant of the effect of visiting the owls may get
diluted to the point that it may appear to one individual that NO BEHAVIOUR
is off limits. Thanks
Jim Speicher
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