[MDOsprey] Apology to the list
Miliff@aol.com
Tue, 1 Jun 1999 15:52:10 EDT
Hello all,
I wanted to apologize for the extremely poor judgment I used in a 5/5/99
email in which I reported refinding the Le Conte's Sparrow at E. A. Vaughn
W.M.A. in Worcester County.
First of all, in my urge to obtain photos to document the bird I think I was
overly eager to flush the bird and surely caused it undue stress by repeated
flushings. Given its tendency not to fly I also ran the risk of causing the
bird harm should it choose not to fly. I have heard enough stories of
trampled rails to believe this is a very real danger with a sparrow as well.
Worse yet, my urge to share the bird with other people severely clouded my
judgment and resulted in a careless and deplorable post. The worst part was
that I went so far as to suggest that two people drag a rope in order to
flush the bird. Not only would that single bird would be harassed far too
much, but the small margin of habitat along the pond edge would surely be
adversely effected. I am glad that, to my knowledge, no one followed my
suggestion, but am disappointed in myself that I even suggested it.
In part I think I was influenced by attending one of the Yellow Rail walks at
Anahuac NWR this past April in Texas. On that, a section of the Yellow Rail
Prairie had been cordoned off for the walks and once or twice a week a group
of 20 or so people were taken out there to try to flush Yellow Rails. A rope
was dragged and the others fanned out to try to flush the birds. In addition
to seeing several Yellow Rails, a number of other interesting and usually
secretive species were scared up. It was that experience that prompted my
comment about rope dragging at Vaughn, which, in any event, is a much more
easily impacted area. I surely enjoyed seeing those species but wonder now
what the impact of those walks really is. Measures are taken to
minimize the impact. No bird is flushed more than once or twice. They rotate
them between different areas over different years, but do use the same
section through a given spring season. Surely those birds are territorial in
winter and it is likely the same rails that are jumped each week (although, I
recognize that most which are seen are migrants). I talked to the leader for
a while afterwards and he said that no birds have been injured in the walks,
but one has to wonder. Could it really be as benign as they claim?
I let excitement about a rare find and the urge to share the sighting color
my judgment decidedly poor. I am very sorry for having done so and would
like to say that I in no way condone my behavior and actions. I was
thoughtless and careless in my post and overly eager in my pursuit of the
bird that day. While I do think documentation of rare finds is of value, it
should not be at the expense of the bird's well being.
Good birding,
Marshall Iliff
miliff@aol.com