Owl feeding

[Tom Wilberding]

Hello birders,

Here’s a controversial topic: Is it okay to feed a Snowy Owl to get a better look, get a better photo? Seems cruel to throw live mice toward an owl, at least for the mice. And obviously one should not feed an owl a poisoned rodent. But apparently there are arguments on the other side, because the ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethic Committee has not ruled one way or the other, as far as I know. Here’s from the October, 2015 “Birder’s Guide to Listing & Taxonomy.” Nick Block of the RSEC said, “….Another issue concerns the feeding of owls, particularly wintering Snowy and Great Gray owls. As you may know, the debate over this practice is a giant can of worms, but it may be one the at RSEC needs to open. We shall see.”

I don’t plan to feed or bait a Snowy owl. Regarding an owl near DIA, I don’t think anyone should encourage it to stay near the airport by feeding it. Airport managers don’t want them around.

I think we can all agree that it is wrong to flush any owl by approaching too closely. Let’s give Snowy Owls as much room as they want. If the owl stirs, back off. And of course, stay off private property.

Best,

Tom Wilberding

Boulder

[Christy P]

I would agree, but there are two arguments to support not feeding the owls,or any bird, that are often over-looked.  Where would you get live mice?  From a  pet store? AS a wildlife manager, I would certainly caution against introducing domestic mouse populations into the wild. They can have drastic and unpredictable consequences on wild populations of mice and other rodents, which are the prey source for these birds we all know and love.  Further, the airport (and all airports) can and will remove wild animals, owls and other raptors included, if they pose a threat to human health and safety. Encouraging one to hang around an airport often ends dramatically, and during the snowy owl irruption in 2012-13 I personally collected a snowy owl from an airport in the midwest after it was injured in an attempt to remove it for safety reasons.  The owl did not survive.

I think it's wonderful to get an opportunity to have a look at these rare and fascinating critters. My personal snowy and great grey owl encounters are the reasons that I really got involved in birding and the bird community.  Colorado has a fantastic network of people willing to share their sightings and give others that opportunity, but all ethical birders start to question sharing their sightings and locations of rarities when that sharing becomes a threat to the well-being of the birds themselves.  I think we should all make an effort to keep this a safe and encouraging community locally by not giving each other reason for pause when we want to share a sighting. Please keep the well-being of the animals your number one priority.

Thanks for sharing,

Christy

Denver

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