Correction: Some Long-eared Owls still at 50 Point and being harassed...
A & K Williams
Point Conservation Area and at least two witnesses saw them repeatedly
being chased from end to end of their tiny woodlots by rude
photographers. Park security cannot keep up with the complaints about
this harassment.
Additionally, many photographers are mobbing the Northern Saw-whet Owl;
one visitor walked right up to it and flashed a cell phone pic....
I now regret leading an educational excursion showing people how to view
these species from across the road, as word of mouth has now led many
people to seek these owls carelessly without giving them the daytime
rest they need to survive the winter. Migratory Bird Act be danged...
My apologies to the naturalist community,
Ken Williams
905 879 8584
Directions: Exit the Q.E.W. at Fifty Road and go north, toward the lake.
Turn Right (east) on North Service Road, take your first left and
immediately turn right (on Lower Baseline Road which may have been
renamed, since there is a lot of new housing). Turn left into the
conservation area and follow the road around to the left until you get
to the marina. Maps are available at the kiosk to show you how to get
the the lighthouse.
Laurie. Mackenzie
No apologies needed. You have started a long process of education.
We will all be working forever in dealing with people putting the photogs ahead of the bird.
The habitat is there and it looks like owls will be at Fifty every winter. Spring is near now and soon the owls will disperse.
Bruce Mackenzie
Hamilton Conservation Authority
Sent from my Xperia™ smartphone
Mike Veltri
Truly a sad state of affairs that people are harassing these owls and flushing them from their roosts.
I don't think that you could call a person with a cell phone a photographer, and once again you pit photographers against birders by
I was in St. Catherine's last winter where only a few local people knew that a male Snowy owl there. That was until your wife called in the bird and reported it. And a friend of mine even asked your wife not to report the sighting, and he was a photographer.
Due to this report, the place became a circus and the baiting began. It is even worse today with people from all over baiting the birds and chasing the owls through the fields.
Personally, I don't have a problem with feeding a starving owl so that it can make it through the winter. I do however have a problem with people that toss mice on the roadway and make the owls fly over the road to get it. People that over feed the birds until they can hardly fly, and people that chase the birds around when they need to rest.
Now once again, you and your wife lead an owl prowl. I read that over 40 cars were in the precession. Now did you ever wonder to yourself, how many are birders and how many are photographers only looking for information on roosting sites?
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/hamiltonbirds/Brz58Ng5-W4
Local birders and real wildlife photographers will know where to look for owls. The couch crowd that depends on birding reports to find birds are in my opinion lazy and not really seriously into the hobby.
Now, you blame photographers for chasing and harassing the owls that you and your wife took them to, and showed them their roosting spots. Personally I don't consider people that flush owls with cell phones and point and shoot cameras photographers.
I really wonder how should shoulder the blame here?
You would think that after the episode in Saltfleet years ago the birding community in whole would stop reporting owls, or at least their roosting spots.
I was called one evening by Morad Jabra about a long-eared owl in 50 Point conservation area, and went down for a look with only a half hour of light left. The owl was sitting out in the open, a sight that you don't often see and a perfect photographic opportunity.
With my 600mm lens at about 30 feet away, I took about a dozen photos, checked my camera that I did have sharp images and left the owl to be.
As you know, I post images to the Hamilton Google Groups page, and have done this for people that could not get out to see a rarity that I might have photographed. Many of my images are on the OFO site, and used in the publication of the Wood Duck for free when ever Bill asks me for them.
I did not however post the long-eared owl, as I knew the
outcome of posting an owl and a location on the net.
I wish in the future you and other birders would refrain from grouping all photographers in the same basket when it comes to harassing birds. I have met many wonderful people in this hobby, both birders and photographers that share the same passion for wildlife.
Funny how just carrying a camera and dressing in camouflage clothing can get you the dirtiest looks from people that carry binoculars. I guess I should wear my bins when I am in a crowd so that people will acknowledge my greetings with a smile and response.
Regards
Mike Veltri
PHOTOGRAPHER
Peter Scholtens
Folks, as far as HamBirds is concerned, it's time to wrap up the conversation.
Thanks,
Peter
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Elias
Peter Scholtens
Here are the e-bird guidelines for reporting sensitive species.
http://help.ebird.org/customer/portal/articles/1006789-guidelines-for-reporting-sensitive-species
Please keep these guidelines in mind.
Thanks,
Peter