Subject: Where in Washington can a White-tailed Kite be seen this year? And...more on rare species info.
Date: Aug 4 06:13:51 1999
From: Andy Stepniewski - steppie at wolfenet.com


Tweeters,

Denny Granstrand and I are headed from Yakima over Hwy 12 this Friday (6
August) to Westport. Is there a Tweeters willing to share a reliable 1999
location for White-tailed Kite along (or near) this route? We might even
detour as I know in past several years there has been a pair in the Mima
Mounds area; is that right? We don't need the exact coordinates (keeping in
mind the ongoing Tweeters dialogue on location of sensitive species) but
the general whereabouts would be appreciated.

By the way, it was Ike Eisenhart and myself who found the Havillah Great
Gray Owls nesting in 1994. It was through us that this location became
known. At the time, we were divided on how to handle publicizing this
information. Even with frequent visits by birders (and probably
photographers), the owls nested sucessfully there through 1998, but
apparently not this year. Gone because of human interference? Who knows...I
would feel badly if this were the case.

Generally, I feel it best to give the birding public the opportunity a
chance to observe rare and sensitive species. Some of these individuals are
going to be harassed to the point they leave the area or their breeding
disrupted, thus "sacrificed" for the cause. However, in the long run, if we
aren't able to see these incredible creatures, the critical attention and
protection they deserve might not be there.

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA