I wanted to say thanks to the tweeters members who replied
to my request for information about the Olympic peninsula. Took
a good long drive over there -- saw the Dungeness spit, Lake
Crescent (beautiful, even nicer than our MN lakes!), and the Hoh.
Was really impressed and will return when I have the chance.
Was also impressed by your discussion on owl ethics
and reporting. Here is an excerpt from an owling article in
WildBird magazine (Owls by Day, August 99).
"If you spot an owl, never move directly toward it for a
better view. In a dense thicket, you are probably already at
the minimum distance. If you move any closer, the bird will
most likely flush. If owl finding were a regulated winter
sport, flushing an owl would diaqualify you or at least result
in a penalty! If a better view is desired, move slowly sideways,
circling the bird at a safe distance. Learn to read owl behavior.
An elongated bird sitting very erect with eyes wide open is
highly nervous and may flush at any moment. If this is the
case, back away slowly but immediately until it begins to
relax its posture. A relaxed owl will resume its plump
shape and partially close its eyes, maybe even looking
away from you. Such a bird can easily be enjoyed a while
longer. .... If an owl is flushed, never pursue it. You can
and will inadvertently drive it from the area, perhaps to a
more vulnerable location. ... When you do find an owl, resist
the temptation to visit it day after day. Too much "pressure"
may cause the bird to leave the area. Visit no more than
once every week or 10 days."
This last point illustrates why we shouldn't post
locations -- even if each of us visited only once a week,
the result would still be many visits.
Now my question -- I saw many clear-cut areas. Seems
like the lumber companies still see this approach as their
best "return on investment". It seems to me, that the price
for large lumber is going up dramatically -- much faster than
inflation? So is anybody modeling forest and examing how much
more money they could make over time with selective logging?
We have researchers here at the Univ. of MN forestry school
teaching selective logging to folks in the rain forests of
Brazil -- seems like it might apply here in the US.

Curt