Subject: Re.Laser pointers
Date: Jan 14 21:33:29 1999
From: Michael Price - mprice at mindlink.bc.ca


Hi Tweets,

Jack Bowling writes:

>The risk is there and real, but at what power levels the risk becomes
>appreciable I do not know.

Sorry for heading back to old ground, but I've been ill for a few days so
didn't get the chance to jump in.

It is a real risk even at the level of the 'safe', 'harmless' laser pointers
ubiquitously available at any five-and-dime. Very recently, a cab-driver in
Toronto was partially blinded and treated for retinal burns causd by some
school kids pointing a 'safe' brand of low-powered laser into his eyes for
just a second or two. If blinding can happen to humans, it can happen to birds.

It may be that there is no 'lower level' of power output that is safe to use
around animals. The aversion response that animals have developed may simply
not be enough to protect them from coherent light, not a form of light
propagation found in nature at this level. I also have the feeling that,
given human nature, convenience will outweigh consideration for some, so
perhaps the best thing might be for some technologically sophisticated
birder to develop a laser pointer whose power output can be demonstrated to
be harmless. Of course, one nedn't look for the stamp 'no animals used in
testing' on such a device. Seriously, were such a pointer to be developed,
I'm sure those for whom humane treatment is a consideration would provide a
sufficiently large market to make it worthwhile.

Michael Price
Vancouver BC Canada
mprice at mindlink.net

"She's psychic....we've decided to find it charming."
--Frasier