In a message dated 3/30/2005 5:45:25 PM Pacific Standard Time,
owler at sounddsl.com writes:

Spotlight - I have a 500,000 candlepower cordless spotlight. Any
more candle power is probably harmful, and at observation ranges, overkill.
A 300,000 candle power spotlight would be ideal, but I have not seen one


*On bright light/flash:

"...it seems reasonable always to err on the side of caution in these
matters. The scotopic spectral sensitivity and rate of dark adaptation of avian
retinas are very similar to those of mammals, including ourselves.Thus if our own
dark adapted vision is disrupted by the flash, it is wise to presume that the
bird's dark adaptation will be equally affected. If we are temporarily
"blinded" by the flash then so will the bird for a similar length of time. For
example, if you knock out a fully dark adapted retina, assume it will take up to 30
min for full sensitivity to be recovered.
"Remember also that disruption of dark adaptation is never likely to occur in
nature."

* this from
Graham R. Martin, BSc, PhD, DSc.
University of Birmingham
Birmingham B15 2TT, UK

Just thought I'd throw this in the mix.

Cheers,
Joe Meche
Bellingham, WA