Subject: [Tweeters] re: Liberty Spotted Owls (was nest site rumor)
Date: Aug 3 23:33:45 2010
From: Scott Downes - downess at charter.net


Tweets,
I am sending a brief note out to Tweeters that I and WOS have also been sternly reminded of any visits to this area could constitute "take" under the USFWS laws. I don't want to start a thread here and do ask that people try very hard from starting one please. I want to tell people (and please forward this to people not on Tweeters please that might need the info) that I would highly recommend to any birders reading this that the USFS has apparently decided to actively pursue any reports of people targeting Spotted Owls at Liberty. This includes playback both day or night. This also includes anybody reporting Spotteds. If you do choose to pursue calling in Spotted Owls you may get emails similar to what Tom got (and so did I for being the person that setup the trip for WOS, i.e. by association), especially if you decide to post the observation on public places such as listerservs or ebird. I am not telling people what they should or should not do as that is not my style, but feel a duty to warn people if you do choose to call them in and especially if you post anything (including photos) that would give the indication that they are from the Liberty area. I don't want to see my birding friends get stressful emails or worse, so please be consider this. Finally as a conservationist, I do also ask that anybody deciding what to do, consider that we are dealing with a species facing many threats and serious threat of extinction one day in the state. Its a hard topic, don't know the right answer but wanted to get people information that the birding community needs to know up front.

Thanks for listening.

Scott Downes
downess at charter.net
Yakima WA