I agree with Joe that when the owl is moving its head in response to you being there, you are too close.
I think it is important to think of these things in terms of energy expenditures. If the owl is having to spend energy on vigilant behavior like head turning and other movements to guard against potential harm...and behavior like constant stretching in order to be prepared to quickly fly away in response to potential harm...this energy spent is an energy drain on the owl. It means it would have to find more food to maintain itself. "Vigilance" is something biologists study and meticulously record because it can cost an animal a significant amount of energy. You will hear biologists talk about an animal's "energy budget" and an important item in that budget is vigilance behavior.
Vigilance also interferes with digestion.
So, my personal rule of thumb when observing wildlife is to try not to make the animal spend any extra energy due to my presence. I am particularly careful about this with any animal that is migrating or under some other stress where they may be under a very tight energy budget and any loss of energy could seriously harm it - especially when you consider the accumulated effect of many people doing the same thing.
So with Snowy Owls, I would suggest watching the behavior of the owl very carefully as you approach them. If it starts to make vigilant movements in response to your presence, stop where you are and allow the owl to get used to your presence. If it continues to show vigilant behavior with you there, back off and give the owl more space. If it gets used to you, consider it a great privilege to view this magnificent bird from where you are but don't go any closer.
One more comment.. I have found that most people/offenders respond very well if you talk with them about these issues in a kind way and just share with them your admiration for the bird and why you think it's important not to get too close/make loud noises/let their dog run over/etc.... Of course, if you approach it in a "scolding manner" then they immediately become defensive and I've never seen this approach do any good - in fact, sometimes it has the opposite effect. Yes, there are "jerks" out there who won't listen/respond either way but they seem to be far outnumbered by those who respond very favorably if you approach it in the right way. At least, this is my experience.
Cindy Ashy
--- On Mon, 12/12/11, Joe Mackie <joemackie.14 at comcast.net> wrote:
From: Joe Mackie <joemackie.14 at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] How Close Is Too Close? (Snowy Owl)
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu, "Whatcom Birds" <whatcombirds at lists.wwu.edu>
Cc: "Ann Davidge" <anndavidge11 at gmail.com>, "Paul & Jenny Warwick" <pjwarwick at gmail.com>
Date: Monday, December 12, 2011, 10:08 AM
Hello All,
?
This issue has had my full attention over the last
week. On two occassions I've been up at the Boundary Bay dyke trail in B.C. to
enjoy the many Snowy Owls (25-35 birds). They are indeed an amazing and
beautiful sight. However, on both occasions, and especially yesterday (Sunday) I
was deeply dismayed at the poor behavior of numerous photographers who were
clearly pressuring the birds too much by venturing onto the foreshore, getting
closer and closer to the point they were constantly taking flight. These
photographers, with their "big honkin' lenses" were obsessed?to the point
of total self-absorption.?What with their elaborate?howitzer optics
and full camo outfitting, I'm frankly mystified why they need to get so close in
the first place. I mean, are they trying to get shots of owl teeth? Or
maybe it's the lice they're hosting? In spite of the fact that someone took the
time to make and place a sign at the 72nd St. entrance to the trail specifically
asking people to back off, many (15-20) photographers literally had these birds
surrounded. And, on the trail itself another horde was click, click, clicking
away.
?
All in all, it was a sad display of egocentric
human entitlement with very little concern for the welfare of the owls. My
friend and I were so disappointed and angry at the situation that we decided to
leave. The only other option would have been to start yelling and confronting
and I know better than to go there.
?
My understanding is that you should stay
approximately 75-100 yds (football field length) away from the birds and if they
show signs of distress (lots of head movement and open eyes) you need to back
off. It's useful to realize that these birds are here because they've literally
come to the edge of starvation and each day they've got to make a living by
successfully hunting prey or they die. I wish there were some sort of
enforcement option from Wildife Officers or something. I really don't want to
see this going on again.
?
Sincerely,
Joe Mackie,
Bellingham, WA
----- Original Message -----
From:
Mechejmch
To: phil.mitchell at pobox.com ; tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2011 9:05
PM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] How Close Is Too
Close? (Snowy Owl)
Are there
any guidelines for this situation?
Perhaps it might be a good practice to imagine trading
places with the owls, just to see how you might feel with strange critters
sneaking up on you?and pointing?those large contraptions at you.
You'd have enough to deal with just finding enough food
and?surviving the winter......
?
My dos centavos,
Joe Meche
Bellingham
-----Original
Message-----
From: seasprocket <seasprocket at gmail.com>
To:
Tweeters <Tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Sun, Dec 11, 2011 8:47
pm
Subject: [Tweeters] How Close Is Too Close? (Snowy Owl)
We were down at Damon Point today enjoying seven (!) gorgeous Snowy Owls.
Aware that the birds may be quite stressed already, and have certainly been
the objects of a lot of attention, we did not attempt to approach closely and
just enjoyed nice looks from a distance.
Others, however, chose to approach more closely. Sometimes the birds
seemed not to care, other times they seemed "on alert," and one bird may have
actually been flushed.
It peeved me a little bit, but it got me to thinking that I really don't
know what the "appropriate" distance is in this situation. In more isolated
circumstances, I would have gradually approached, watching for any signs of
agitation (and backing off). I didn't want to do that in this case. Others
chose differently.
Are there any guidelines for this situation?
Phil Mitchell
Seattle, WA--?
Learn Bird Songs for the Planet:?http://www.larkwire.comBikewise:?http://www.bikewise.org
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