Subject: [Tweeters] Boundary Bay Feb 4th and 5th
Date: Feb 8 13:43:50 2012
From: Jon Purnell and Sherrie Rogers - jonnsher at wavecable.com
Jon and I were in the "hoards" of folks at Boundary Bay on Sat and Sun too.
Sat. the fog was thick and you didn't notice the photographers in the field
so much.BUT they were also using flashes.which when you are surrounded by
folks on the dike and in the field, getting flashed and just the general
hoards of folks.oftentimes very noisy because they don't realize that the
owls are sleeping.I'm am amazed that the owls don't ALL fly!
We actually had some meaningful conversations with the photographers that
stayed on the dike (and really MOST did stay on the dike). They were really
really upset with the folks in the fields because they were ruining shots
for everyone else and some were even talking to the folks in the field and
telling them to get back on the dike. It's only about 10% that can't follow
the rules. The way we dealt with it..when we later saw folks at other spots
that we knew were in the field harassing the snowies when we saw them later
we told them we had seen them at BB and were really appalled at their
blatant disregard for the rules and lack of courtesy to all the folks on the
dike. There was one man who was there with his son and he was encouraging
his son to get closer and closer..when we saw them at Reifel and they asked
us if we had seen the owl, or cranes or the pileated.we told them nope we
wouldn't share that info because of their behavior at Boundary..and told the
man he was teaching his son really important lessons..he didn't have to
follow the rules.
I can't get Utube stuff but you should forward it to the officials that are
"watching out" for the snowies..they need more signs esp where the trail
leads into the field across from the sanicans. The first official signs are
a ways down the dike and we initially thought it was maybe ok to be in the
field (this was our first time there.) Maybe what will have to happen is
the area will have to be closed to protect the owls from the 10% that are
illiterate and can't read or feel that they are SO special and don't need to
obey the signs. Or maybe they need volunteers on the dike harassing the
folks in the field and handing out tickets for $50-100.that would go back
into the funds for BB. Or maybe we will have to be more discerning about
who we post our info for when we find something special that requires a
measure of self control, courtesy and following the rules.
I for one would rather the owls not be harassed and would forfeit my time
to see them to avoid having them die. Finally and I just throw this out
for consideration. maybe just maybe... it really doesn't matter..maybe they
should band these snowies and find out if they survive..maybe the snowies
are a lot more hardy than what we think. They are obviously still here,
still sitting close to the dike and still alive and the available space out
there is vast though not necessarily in the driftwood. I don't know what
the answer is but I do know that it is really frustrating that everyone
doesn't follow the rules.which is always the case.
Sherrie