Subject: [Tweeters] Snowy Owl etiquette
Date: Jan 9 10:37:51 2012
From: Marc Hoffman - tweeters at dartfrogmedia.com


Tweets,

Is there law protecting these birds against harrassment? I think
there is. In that case, my suggestion is to include on the
otherwise-very-friendly-and-informative sign "Report violators by
calling (XXX) XXX-XXXX." I know this sounds harsh, but a lot of
people who already know better will still do whatever the heck they
feel like doing (this is based on my experience of trying all sorts
of approaches to get folks to leash their dogs on on-leash areas
including Marymoor Park; over 50% refuse). And so it might be
necessary to remind them that they will be seen by everyone else as
"the bad guys," and that there are consequences.

Marc Hoffman
Kirkland, WA
http://www.SongbirdPhoto.com


At 09:43 AM 1/9/2012, Guy McWethy wrote:
>Well, as always, it only takes a few individuals to make a mess of
>things for the rest of us.
>And many of these problems are due to simple ignorance.
>If everyone going out there is aware of the issue, we may even
>manage to police ourselves ....
>
>Any thoughts about placing a sign out on Damon Point?
>All the folks viewing the owls have to walk out thru there, and
>would notice a big sign:
>
>"Snowy Owls Present on Damon Point.
>Please do not approach within 100 feet of the owls.
>Please do not disturb or flush the owls.
>If they are flushed, they burn extra energy, and can easily die of starvation.
>Please allow the rest of us to enjoy the owls as well"
>
>I bet we could get the folks on Tweeters to chip in some $$ to get a
>sign made up quickly.
>I'll pledge $20 as a start ...
>
>Heck, a sheet of plywood and some paint would be enough to start ....
>
>Anyone out there have any ideas about who to contact for permission
>to post a sign? Do we need any?
>Heck, talk to the owners of the campground there, to place it on
>that edge. They might be amenable to some good publicity ..
>
>Instead of just complaining, lets do something.
>
>Guy McWethy
>Renton, WA
>mailto: lguy_mcw at yahoo.com
>From: Christine Southwick <clsouth at u.washington.edu>
>To: tweeters at uw.edu
>Sent: Monday, January 9, 2012 9:14 AM
>Subject: [Tweeters] Snowy Owl etiquette
>
>Saturday, I and some friends went to Damon Point at Ocean Shores
>--(parking is along a curve--with no good signage). Walk was about
>two miles each way to where the owls were.
>We saw three, but had been told that there were at least six seen
>that morning.
>
>Two were heavily marked, one was almost white--maybe an adult? But
>was hard to see because of all the people crowding around it.
>
>It was great to see these beautiful birds;
>it was not great to see the over-eager people who were vying for the
>best possible photo and crowding these owls.
>
>As we were walking toward the area of these owls, I saw two
>different owls who had been pressured into flying, wasting valuable
>calories, to get away from people, who then moved toward where they
>settled. One of these owls flew again, so it was obviously disturbed.
>
> The third owl decided not to move, so people kept moving
> closer. Since I wouldn't go any closer because of my concern for
> the owls, I could only guess at the distance, but from where I
> stood, they (at least four, with three others about 100 feet)
> couldn't have been more than 50 feet from the owl, and maybe even
> closer. One of my friends said 25 feet...
>
>If we, as the birding community don't monitor ourselves, and show by
>example, who will be loooking out for the welfare of birds out of
>their normal habitat? Must we diminish their chances of survival by
>competition of who has the best picture? Loving them to death is still death.
>
>
>Christine Southwick
>N Seattle/Shoreline
><mailto:clsouthwick at q.com>clsouthwick at q.com
>
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