I spent a long day at Damon Point on Sunday, and simply didn't see the
Snowy Owl harassment that some are reporting. Yes, there were perhaps 25
photographers on a beautiful day, and nearly all were using long lenses
and keeping a respectful distance. Yes, there were times when a birder or
photographer or dog walker got too close, and an owl took flight and flew
100 yards or so. This is unfortunate, but for a bird that has flown 2,000
miles and is happily feeding on ducks and rats at Damon Point, I'm not
convinced that this is a crisis. Yes, the very act of birding changes bird
behavior, but probably not that significantly in a world where huge
habitat changes and population growth have had tremendous effects on
birds.

The Snowy Owls have different individual tolerances toward people. If, in
the middle of the day, an owl has its eyes wide and is constantly looking
around and seems agitated, people are probably too close and it is
probably getting ready to fly. That's a time to back off. But if the bird
just looks sleepy and is staying in one place, it is probably okay to stay
about 75 to 100 feet away.

At the end of a day, when the sun is sinking low, the birds do become more
active and there is more flying up to taller perches. But most of this is
natural behavior as the birds get ready for hunting.

By the way, we counted over ten owls near the point at the end of the day
yesterday, and suspect there were more in the area of Damon Point with
trees. It was spectacular, and my high point in this young year. If you
haven't been out there yet, be sure to go! And, yes, the photography is
wonderful and is a great means of celebrating the magnificence of these
birds.

There is a Great Gray Owl visiting the area of Kingsville, Ontario, and
some birders in the Great Lakes region are upset about the "circus"
atmosphere of so many long lenses and binoculars pointed at the bird. But
it doesn't seem to faze the bird, which recently swooped down from a perch
to snag some prey within ten feet of some of the 75-100 people watching it
at that moment. Perhaps it seems kind of silly for all these people to
join in such a circus atmosphere, but the experience is something that
most will never forget, and it helps forge a connection with nature. That
is good.

Lee Rentz
Shelton, WA
lee at leerentz.com