And when I was there last year, I also saw Western Snowy Plovers, a threatened species.

"The western snowy plover has been living on the Pacific Coast for thousands of years, but was listed by the federal government as threatened
in 1993, due to low population and decreased habitat.
"Snowy plovers have natural predators such as falcons, raccoons, coyotes, and owls. There are also predators that humans have introduced or
whose populations they have helped to increase, including crows and ravens, red fox, and domestic dogs. Humans can be thought of as predators
too, because people drive vehicles, ride bikes, fly kites and bring their dogs to beaches where the western snowy plover lives and breeds.
All of these activities can frighten or harm plovers during their breeding season."
"Energy is very important to this small bird. Every time humans, dogs, or other predators cause the birds to take flight or run away,
they lose precious energy that is needed to maintain their nests."

from: http://www.westernsnowyplover.org/about_plovers.html





Christine Southwick
Puget Sound Bird Observatory
N Seattle/Shoreline
clsouthwick at q.com

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

On Wed, 13 Feb 2013, plkoyama at comcast.net wrote:

> Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2013 08:41:53 -0800
> From: plkoyama at comcast.net
> To: Dianna Moore <dlmoor2 at coastaccess.com>,
> tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] dogs, people & owls at Damon Point
>
> Dianna,
> Since the property is in the process of changing hands to DNR, to which authority would concerned birders write letters?? The Mayor of Ocean Shores?? Last
> year it was so discouraging to see the owls being harassed by photographers and unleashed dogs running through shorebird flocks, that we decided not to
> return this year.? You will recall that funds were collected from fellow Tweeters and that Guy McWethy took the time and trouble to purchase and install
> an informational sign re. the Snowies.? But that depended on citizens passing that particular sign and caring more about the owls than they do their
> particular viewing goal.? And even leashed dogs are little comfort to wildlife, though leashing would be an improvement.? I recall an article in Audubon
> Mag. describing a study which showed decreased bird census on trails where leashed dogs were allowed, since man?s best friend was still regarded as a
> furry predator.? The concluding sentence was something to the effect of would you want to frequent an area where someone is walking with a leashed lion??
> At the time I was impressed, though I don?t know how that applies to lone humans walking on trails!? Anyway, got any hints as to where to write?
> Penny Koyama, Bothell
> plkoyama at comcast dot net?
> ?
> From: Dianna Moore
> Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 9:21 PM
> To: tweeters
> Subject: [Tweeters] dogs, people & owls at Damon Point
> ?
> Hey Tweets...Thanks for all the posts about the problems we are having with the owls and disturbances. Damon Point used to be a state park but is now in
> the process of becoming DNR property, so we no longer have state park authorities policing it. The City has a leashed dog policy on all the beaches from
> the jetty at the south end up to Damon Rd (the Best Western access road) on the north end...except for one small stretch between Butter Clam and Taurus,
> where dogs are allowed off-leash.
> ?
> As for those who overstep the bounds on the owls (or eagles and peregrines), I introduce myself as a board member of Grays Harbor Audubon and make an
> attempt to educate first; if that fails I use the "fine" word and get out my point and shoot to document the behavior for filing a complaint against the
> offender. While this ups the offensive language directed at me, I simply state I am protecting an endangered species from boorish behavior. I cannot NOT
> say anything.
> ?
> ?Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to
> the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.? ? Rev. Dr. Martin Luther ...King, Jr.
> ?
> In a more prosperous time, I would ask our city council to set aside funds for an enforcement officer to stay on the point each weekend the birds are
> here, to enforce the distance to the owls. They are more than ready to credit these same owls for bringing more tourists and their dollars to the town.
> ?
> Dianna Moore
> Ocean Shores
> dlmoor2 at coastaccess.com
> ?
>
> __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> Tweeters at u.washington.edu
> http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
_______________________________________________

Tweeters mailing list

Tweeters at u.washington.edu

http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters