Concerning Not reporting owl sightings - I cannot agree more strongly with the disdain for the ignorance of many people .I do however wish to express a problem with possibly limiting reporting .Due to this ONTBIRDS birding report I was able to expose my Wife ,and two sons ages 12 and 5 to the same awesome hawk owl and a bonus solitary short ear .This bird alone has lit a fire of interest in my young family .Please do not limit reports due to the actions of a few .Is it not through the exposure to new or rare species that we will educate and excite the next generation and thus snuff out the same disgusting ignorance that angers us so ? I think the benefits of the exposure to many outweighs the stupidity of a few . Granted I would relish the chance to "Correct" the actions of the fools with the mice , however I can only educate my own children and hopefully instill a respect for nature in the future .Thanks for considering my rant.
Rick Brown <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: My wife and I went out for a wonderful day of birding (Yellow-throated Warbler & Hawk Owl) both of which are still there. After the discusting display of irresponsable behalhour by so called adults, harrassing and teasing the owl JUST SO THEY CAN GET PHOTOS, leaves me totally enraged.. These five individuals obviously were not bird watchers as I have never seen this kind of disdain for nature from birders. In order for them to get photos they used white lab mice to entice and lure the bird right up to them As the one idividual held a mouse in his hand as the owl flew back and forth right over their heads as they continued to fire off photos with telephoto lenses and flash. I guess technogy isn't too good because even with huge telephoto lens they still need to have the bird almost in their hands. This tessing and harassment went on for at least half an hour and most likely longer as I was leaving. I have photos of the one who was carrying a box with the mice as well as holding the mouse in his hand. Over the years ONTBIRDS and the responsible people who use it has been a great tool for finding rare and special birds. I would ask that everyone who uses ONTBIRDS to reframe from reporting owls in the future as some individuals have no respect for nature, just the almighty doallrs. I know of two other spots in Ontario where birders had to stop reporting owls as tthe owls there too were being harrassed by this kind of stupidity. Cheers Kim & Rick _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php --------------------------------- Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
