Ontbirds subscribers: Please note that as of this evening, I am signing off and that this will be my final update on the status of Ottawa's Lazuli Bunting.
Unfortunately, birders have continued to step over the boundaries that I have worked so carefully with Denise to establish. Today's transgressions couldn't have come at a worse time. This afternoon, Denise received a phone call from a journalist at the Ottawa Citizen who happened to entice her, through questioning, to speak from her heart about her lack of privacy. I talked to Denise this evening, and, after the emotional dust had settled, mentioned to her that I was removing myself from the situation and that I would post a final update to this listserve. To me, it should have been quite clear that if your feet are on NCC property, but your eyes are glued to the backside of an open-concept home (which also happens to be a children's daycare), you're invading someone's privacy. It is my hope that the bullish and careless birders reading this posting consider that it is they who have effectively ended visitation for everyone else. After speaking with Denise tonight, it should be known that anyone visiting the site after today is slowly but surely risking police intervention. I strongly recommend absolutely no more visitation to this site. To end on a somewhat sweeter note, it has been a pleasure to provide Ontario birders with regular updates on the status of the bunting. Not exactly sure how or why I became so personally invested, but in the end, I have no regrets (even with such a bitter ending). It was quite the ride and a very beneficial learning experience. Good birding, Jon _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
