This bird, like virtually all Snowy Owls I've seen, was completely oblivious to our (or the many other people and cars) presence. At one point it flew down in a silent glide directly at Anne and me, almost grazing our shoulders as it dove into the ditch behind us (possibly after a Song Sparrow that was calling there); and then turned and flew right back to the same post. These owls are stressed, no doubt, by their forced dispersal in search of food, and many will unfortunately probably not make it, but an owl that takes up temporary residence in a Target parking lot during peak shopping hours is not going to feel harassed by a few birders peering up in awe at it.
KEN Ken Rosenberg Conservation Science Program Cornell Lab of Ornithology 607-254-2412 607-342-4594 (cell) [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> On Dec 11, 2013, at 8:47 AM, Scott Haber <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: I think Kevin was suggesting that the owl "sliding" was a result of the bird attempting to perch on a steep, snow-covered incline, and not because it was terrified by a small group of birders standing at a respectful distance, but I guess he could be wrong. -Scott On Wed, Dec 11, 2013 at 8:00 AM, John and Sue Gregoire <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: All, 1.Aren't we as a group harassing that TARGET Snowy? Seems every report has it quickly flying off, relocating, sliding, or some such. Just my two cents. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> Archives: The Mail Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html> Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> BirdingOnThe.Net<http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
