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Post by kastern on Feb 1, 2011 15:17:26 GMT -8
OK...I know this is going to sound crazy but I'm pretty sure I saw a Boreal Owl this afternoon.
and please...if anybody can confirm that my identification is correct or not...please do so
Kathy
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Post by Chris on Feb 1, 2011 15:48:25 GMT -8
Kathy fantastic sighting and pictures as well!! From what I have read Boreal Owls can be difficult to find even in their prime habitat. They do look like Saw-whet Owls at first. I know when I first looked at the picture I thought Saw-whet Owl. I looked at the guide and noticed the differences.
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Post by murraybrown on Feb 1, 2011 16:01:10 GMT -8
Excellent find Kathy. Nice pictures too.
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Post by Wetlander on Feb 1, 2011 17:13:52 GMT -8
Good eye Kathy! Excellent series of photos. So cool it's feeding and looking at ease.
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Post by davidandkaren on Feb 1, 2011 18:06:33 GMT -8
Wow - what I find. It took me 10 minutes just to find it in your photo!
Great capture with eyes open and later with prey.
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Post by oldfulica on Feb 1, 2011 19:23:12 GMT -8
BEAUTY!!!! let us know if you relocate it tomorrow Kathy. Very exciting!!
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Post by kenpossum on Feb 1, 2011 21:21:09 GMT -8
Fantastic photo Kathy! Thanks for sharing.
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Post by oldfulica on Feb 2, 2011 7:08:42 GMT -8
Thanks Gord.
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Post by Gord on Feb 2, 2011 16:09:30 GMT -8
Hello everyone.
Sure was a delight to see and hear about Kathy's and others amazing good timing to see this owl from the trail.
Unfortunately, we need to consider some consequences here. While to date, there has been no issue in terms of respecting the owl or the habitat, there is sadly an element (happily very small) that cares only for a photograph. They will not hesitate to cut braches to allow for a clear view of the bird and will fire a lot of flash photos at the bird. Even some non-photographers are just as naughty and will go beyond what is right to see the bird. This kind of behaviour is unacceptable and is unfortunately the reason for a guideline of not disclosing the location of owl roosts. It is quite sad as it ruins it for everyone else though. The point of birding is to share and enjoy the birds. This is why I struggle with this kind of thing as it goes against the grain. The owl's well being is paramount however and Im sure everyone would agree with that.
Not to make things even more depressing, but park bylaw enforcement does has the ability to fine persons who walk off trail, cut plants/trees/shrubs or disturb wildlife. This comment by no means suggests anyone reading this would ever consider doing any of those things, but it might be useful to know if they happen across someone who might not realize it. If the bird cannot be seen from the trail, then it's not viewable. Such is life with nature who comes and goes as it pleases. Photographer or bird watcher alike need to respect that.
Thanks everyone for their understanding. Any comments are welcome via forum or email. This is the third time Ive edited this post, just to give an idea of how I struggle to share my thoughts without offending others or being misunderstood, so please be kind (but candid!).
Anyway, I was there this morning and did not see the owl. It was good to see Len, Mike Tabak (long time no see!) and a few others today. They all did not see it either. Seeing that it was active during the day does not surprise me that it might be actively moving around the area.
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Post by oldfulica on Feb 2, 2011 17:39:32 GMT -8
Hello everyone. Sure was a delight to see and hear about Kathy's and others amazing good timing to see this owl from the trail. Unfortunately, we need to consider some consequences here. While to date, there has been no issue in terms of respecting the owl or the habitat, there is sadly an element (happily very small) that cares only for a photograph. They will not hesitate to cut braches to allow for a clear view of the bird and will fire a lot of flash photos at the bird. Even some non-photographers are just as naughty and will go beyond what is right to see the bird. This kind of behaviour is unacceptable and is unfortunately the reason for a guideline of not disclosing the location of owl roosts. It is quite sad as it ruins it for everyone else though. The point of birding is to share and enjoy the birds. This is why I struggle with this kind of thing as it goes against the grain. The owl's well being is paramount however and Im sure everyone would agree with that. Not to make things even more depressing, but park bylaw enforcement does has the ability to fine persons who walk off trail, cut plants/trees/shrubs or disturb wildlife. This comment by no means suggests anyone reading this would ever consider doing any of those things, but it might be useful to know if they happen across someone who might not realize it. If the bird cannot be seen from the trail, then it's not viewable. Such is life with nature who comes and goes as it pleases. Photographer or bird watcher alike need to respect that. Thanks everyone for their understanding. Any comments are welcome via forum or email. This is the third time Ive edited this post, just to give an idea of how I struggle to share my thoughts without offending others or being misunderstood, so please be kind (but candid!). Anyway, I was there this morning and did not see the owl. It was good to see Len, Mike Tabak (long time no see!) and a few others today. They all did not see it either. Seeing that it was active during the day does not surprise me that it might be actively moving around the area. Good points Gord. We met another lady there who lives in the subdivision. She said she had seen a Saw-whet there yesterday and that she had taken pictures of it. We asked if she thought she may have been mistaken. This got her thinking so she went home to get her camera and sure enough it was the Boreal. We all smiled. She said she saw it early in the morning and Kathy, I think, saw it in the afternoon so it may have just been roosting for the day. I have seen saw-whets at Reifel roost all day with a rodent in their grasp. Sort of like having a snack when they wake up. I think it will be unlikely it will be found again but you never know.
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Post by bandj on Feb 2, 2011 21:52:51 GMT -8
Gord I am definitely not offended by your comments! And I'll be the first to admit that there are times when it's awfully hard to keep my feet firmly on a trail when I hear an alluring hoot or bird song somewhere "nearby." Oh gosh yes. Your words definitely strengthen my ever-growing awareness, AND strengthen the needed trail glue on my boot soles! There's always more to learn about how we affect the birds and plants around us - it's a part of learning about their lives and habitats - the best part of being a naturalist. I'd like to think that lots of us will continually add to this conversation. After all, our well-meaning, enthusiastic, but sometimes bumbling behaviour in the field does have consequences. I've never deliberately set out to harm plants or birds, but before I heard the naturalists in Manning I used to meandered off the sub-alpine trails, flower book in hand. It makes me shudder now! Another time I was locating active nests to protect them from a highway project. I was asked to mark the trees with labeled tape so the official surveyors could document them. A wise and experienced ornithologist later commented that brightly taped tree trunks are virtual calling cards to curious and hungry corvids! The learning curve doesn't end! Thanks for your thoughtful comments. Janet
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Post by Gord on Feb 2, 2011 22:17:04 GMT -8
Hi Janet, thanks for your comments.
Certainly no one, as you point out, deliberately tries to do harm. We're always learning and Im always inspired by the eagerness of this group to do just that. I will not list the things Ive learned, but trust me when I say there's several!
Sometimes it seems a little tough to swallow if one person tip-toes in to see something interesting and does little to no harm. But, I figure that if I can do it, so can the next person as well and so on and so forth. Pretty soon, my tiny impact has grown to a big one with a lot of tip-toeing! Also, everyone has a slightly different view on what's a minor or major impact. Im not for a second going to suggest to what extent it's right or wrong, so I like to keep it very cut and dried by staying on the trail. There's little room for debate there when sticking to the basics. It has to start somewhere so I always figure Ill do my part and try to stick to my favourite saying, "Ethics is your behaviour and actions when no one is watching".
Thanks again for the great insight and support.
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Post by kenpossum on Feb 2, 2011 22:36:51 GMT -8
I think a strong message could go out to all bird photographers that using flash on an owl could be very harmful to the bird, and should NEVER be considered. There are alternatives ie a tripod. As for leaving a trail to photograph a bird, flower or any animal, I think it is a matter of discretion. There are so many factors involved that I don't think there is a one size fits all situation. Exceptions would be the sort of situations described by Gord. Parks have been created to protect fragile habitat or species, and that should be the first consideration. It usually comes down to common sense.
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Post by Gord on Feb 2, 2011 23:02:02 GMT -8
Ken, flash on an owl is certainly something to be careful with. A flash or two is probably ok, but it's an issue when it is frequently used. If I need to use flash on a subject, I do a few practice exposures first before pointing it at the subject. Then, I take one and maybe two and call it good regardless of the outcome. If I think there is a possibility of someone else coming along, I wont even do one keeping in mind 20 people only doing one still equals 20 flashes on the bird. Sometimes it can be easy to forget the bird and only consider the impact of the individual. It is a fact that there are a lot of other people out there, also with good ethics, but will still result in a poor result for the owl when the combined impacts add up.
Parks, by their nature, almost need more protection in some cases as you say. They attract a lot of people and even if all are treading lightly it will still make an impact because it involves many people.
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Post by oldfulica on Feb 3, 2011 9:25:11 GMT -8
I was at a seminar a while back given by a well known photographer and owl researcher. He had done extensive research on the Spotted Owl and of course had many pictures of them. The flash question arose and he basically said what you suggested Gord. It takes a humans eyes a few minutes to adjust to a flash and probably the same applies to owls. During this time the owl is not 100% alert to its' surroundings and a meal might escape its' scrutiny or a predator might attack it. If many photographers are flashing, all these moments of inattentiveness add up. However, like Gord says, one or two flashes shouldn't present any harm. Like Ken said, these owls are usually sitting ducks in the daytime and a timer and slow shutter speed will get very good results. Of course you will need a tripod. A few years ago there was story going around about a Great Grey Owl back east. Hundreds of photographers were taking pictures of it. It was at the same location for a few weeks and finally it was found dead. A close examination revealed it was blind and had starved to death. I don't think it was ever determined if the owl went blind by all the flashes or not, but it made everyone think.
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