December 26 Email:
Hi Ric
I didn't catch sight of the Common Eider in Grand Haven today, but I did enjoy my trip to the Muskegon Wastewater. I found two Glaucous Gulls among the hundreds of gulls on what's left of the ice in the east lagoon. Also saw three Snowy Owls and informed a newcomer not to approach them on foot. He was taking pictures. The highlight of my day was the great looks I got of a Golden Eagle. I was really happy to get a few good photos too. Beautiful day.
- Bob Kingsbury
Bob, thanks for the photos and the report, and for explaining to the photographer about approaching the owls. A lady emailed me yesterday that she saw two photographers throwing white mice in a dry rapid filtration lagoon to get photos of the owls flying. Unfortunately it may be time for me to stop posting Snowy Owl information here as I did two years ago due to poor human behavior. - Ric
7 comments:
Hi Ric,
This is Jerry from Grand Rapids, we've talked a few times. Sadly, I can confirm that some of the photographers are tossing mice to the snowy owls to bait them closer.
Anytime this behavior is witnessed, it should be photographed and turned in, with their plate number, to the DNR as well as management at the Wastewater headquarters. They should be banned and charged with trespassing if they return.
I can't imagine people that ignorant spend their time on pages like this.
I'm in Western NY right now at my home here for my winter vacation. A local Buffalo news station did a big story the other day about the numerous Snowies that have been spotted in the area and it made me cringe. They gave exact locations.
Roxanne Eacker
I agree with Roxanne that these people probably don't get their info from this website. Regarding photos, I've relayed two that were emailed to me to our contact person at the Wastewater office. Neither picture shows license plates, but both clearly show no yellow Wastewater passes displayed in the windshields. For all I know, that's the only rule or law these people are breaking, and I don't want to be the bird police, but it would be good to give some people a little more common sense.
Great article. I know most of our regular know this info but it was still a good read.
http://lauraerickson.blogspot.com/2014/02/baiting-owls.html
Anonymous said: funny these same people who scorn feeding the owl direct visitors to the bird feeders set up by Audobon groups with viewing stations. Feeding is feeding!!! Sounds a bit hypocritical to me. Maybe we should ban bird feeders and let those birds fend for themselves. As long as harassment of wildlife is not occurring live and let live people.
The Laura Erickson post is very detailed but does have an agenda as everyone else does. Human interaction with wildlife will always cause changes to the wildlife. Is putting out feed to attract birds in large groups to pull in hawks and other birds to feast on these smaller birds OK? How can a bird trained to go to a bird feeder possibly be the same as a bird left to find food in the wild? Is it OK to photograph or watch anything? As being anywhere close to wildlife changes what animals do. Why drive under a telephone pole and risk scaring a Bald Eagle off its perch it is trying to rest on? The same person getting license plates of photographers is probably the one scaring away the eagle. There are federal laws against doing that!!
Should we 'bait' cardinals to bird feeders simply for photos? Should we 'hound' bluebirds at bluebird houses simply for photos? Should we chase a tired butterfly away from the flower he wants simply to get closer for a picture? Should we offer a child a candy to smile for a photo that his parents are making him take and train him to like sweets from strange photographers? All of this is simply a discussion of each individuals agenda and what they 'deem' to be right or wrong. I would be curious to know what the actual law is in Michigan (not all the birders making guesses on what they think it should be!!) - on throwing a live mouse into a field. What if someone is NOT a photographer and throws a mouse? Does that make it different? What if a person buys a mouse at a petshop to 'free it' from its terrible life in a cage and sets it free - does that person have to hire 'birders' to search the area to make sure there is no owl nearby? I know in Iowa people throw fish to the eagles and the Iowa DNR folks watch. It is not illegal as I have witnessed this happening and asked the DNR, because ‘birders’ had trained me that this is illegal. (just for the record - doing this is too messy for me but I am not opposed to watching this or even watching someone launch a $15K camera into the water trying to throw fish).
Does the same person that deems releasing a tiny little mouse ever speed, driving a car? They are OK risking the lives of humans, yet worry about an owl?
For someone like myself that just enjoys nature it is funny how everyone has an idea of what is right and wrong and guessing everyone does something that someone else finds offensive. I try to enjoy nature while using some common sense but probably have upset a few along the way. My friend the Yellowstone Park Ranger warning me I must stay at least 100 yards away from a bear being one of them.
If as much effort was given to health care reform, race relations or caring for the homeless - I think the world would be a better place.
Anonymous,
Sorry for not seeing your comment sooner. Although I disagree with a few of your details, I agree with your point in general. Most of our behaviors and reactions to the behavior of others is relative. Bottom line is still common sense whether it's putting up bird feeders or throwing mice on a field. And although Ms. Erickson's article is written "with an agenda", it also details a number of common sense reasons why forcing Snowy Owls to keep moving around is not beneficial to the owls.
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