Well said, Scott, but I'm betting it's not anyone who subscribes to this List that was/is misbehaving.
It is still a GREAT reminder for ALL of us as we approach the courting, mating, and nesting season for a great majority of birds.
Susan Rosine
Brighton
On Sat, Mar 5, 2022, 11:46 AM Scott <pygmyowl@frii.com> wrote:
Hi Everyone.
I have been studying Northern Pygmy-Owls for more than 20 years. I do
not care in the least about who is getting images of the owl in Lyons.
My concern is for the birds themselves. To give some natural history of
Northern Pygmy-Owls
They begin courtship in mid-February, which some of you have seen. Their
territories can be as large as a square mile. They will mate anywhere
within that area at anytime from mid-February until they begin nesting
which is often from late April to late May.
The male will find a cavity that he likes and try to entice the female
to accept it. This is when I feel problems may occur as people will
want images of this.
This is the one of the most crucial time for the owls. If at anytime
after the female has accepted the nest until the eggs hatch she can
abandon the nest if she does not feel safe. If she does this the male
will have to find another site that she likes, which can be several
hundred yards away.
Another problem that I can see arising is all of the people near the
owl. There are so many Cooper's Hawk around now that they can become a
problem and predate the owls, as they will be watching people to see
what they may be looking at, because it may be a potential prey item for
the hawk. This can be particularity problematic when the owls are
spending more time looking at people with cameras rather than keeping an
eye out for both potential prey and predators.
Another very sensitive time is when the young begin peering from their
nest. If people are watching the owlets in the nest, this can attract
potential predators to the nest which includes squirrels that can
predate the young in the nest.
Once out of the nest the young owls are also vulnerable to predation
from jays, magpies, crows, squirrels and hawks as they will be
frightened by people trying to get photos of them and try to fly away.
I would recommend that everyone leaves the birds alone after the
beginning of April and let them nest and raise their family in peace.
Just my thoughts,
Scott Rashid
Director of CARRI
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