Greetings colleagues,
I have noticed many observations in which there is manipulation of juvenile owls, it is not a “Taboo” subject that people are encouraged to touch and hold the “Strange” but knowing the natural history data of the order of Strigiformes we all know that it is not a well seen practice due to the stress and disturbance it can cause to individuals.
Whenever possible I recommend taking the photograph of the juvenile at an “Appropriate” distance and leaving the site to avoid stressing the individual or the parents who are likely to be nearby.
The idea is not to demonize the observations that are there but I think it would be a good practice to leave a comment as a reminder from the observer that in most cases you should avoid contact with the specimen.
Perhaps, some may consider me exaggerated but I give my heart to the care of the owls.
I want to hear opinions and experiences!
Best regards,
-Guido Spinelli
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We have owls nesting at Kirstenbosch. A large notice reminding people to
- be quiet
- keep a respectful distance
someone has nicknamed the baby the Flowerpot Kid - as they are nesting in a high up hanging planter
9 November a bit smaller and fluffier
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In my area of town, we have a couple nests for barn owls that are securely fenced off from the public. I agree that we should keep our distance.
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Most birders/photographers in Northeast Ohio are sensitive to owls and keep their distance from them. A lot of birders won’t even report an owl or a nesting site on eBird or on social media until months later. They may quietly report them to the park’s naturalist. This practice makes some people angry because they feel like everything should be reported to everyone.
Handling any wildlife is pretty much discouraged by all. I think the exception is amphibians like salamanders and frogs/toads. It seems like a lot of people think that it is OK to pick them up for photos. But, it’s not. From what some naturalists tell me amphibians can absorb things from human hands through their skins. So, that’s a big no-no. I know some people who will lay down on the wet muddy ground to get photos. I think they are much better pics than the ones of someone holding a critter. But, I digress from owls.
I know the Cuyahoga Valley National Park had to rope off an area where a screech owl nesting cavity had been discovered in a tree that was close to a trail. They had to do it because the temptation was too much for a few people who wanted photos. I’m glad they did it because young screech owls tend to perch on low branches when they leave the nest.
I know some rehabbers in this area who are licensed and experienced enough to handle immature owls. In fact, they have a nesting pair of barred owls near their rehab center and have introduced orphaned barred owl chicks to that nest more than once. The adults seem to have no problem caring for the new chicks.
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