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| lots of birders on the ferry |
Birding ethics
The Migratory Convention Bird Act (1994), an agreement across North America, says we're not to kill, harass, or bother the birds in any way. This covers owl baiting, and handling critters. Sadly, there are those who hunt down owls, trespassing, and interfering with their feeding habits.
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| Ferry across to Amherst Isl. |
This is what we can attest to on Friday, Jan. 26th. We got onto the ferry, and took off to Amherst Isl., the guy working on the ferry boat told us that the owls have been on the ice in the morning. On the ferry we met two birders.
This pair had driven down from Ottawa, to photograph owls. We chatted.
Later on, I was furious. We passed them a couple of times. The 2nd time, we stopped to chat as they asked us if we'd seen any. We had not. They'd spotted two, they told us they'd seen the first one by a particular house, and had walked into the field to find a rabbit warren (trespassing). Prime hunting for the owl. They obviously chased the owl off, as they are conscious of photographers. Next, they were going to walk on owl road. I saw two cars parked, and obviously there were people walking along this road looking for birds. Scientists know that studying something changes it. Even if they were collecting data for eBird, they are changing the behaviour of the birds.
Even in educated groups, people are stupid. Imagine large groups on owl road, an area replanted by the landowners to encourage the birds. I had a research question: how many are visiting each weekend?
How many tour leaders are visiting these locations?
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| RED are weekends |
For January I managed to determine that there were 67 reports. Islanders report up to 100 birders on a weekend. This is the tip of the iceberg.
I think that this area should be regulated. Someone needs to collect some data and figure out who is going there. Some sort of sign-in.
Code of Ethics - Ontario Field Ornithologists
And this, specifically, for Owl Woods:
Amherst Island - Owl Woods - New Rules (2010)
"These days, it is not uncommon to have well over 100 people visit the Woods on
a weekend day. "
- The reserve is open only from sunrise to one hour before sunset.
- Do not spend more then two hours in the reserve per day.
- Absolutely no dogs are allowed.
- Keep a minimum distance of five metres from owls.
- Be silent; speak in whispers.
- Do not linger in front of an owl more than a couple of minutes.
- If you cause an owl to fly, do not pursue it.
- Do not bait owls with rodents.
- No flash photography allowed.
- No sound devices allowed.
- Do not remove branches or vegetation.
- Stay on the existing trails.
- Persons entering roped-off areas will be prosecuted.
- Report harassment of owls to 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667).
Many organize tours:
| Org. Tours | Fees | Acronym | Group | ||
| ✔ | $40- 75 | AWA | Always An Adventure | ||
| ✔ | OFO | Ontario Field Ornithologists | Caps at 20 | ||
| ✔ | $500 | FL | Fred Lemire | ||
| ✔ | Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory | ||||
| data submission | eBird | eBird Sightings on Amherst | |||
| ✔ | $40 - 70 | EOB | Eastern Ontario Birding | Caps at 12 | |
| Proj. Snow | Project Snowstorm | transmitters | |||
| ✔ | $279 | Toronto Nature Lovers | 9 | ||
Ontario Field Ornithologists
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| Ontario Field Ornithologists are collecting data They don't appear to charge for the trips |
Eastern Ontario Birding
-posts trip reports:
Friday, December 29: *Owls on Amherst Island Trip Report (6 participants)
Saturday, January 20: Wolfe Island & Kingston Trip Report
Sunday, January 21: *Amherst Island & Kingston Trip Report
Sunday, February 4: *Amherst Island Trip Report , another trip planned.
Protect Amherst Isl - protesting the wind farm
Friday, December 29: *Owls on Amherst Island Trip Report (6 participants)
Saturday, January 20: Wolfe Island & Kingston Trip Report
Sunday, January 21: *Amherst Island & Kingston Trip Report
Sunday, February 4: *Amherst Island Trip Report , another trip planned.
Protect Amherst Isl - protesting the wind farm
