Great Grey Owl baited by photographer

The barred owl we found on the highway.
Hit by a car when it was hunting mice.

There are many bird lovers who complain about cats. There are many bird lovers who complain about humans, too. With the owl irruption from the north, professional and semi-professional photographers (not necessarily 'birders', since they are behaving unethically), are out preying on the owls. Birders, bless their hearts, are unafraid of speaking out on behalf of their birds.


Ethical birders keep their distance, set up, take a few photos, bracketing their shots, and leave the bird in peace. They refrain from acting like a human (making noise to attract its attention, baiting it, using noisemakers, using a flash). These owls are having a tough enough time as it is without citiots standing out in the fields trying to exploit these owls.

Now, serious birders have a website, with a listserv that informs members about hot spots for birds. Perhaps, it is a bad thing. This guy showed up, with his cooler full of white mice, and set up across the street. This meant that the owl would have to fly across the road, and risk getting hit by a car (fairly common), while he got his photo.

Toronto Street posted this story. Unfortunately, the vulgar ads beside means you may not want to read the entire article! I'm just sayin'. It's not a website for THIS grandmother!

"Birders posted his behaviour on the popular OntBirds board, trigering outrage amongst many."

Great Grey Owl baited by photog in Brooklin

WWW.TORONTOSTREETBEAT.COM

Today, while watching a beautiful Great Gray Owl in Brooklin along with many other birders and photographers, an individual showed up with a cooler full of mice.