Somehow the location of snowy owls seems to get out regardless of whether they are posted or not. I have been out birding, in locations where I know there are snowy owls nearby, and have suddenly seen a number of people pull out their phones and jump in their cars and all drive off in the same direction at the same time. I’m assuming there is some kind of network. Liz Sent from my iPhone > On Oct 31, 2021, at 1:49 PM, cllongmore <cllongmore@cox.net> wrote: > > Thank you Jesse ! Claudia longmore Wethersfield > -------- Original message --------From: Jesse LeBlanc <cptnhalfbeard@gmail.com> Date: 10/31/21 1:10 PM (GMT-05:00) To: Melani Lust <melanilust@gmail.com> Cc: Ct Birds <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> Subject: [CT Birds] Re: Snowy Owl Stratford/Milford I totally understand and respect the fact this is coming from a place of caring, but I don’t agree with banning those reports. Gatekeeping is a good way to kill a hobby, and I think ruining things for the majority because of a minority who are being a problem is not the way to go.I think the community could do more to show these people who are harassing birds that this won’t be tolerated. If you see someone doing something like that, and they won’t listen when asked to stop, go stand in front of them and block all their shots. Annoy them until they leave or stop, and let them know what they are doing is wrong. There are peaceful ways to intervene, and if people sit back and allow these behaviors to occur they are just as much to blame.Sent from my iPhone> On Oct 31, 2021, at 12:48 PM, Melani Lust <melanilust@gmail.com> wrote:> > I am in agreement with Monica.> > Warm wishes,> > Melani> > "Photos that look how your memories feel."> > > www.melanilustphotography.com> > melanilust@gmail.com> > 203.247.6983> > <https://www.instagram.com/melanilustphotography/>> <https://www.facebook.com/MelaniLustPhotography/>> <https://www.pinterest.com/melanilust/>> > > Melani has won "Best Wedding Photographer" 12 years in a row, 2010- 2021,> by readers of Fairfield County (Greenwich, Stamford, Fairfield, New Canaan,> Westport) Magazines> <https://www.pinterest.com/melanilust/>> > >> On Sun, Oct 31, 2021 at 12:32 PM Nichols Photography <>> manichols1993@gmail.com> wrote:>> >> With all due respect,>> Shouldn’t we change this? Too many issues in the past few years with>> people harassing and chasing them. I, personally don’t agree that allowing>> the snowy owls locations to be publicized for their own safety. Some fb>> groups have banned photos and locations for the above reasons. Just putting>> my 2 cents in.>> >> Respectfully,>> >> Monica Nichols>> Madison>> >> Sent from my iPhone>> >>>> On Oct 31, 2021, at 11:03 AM, Roy Harvey <rmharvey@snet.net> wrote:>>> >>> Posts about Snowy Owls ARE permitted. The full posting rules about>> owls:>>> >>> Exact locations of day-roosting owls (Great Horned, Barred, Barn,>> Long-eared, Eastern>>> Screech, and Northern Saw Whet) should not be posted to protect the>> owls. Open->>> country owls such as Short-eared and Snowy, as well as rare owls such as>> Great Gray,>>> Northern Hawk Owl, and Boreal, may be reported as to specific site>> location.>>> >>> The complete posting rules can be found here:>>> >> https://www.ctbirding.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/CTBirdsPostingRules.pdf>>> >>> Roy Harvey>>> Cheshire, CT>>> >>> On Sunday, October 31, 2021, 10:11:29 AM EDT, Nichols Photography <>> manichols1993@gmail.com> wrote:>>> >>> I didn’t think we were supposed to post snowy owl sightings on the list>> serv.>>> >> >> CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing>> birders together statewide. Please support COA:>> https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/>> CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For>> list rules and subscription information visit:>> https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/> > CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/> CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ > > CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ > CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/

Well said, Chuck Imbergamo. I appreciate all who want to protect these incredible birds, and all the other miracles of nature in bird form we all hope to view and photograph. It’s possible to educate new birders and remind more experienced ones alike in a way that is informative about etiquette without being preachy or negative. I think most birders I’ve seen are respectful. Only a very small percentage of folks are not. I agree that it’s our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of the birds. I hope everyone sees many beautiful birds this year and into 2022. Ellynne Rey (Stamford) On Sunday, October 31, 2021, Chuck Imbergamo <imbercj@comcast.net> wrote: > Hi All – First, thank you Roy for stating the rules that posts about Snowy > Owls ARE allowed. > > I would add that a very high percentage of Snowy Owls that I have observed > are not accessible, either by distance or location (on top of a structure, > Osprey platform, out in a marsh, etc.). An exception was a Snowy seen > years ago on the dunes of Cape Cod - the bird was only 20 feet from a path > through the dunes. People trying to photograph the bird surrounded it and > eventually people spoke up, and everyone backed off. Because the bird was > so accessible, there was an opportunity for it to be closely approached, > and in that case I would hope that no one would post about the bird. > > So the lesson is that just because you CAN post about a Snowy Owl doesn’t > mean that you SHOULD. Any time you have concerns about the welfare of a > bird, ANY bird, you should refrain from posting about it, regardless of > whether the rules forbid the post. Always use your best judgement, and > default to the safety of the bird. > > I hope this brings this topic to a close. > > Chuck Imbergamo > CT Birds Moderator > Madison > > From: Jesse LeBlanc > Sent: Sunday, October 31, 2021 1:09 PM > To: Melani Lust > Cc: Ct Birds > Subject: [CT Birds] Re: Snowy Owl Stratford/Milford > > I totally understand and respect the fact this is coming from a place of > caring, but I don’t agree with banning those reports. Gatekeeping is a > good way to kill a hobby, and I think ruining things for the majority > because of a minority who are being a problem is not the way to go. > > I think the community could do more to show these people who are harassing > birds that this won’t be tolerated. If you see someone doing something > like that, and they won’t listen when asked to stop, go stand in front of > them and block all their shots. Annoy them until they leave or stop, and > let them know what they are doing is wrong. There are peaceful ways to > intervene, and if people sit back and allow these behaviors to occur they > are just as much to blame. > > Sent from my iPhone > > > On Oct 31, 2021, at 12:48 PM, Melani Lust <melanilust@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > I am in agreement with Monica. > > > > Warm wishes, > > > > Melani > > > > "Photos that look how your memories feel." > > > > > > www.melanilustphotography.com > > > > melanilust@gmail.com > > > > 203.247.6983 > > > > <https://www.instagram.com/melanilustphotography/> > > <https://www.facebook.com/MelaniLustPhotography/> > > <https://www.pinterest.com/melanilust/> > > > > > > Melani has won "Best Wedding Photographer" 12 years in a row, 2010- 2021, > > by readers of Fairfield County (Greenwich, Stamford, Fairfield, New > Canaan, > > Westport) Magazines > > <https://www.pinterest.com/melanilust/> > > > > > >> On Sun, Oct 31, 2021 at 12:32 PM Nichols Photography < > >> manichols1993@gmail.com> wrote: > >> > >> With all due respect, > >> Shouldn’t we change this? Too many issues in the past few years with > >> people harassing and chasing them. I, personally don’t agree that > allowing > >> the snowy owls locations to be publicized for their own safety. Some fb > >> groups have banned photos and locations for the above reasons. Just > putting > >> my 2 cents in. > >> > >> Respectfully, > >> > >> Monica Nichols > >> Madison > >> > >> Sent from my iPhone > >> > >>>> On Oct 31, 2021, at 11:03 AM, Roy Harvey <rmharvey@snet.net> wrote: > >>> > >>> Posts about Snowy Owls ARE permitted. The full posting rules about > >> owls: > >>> > >>> Exact locations of day-roosting owls (Great Horned, Barred, Barn, > >> Long-eared, Eastern > >>> Screech, and Northern Saw Whet) should not be posted to protect the > >> owls. Open- > >>> country owls such as Short-eared and Snowy, as well as rare owls such > as > >> Great Gray, > >>> Northern Hawk Owl, and Boreal, may be reported as to specific site > >> location. > >>> > >>> The complete posting rules can be found here: > >>> > >> https://www.ctbirding.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ > CTBirdsPostingRules.pdf > >>> > >>> Roy Harvey > >>> Cheshire, CT > >>> > >>> On Sunday, October 31, 2021, 10:11:29 AM EDT, Nichols Photography < > >> manichols1993@gmail.com> wrote: > >>> > >>> I didn’t think we were supposed to post snowy owl sightings on the list > >> serv. > >>> > >> > >> CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing > >> birders together statewide. Please support COA: > >> https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ > >> CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For > >> list rules and subscription information visit: > >> https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ > > > > CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing > birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/ > join-us/ > > CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For > list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/ > birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ > > CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing > birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/ > join-us/ > CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For > list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/ > birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ > > > CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing > birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/ > join-us/ > CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For > list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/ > birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/

Well put, Chuck.Angela Dimmitt -----Original Message----- From: Chuck Imbergamo <imbercj@comcast.net> To: Jesse LeBlanc <cptnhalfbeard@gmail.com>; Melani Lust <melanilust@gmail.com> Cc: Ct Birds <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> Sent: Sun, Oct 31, 2021 1:55 pm Subject: [CT Birds] Re: Snowy Owl posts Hi All – First, thank you Roy for stating the rules that posts about Snowy Owls ARE allowed.  I would add that a very high percentage of Snowy Owls that I have observed are not accessible, either by distance or location (on top of a structure, Osprey platform, out in a marsh, etc.).  An exception was a Snowy seen years ago on the dunes of Cape Cod - the bird was only 20 feet from a path through the dunes.  People trying to photograph the bird surrounded it and eventually people spoke up, and everyone backed off.  Because the bird was so accessible, there was an opportunity for it to be closely approached, and in that case I would hope that no one would post about the bird. So the lesson is that just because you CAN post about a Snowy Owl doesn’t mean that you SHOULD.  Any time you have concerns about the welfare of a bird, ANY bird, you should refrain from posting about it, regardless of whether the rules forbid the post.  Always use your best judgement, and default to the safety of the bird.  I hope this brings this topic to a close. Chuck Imbergamo CT Birds Moderator Madison From: Jesse LeBlanc Sent: Sunday, October 31, 2021 1:09 PM To: Melani Lust Cc: Ct Birds Subject: [CT Birds] Re: Snowy Owl Stratford/Milford I totally understand and respect the fact this is coming from a place of caring, but I don’t agree with banning those reports.  Gatekeeping is a good way to kill a hobby, and I think ruining things for the majority because of a minority who are being a problem is not the way to go. I think the community could do more to show these people who are harassing birds that this won’t be tolerated.  If you see someone doing something like that, and they won’t listen when asked to stop, go stand in front of them and block all their shots.  Annoy them until they leave or stop, and let them know what they are doing is wrong.  There are peaceful ways to intervene, and if people sit back and allow these behaviors to occur they are just as much to blame. Sent from my iPhone > On Oct 31, 2021, at 12:48 PM, Melani Lust <melanilust@gmail.com> wrote: > > I am in agreement with Monica. > > Warm wishes, > > Melani > > "Photos that look how your memories feel." > > > www.melanilustphotography.com > > melanilust@gmail.com > > 203.247.6983 > > <https://www.instagram.com/melanilustphotography/> > <https://www.facebook.com/MelaniLustPhotography/> > <https://www.pinterest.com/melanilust/> > > > Melani has won "Best Wedding Photographer" 12 years in a row, 2010- 2021, > by readers of Fairfield County (Greenwich, Stamford, Fairfield, New Canaan, > Westport) Magazines > <https://www.pinterest.com/melanilust/> > > >> On Sun, Oct 31, 2021 at 12:32 PM Nichols Photography < >> manichols1993@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> With all due respect, >> Shouldn’t we change this?  Too many issues in the past few years with >> people harassing and chasing them. I, personally don’t agree that allowing >> the snowy owls locations to be publicized for their own safety.  Some fb >> groups have banned photos and locations for the above reasons. Just putting >> my 2 cents in. >> >> Respectfully, >> >> Monica Nichols >> Madison >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>>> On Oct 31, 2021, at 11:03 AM, Roy Harvey <rmharvey@snet.net> wrote: >>> >>> Posts about Snowy Owls ARE permitted.  The full posting rules about >> owls: >>> >>> Exact locations of day-roosting owls (Great Horned, Barred, Barn, >> Long-eared, Eastern >>> Screech, and Northern Saw Whet) should not be posted to protect the >> owls. Open- >>> country owls such as Short-eared and Snowy, as well as rare owls such as >> Great Gray, >>> Northern Hawk Owl, and Boreal, may be reported as to specific site >> location. >>> >>> The complete posting rules can be found here: >>> >> https://www.ctbirding.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/CTBirdsPostingRules.pdf >>> >>> Roy Harvey >>> Cheshire, CT >>> >>> On Sunday, October 31, 2021, 10:11:29 AM EDT, Nichols Photography < >> manichols1993@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> I didn’t think we were supposed to post snowy owl sightings on the list >> serv. >>> >> >> CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing >> birders together statewide. Please support COA: >> https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ >> CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For >> list rules and subscription information visit: >> https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ > > CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ > CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/