[Ontbirds]Reporting Harrassment of Owls

[Mark Cranford]

Readers

The email is not intended to start a discourse or dialogue on Ontbirds.
Ontbirds is a place for reporting birds not interpreting events. 
Ignoring Ontbirds Guidelines could result in restricted posting privileges.

Currently many Ontbirders have expressed outrage over the practise
of baiting Owls with lab mice to lure them into photographic range. I
have to agree this is unacceptable.  It ignores the spirit and intent of 
the OFO Code of Ethics <http://www.ofo.ca/aboutus/ethics.php> and is 
likely illegal.

Over the past couple of days I have been making inquires. I have an
opinion of a Humane Society manager that luring owls with bait is
illegal under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. This is serious stuff.

In the case the Grimsby Northern Hawk Owl,  the MNR has an office in
Vineland. Their number is 905-562-4147.  The MNR enforcement officer 
will need the following: witnesses who are willing to potentially go to
court, photographs (of the person/people committing the offence) are
REALLY good, notes made on the date they witnessed the offence (just the
facts, along with times, others witnesses present, diagrams if useful
but no commentary on the behaviour!); ideally they should get the
person's name and vehicle plate number (if they can not get the name of
the people it is of utmost importance to get the plate #).

If birders don't stand up for the birds, who will?


-- 

Mark Cranford
ONTBIRDS Coordinator
Mississauga, Ont.
mark.cranford at ofo.ca
905 279 9576