A different kind of perch

This photo makes me feel sad, knowing the end of the "story". We were all surprised that this particular pair of Great Horned Owls decided to use a nest that was in a very low, solitary tree at the edge of one of the backroads SE of the city. On the day this photo was taken, I was with a group of friends, spending the day birding around Frank Lake. This is a well-known, popular birding location. We were travelling in several cars and when we were way, way down the road, we could see that the adult male was perched in the tree, well below the nest where Mom and the owlet were resting. Even from that great distance, Dad decided to fly up to a nearby power pylon while we stopped very briefly and then continued on our way.

Since that trip, I heard that someone was seen pulled over, standing in the back of a truck in order to be able to see into the nest. This, apparently, forced Mom to fly, leaving the owlet unattended, to become prey for a Gyrfalcon that happened to be nearby! All this just for the sake of wanting to get THE photo, though I guess I should add that it is possible (but unlikely) that the photographer was unaware that getting this close to a nest was wrong. It leaves me upset and shaking my head, and very thankful for all the photographers who ARE respectful towards nature and wildlife. As with many things, it's the few (more than a few, unfortunately) thoughtless, self-centred ones who give photographers a bad name. A list of Birding Ethics can be found in various places on the Internet, though I tend to find that a few other points could do with being added.

www.aba.org/about/ethics.html

news.wildlife.org/twp/2012-winter/the-ethics-of-wildlife-...

It's Mother's Day here in Canada today - a sad day for this pair of Owls.