Amherst Island - Owl Woods - New Rules

Subject: Amherst Island's-Owl Woods new rules
From: Chris Grooms <jaba1961 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:08:51 -0800 (PST)

Dear ONTBIRDERs
In accordance with the wishes of the landowners of Owl Woods, the Kingston
Field Naturalists would like to state the following conditions for visiting
this privately owned property.

Many of you have heard of and many of you have observed the disturbance to owls
caused by large numbers of people visiting the Owl Woods on Amherst Island.
This privately-owned nature reserve became popular a few decades ago when a
small pine plantation was discovered to be a daytime roosting site for a number
owl species. The owners of this property graciously allowed birders and
interested people to enter their land to view and count the owls during their
migration and the winter each year. Since then, many people have enjoyed the
Owl Woods and benefitted from the unique, close-up contact with nature. It has
been a great educational and inspiring experience for all.

These days, it is not uncommon to have well over 100 people visit the Woods on
a weekend day. Somewhere along the way the drive to see an owl for a bird list
or to snap that perfect picture has out-stripped the sense that this rare site
and its inhabitants should be revered and respected. As has happened with many
popular natural phenomena, people have begun to threaten the object of their
affection.

The Kingston Field Naturalists have been aware of and concerned about these
developments for some time, and with the property owners, are working towards
solutions. The intention is to find ways to reduce the impact of people on the
owls to a level that permits the Owl Woods to afford the owls the protection
they need and continue to serve as a nature education experience for people.
Failure to soon bring the situation under control may well mean that the owl
woods could be closed to visitors by the owners.

You can help the situation in several ways. If you have been to Owl Woods in
recent years, consider being satisfied with that experience and not visiting
for a while. Don’t come just to tick your year or winter list or get another
photo of an owl. Because of the pressure on the owls, the landowners would like
people to stop posting owl observations from Owl Woods on ONTBIRDS. Please
respect this request; do not post reports from Owl Woods. If you do visit the
Owl Woods follow these simple rules as set out by the landowners:

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).

Sincerely,
Chris Grooms, President, Kingston Field Naturalists

Read that today. Last time I was on Amherst was over a month ago. That was when I ran into Karl Egressy and some others fortunate enough to see a Boreal Owl in the open. The email comes just as many Ontarians are about to enjoy a long 3 day Family Day holiday weekend starting this Saturday. It means many birders and others may be taking the opportunity to visit various birding locations in the province and elsewhere.

On my trips to Amherst, the numbers of people visiting seemed reasonable. However, the weeks since have seen upwards of nearly 40 vehicles based on some reports. So, glad I missed most of that. I also missed most of the stuff going on there last winter. But I did get to hear all about it. This year the big draw for birders is the Boreal Owl.

I met one of the owners of the owl woods last year and he's a friendly fella. Over time I also met others involved with the owl woods who were generous in sharing some of its history. Fascinating to learn and hear the stories from those who have been there since the beginning.

I'm not sure what Presqu'ile is like these days as I have not visited for over 2 months. My last trip there was December 5th or 6th.

Never went there! The thought of encountering more humans than wildlife put me off. The sooner posting of unusual speciies stops the better. Everyone, birders and photographers seem to go into a frenzy.

Reading from the list of dont's most are definitely aimed at photographers. I have never seen one hundred people there but I have only been there myself maybe ten times and not last year at all. I think it sounds like there has been an explosion of photographers last year and this. I wouldn't be surprised at a closing of the place and definitely the postings bring folks in from all over. Personally, and no one has to agree, I think if one wants a powerful photograph find some things locally, keep them to yourself, and work on that artistic shot to perfection. A shot of something one didn't have before isn't going to make it necessarily a great shot. Owls are popular but they are around everywhere.

Just walking to the edge of a woods and looking in starts a pressure on the life there. One hundred people miling around with mice in their pockets, breaking branches for a better shot, forcing the owls to fly, walking their dogs, playing bird calls, strobes-a- flashing, all rather sounds like an assault. Very insensitive ....

Paul

I was just up in Ontario, and lost all interest in going. I am glad to know I have locations down here with large roosts of LEOW's Saw Whets, and especially Short-eared owls. In time I hope to discover an annual roost of some boreal species. I learned many years ago not disclose the locations of my owl spots, but at the time it was too late..