Owl lovers need to think of the owls before taking photos

By Jim Wright
Special to The Record | USA TODAY NETWORK - NEW JERSEY

   In the past few weeks, I’ve encountered uncomfortable situations at my local nature preserve when nature and human nature clashed. Alas, the outcome didn't necessarily favor nature.

   Let me explain. Because the preserve is an oasis of woods and wetlands amid suburbia, it can attract birds that many humans seldom see. Recently, a barred owl and screech owls have been the attraction.

   In an age where news of unusual bird sightings quickly spreads far and wide via eBird alerts and social media, these nocturnal raptors become magnets for people with cell phones and cameras.

     When people see an owl, they tend to get excited. It's only human nature for them to get as close as possible to the owl for as long as possible to get a better photo – without considering how their intrusion might affect the owl. When asked to move away, the people grew annoyed.

    Here's why they were asked to give the owl some breathing room. Owls need to rest during the day. This is especially true in winter, when food can be scarce, and in the current nesting season, when they will have families to feed. 

    Alas, many people with cameras are unaware of the impacts that can arise when they linger too close to a roosting barred owl or other owls. They may unintentionally put the owl in a squeeze play. The owl can stay put and become stressed, or it can fly away – and risk being mobbed and stressed again by other birds.

   These photographers defend their actions, saying that barred owls are oblivious to humans. And many times these owls are oblivious. But there’s no way of telling until it might be too late. This owl in question had been flushed already at least once. It should have been left alone.

  Over the years, I’ve also seen folks with cameras approach a screech owl perched in the opening of its nest box, sunning itself as it rests. They keep getting closer until the owl drops inside the box, and then they leave -- unaware of the possibility that the owl may abandon the nest box completely that night, even if it's a female with eggs.

   I’m the author of “The Screech Owl Companion” and a longtime owl aficionado, and my advice to fellow owl lovers is simple. Err on the side of caution. The goal shouldn't be a great photo for your collection. It should be doing what’s best for these spell-binding creatures of the night. 

   One way to reduce the problem is through education. That’s why I’m writing this column, and that's why volunteers soon roped off the area at the nature preserve and put up several signs -- including several from the state DEP -- advising people to keep their distance.

 The sign I created said: "This area is temporarily off-limits to the public to protect an endangered species that is increasingly vulnerable to human disturbance. It needs to conserve its energy when roosting, especially this time of year. Please keep out."

   Sure, there’ll always be a few folks who think that signs don’t apply to them, but they should know better.

    The Bird Watcher column appears every other Thursday.  Email Jim at [email protected].