Horrified to hear of this development. It likely was done by a “birder” and not one of the refuge staff. I did not see evidence of this trimming just the other day when I visited, but it was admittedly my first stop at the site. I too did not locate any owls in the tangles location I was led to believe they reliably used. I was able to find an individual resting peacefully in one of the evergreens off the east side of the parking lot however.



Phil Sisto



Sent from my iPhone



> On Jan 20, 2018, at 13:33, Haans Petruschke <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> 

> Hi,

> 

> The little Northern Saw-whet Owls have been very reliable in the same

> location for weeks at CLNP, but are not there today.  Examination of the

> roost site showed that the tangle had been trimmed with a clipper all the

> way back to where one of the little owls would sit.  Of course the owl is

> no longer there.

> 

> These owls showed remarkable fidelity to this location and tolerance to

> close approach by humans which is typical if they are in a protected

> location.  Cutting the tangle eliminated the protective aspect of the roost

> and so the little owls are gone.

> 

> I was not present when the cutting was done and do not know the reason.

> Anything I might suggest would be speculative and so I refuse to speculate

> for the reason or motive for the disturbance.

> 

> This was great while it lasted, and it is too bad the site was disturbed in

> such a gross manner.  The fidelity to this site over such a long period

> provides good evidence of how tolerant owls can be to human presence so

> long as we do not go too far.

> 

> How far is too far? Cutting stuff certainly.  Also touching the bird.  I

> have found that having loud groups taken to see roosting owls also results

> in them leaving an otherwise reliable roost. But as Roger Tory Peterson

> noted so long ago, Owls can otherwise be ridiculously tame and

> approachable.  No different than Warblers or Chickadees in the right

> situation.

> 

> Haans

> 

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