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 ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]