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Good Day turned out bad

March 26, 2014   ·   0 Comments

Again this winter we have some great owls around. And lots of people including kids are loving being able to view them. I was very lucky to view a magnificent great grey owl this last weekend with a good friend. The people who were there were viewing it from a good distance and were quiet and just enjoying the opportunity. Then the owl flew right towards the road. It landed about three feet in front of us on the other side of the fence. But what it brought up from under the snow was a white mouse. It had been baited. The guy was hiding on the other side of the street. After a few words between the baiter and the good people. The baiter held the poor little mouse over his wrist like a waiter would hold a good bottle of wine. And he said, “I have no use for you birders, I am a photographer and I am bringing the owl to me”. 

This is a live little animal –being abused in my eyes. He had lured the owl right to the side of the road. It was in a tree now. But we all gathered around and gave the “baiter a hard time”. The owl flew back to the field. This man even threatened to put the mouse into one woman’s mouth to make her silent. He was rude and vulgar and there were children present. One young girl’s mouth dropped open and she was clearly upset when she found out what he was doing and saw the little mouse in his hand. Nothing bothered him and he clearly did not care about the owl or the children or the baiting. He was making money. That is all that mattered. This practice needs to be banned. Made illegal. Fact is, a true photographer does not need to bait an owl to get a great shot. The “so called photographers” pay a baiter to get those shots you see in these ‘big magazines’. In my opinion, those baited shots should be banned. There are so many real photographers out there with amazing, clean natural shots.

There were birders and photographer here watching this owl. Anywhere from little pocket cameras, cell phones 200mm to 800 mm lenses. Kids asking questions and taking a real interest in this owl and all owls. How does it find its prey in the snow? How does it catch it, can I go into the field. Of course that answer was no. And they thanked us for all the information we freely gave them. The thing is, they asked. And they went away appreciating owls even more. But were very upset to have witnessed what this man did. I mean these guys had 800 mm lenses with tele-convertors on so they had no reason to be that close to an owl. And they complained that the bushes got in the way or a piece of grass. The reason the baiter wanted to lure the owl to the empty field across the road was so that it would cross over not once but twice when it came back over. But they would have gotten there “clean shots”.

I use a 150–500mm lens and I was taking photos of the owl in the back of its hunting area. If you want your image in closer focus, you crop it. I watched the owl hunt (naturally) catching wild voles. Learning about how it hunts in the snow, watching it seeking out its prey. Watching its feathers as the winds blew them in all directions. Ever so magical. It flew from tree to tree. It flew to the ground to hunt. It sat in a tree and looked all over as a flock of crows flew over scolding it. It was incredible. It came closer on and off as it searched for food. Then I also had it fly right at me. The baiters had lost a couple mice and could not find them. There had left now, but the mice were loose somewhere. I refused to shoot while they were there. A great grey flying right at you is something you will never forget. I didn’t even try to get a photo. I was in awe of what I was witnessing. I saw every inch of it, the wings quivering, and the tail like a rudder guiding its body through its flight to catch a tasty morsel. And those huge yellow eyes, the face like a big round disc, focused on the prey below. I had the owl land within a foot of me. It was on the other side of the fence; actually hit the fence as it got the mouse that was left behind. At least the poor wee thing didn’t freeze to death, or worse go out to the road so that the owl may have been hit by a passing car as it chased after it. However now that owl is at risk of being hit by a car anyway, as it has already become imprinted by humans feeding it. It will approach people now to see if they are going to feed it. It will be right by the road. And if a mouse gets left behind again and it runs out on the road, that owl’s life could be over. All this for a photo. NO. Not acceptable. No photo is that important. When you are a wildlife photographer your number one priority is the safety of your subject. If you get a shot great. It has taken me years to get a shot of an owl in flight or a fox kit in play. It is patience. Pure and simple. Common sense. But by this practice I have learned ever so much about these birds and animals. There is no reward better than that. And when you get that shot, leaving no trace of your being there and leaving the owl safe and sound is what it is all about, it’s not about the money you can make for that perfect shot. It is about what that owl has taught you. About its beauty. About its life which you want to continue. It’s great to see children coming with their parents and young people coming to see these wild birds. It’s great for them to ask questions and want to learn. It is not great for them to see a baiter feeding domestic mice to lure the birds in putting their lives at risk. The birds know no fear. They are getting a free meal. Many free meals. This guy and others are now there daily. What happens when these guys have had enough and leave? Who is going to feed the owl now? It has become dependent on that food. Do they care? No. Plus all the good photographers out there are now getting bad reputations because of these guys. We are shunned upon and hated. People need to be educated on what these guys are doing. I don’t care if you are a birder or a photographer. Name calling them is just childish. We all need to get along and respect each other, especially our next generation of photographer/birders whatever they choose to do. And they do NOT need to see this kind of behavior.

When you see and owl or any wildlife, give them their space, respect them, don’t chase or approach them. Let them hunt. Don’t use a flash. That next meal may mean life or death for an owl or anything in the wild. The deep snow and ice crusting on top are making it difficult for our wildlife this winter. The owls are here because they had no food where they came from. They have no fear of people because they don’t see them in their home territories. They arrive fatigued and stressed and hungry. Many ending up in wildlife rehab centers and some dying. If you see an owl, don’t report it to an online nature or birding sight. Let it be. And feel privileged you had that opportunity to see such a majestic creature in its “natural” habitat. If possible stay in your car so you don’t stress it. Don’t stay to long. Let it hunt. Get some shots or enjoy your sighting and move on. I hope and pray this bird does not become our next casualty. But I fear the worst.

This guy and others need to move on and leave this bird alone. Let it live. Respect all living things. And if you witness an owl or any wildlife being harassed or hurt by a human, please report it to the MNR tips line with as much information as you can gather. It may be the best thing you did that day.  1-877-847-7667

Below is a link to this incident if you want to see it. As for the baiters out there, I am not alone for my thoughts. I am only thinking of the owls precious lives. You don’t need to do this to get a great shot. Try it. You won’t be disappointed.

http://www.torontostreetbeat.com/2014/01/18/great-grey-owl-baited-by-photog-in-brooklin

By Jennifer Howard

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