Outdoor Ontario
Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: DaveD on January 03, 2011, 05:17:28 PM
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First Post here!
It seems that the Spit is full of owls right now.
I was there Jan 3rd and found 4 very easily. 2 SWs and 2 LEs. Ran into someone who spoke with someone who found 7 SWs and 2 LEs, probably my same 2 LEs.
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Can you PLEASE remove the exact locations ASAP, the results are not often very good when locations like this become widely known.
I personally wouldn't even report when I see owls (except great horned which are common enough not to really matter), but saying you found 2 of each on the spit is not really a problem.
Thanks.
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I have edited the post, but if the idea of this site is to post your sightings so that others, with interest, can go and find the bird, why not give them the best possible odds of success?
These spots are also where they were, but are not likely where they are (more than 24hrs later). Plus, everyone knows the Spit has owls. I've never looked for them in the ten years I've lived within a few km of the Spit, despite having a 40 yr history of birding, and it took me less 30 minutes to find 4 of them. I've spent longer trying to find the milk at Loblaws!
Seriously, its never my intention to risk the birds in anyway; just trying to help folks have more success and enjoy birding more. I thought that posting that info on this site was appropriate. I've removed it.
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Owls are a touchy subject on here. Most of us, me included, do not disclose the exact location of owls, because this board has stalkers, people who don't care about the birds, but just want to get that perfect "money shot".
Not disclosing exact locations is just a way of trying to protect the owls from these type of people.
Great find, I've only seen a Snowy and a GHO in the wild.
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Everyone knows the spit has owls, the difference is when their locations are narrowed down to the exact tree (and from my personal experience at least long-eareds often return to the same tree repeatedly).
See these ontbirds posts fro some of the problems that have been encountered with the locations of owls being completely public.
See these ontbirds post for some of the problems that have been encountered before:
http://ontbirds.ca/pipermail/birdalert_ ... 17372.html (http://ontbirds.ca/pipermail/birdalert_ontbirds.ca/2007-December/017372.html)
http://www.mail-archive.com/birdalert@o ... 17321.html (http://www.mail-archive.com/birdalert@ontbirds.ca/msg17321.html)
Anyways, nice sightings, and sorry if my first post was a bit harsh.
Welcome to the board, and please continue to share your sightings! :D
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Welcome to the list David!
Posts about Owls have caused a number of problems in the past. In general, just stating the park, is good enough since, as you said, almost any birder can usually find them.
If you look around the discussion posts you will see that the discussions have become quite heated: it is a topic that people take sides on.
Anyway, I, and I mean we, appreciate your effort and, truth be told, would like to do the same - but have had problems in the past.
Get any pictures?
Cheers,
Bernie
http://www.newlight.ca (http://www.newlight.ca)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/berniemonette (http://www.flickr.com/photos/berniemonette)
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Welcome to the board Dave, and welcome to one of the sad realities of birding and the internet. :(
Due to the irresponsible behavior of a very small minority, the rest of us have become very cautious about revealing the presence and location of owls. I wouldn't have given it much thought a few years ago, but now I treat them more like the nest location of an endangered species: shared only with a few individuals I trust to act responsibly.
BB
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Welcome to the board David.
You seem to have started with a bang. :-)
I have read Newfoundler's list of things photographers shouldn't do when photographing owls. (I will be leaving my flash in my bag)
For the inexperienced bird photographer how should one go about getting photographs of owls?
Take care,
Clive
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Welcome to the forum DaveD. Unfortunately the useful information you posted could be used to cause stress and harm to the birds we love, however well intentioned. It's a sad state but we have to protect the ones we cherish, even at the cost of our own enjoyment. Hopefully this didn't leave a sour taste in your mouth and you will continue to be a part of this board, as it's a great group with a lot of knowledge (and passion as you've seen :) )
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This in a nut shell David is birder against the photographer.
Not much has change on this site since my last visit. :(
Not all photographers want the "money shot", its a hobby for most and very challenging photography.
Don't sneeze around the birds while your down there you might scare the crap out of them. :lol:
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Welcome to the board David.
You seem to have started with a bang. :-)
I have read Newfoundler's list of things photographers shouldn't do when photographing owls. (I will be leaving my flash in my bag)
For the inexperienced bird photographer how should one go about getting photographs of owls?
Take care,
Clive
Using flash on birds has been debated for some time, and there is no proof that it has any effect on nocturnal birds such as owls.
http://photo.net/learn/nature/owlflash (http://photo.net/learn/nature/owlflash)
David there have been owls on the spit for years, and although some people here would have you believe that a select few (photographers) are stressing the birds they don't seem to mention the birders that are also looking for them.
The last time I was there, birders with cameras and no real knowledge of how to approach a wild bird flush them by getting too close with small lenses and point and shoot cameras. The real nature photographers purchase very expensive lenses with longer focal lengths to get images from further away. This debate will never end unless people learn to mind thier own business. Funny how the birds continue to come back year to year when they know they will be harrssed by humans.
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It is not just photographers that harass owls, and some of the problem is just when too many people know where they are.
If the owl you see looks like the shot of a boreal that is near the top of the photo section right now (i.e. not overly concerned about your presence), then watching/ taking pictures from there shouldn't be much of a problem.
If the bird is clearly not very happy about you being there, as in staring at you with wide eyes and ready to fly, try not to stay too long, and if you do flush an owl don't try to go looking for it again.
Also, I doubt flash is a problem, but if you can avoid it that's probably a good idea.
Reuven
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I was at the Leslie Spit today, but I was turned away at the gate. I know the Spit is officially closed weekdays, but I thought that it was not enforced?
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I was at the Leslie Spit today, but I was turned away at the gate. I know the Spit is officially closed weekdays, but I thought that it was not enforced?
It's a working dumpsite, and also often used for movie/TV shoots etc. Apparently, the Toronto Bombsquad also uses it for disposal.
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Thanks for all the welcomes!
I can see the debate and I was not aware of the previous unfortunate incidents, thanks for pointing those out. What a shame.
Yes I did get some pics. No flash. Very expensive camera set up so I wasnt too close. The SWs couldnt have cared less that I was there, one of the LEs was watching me but the other one (right beside it!) didnt care.
I found the locations very poor for taking pics - too much debris in the way - but I took the shots I could get and moved on. I didnt try to relocate any of the branches and of course the owls did not move.
BTW - my father used to band SWs and Boreals, and whatever else passed through the spit and other locations (he mentioned Kennedy and the 401 as a previous hot area), 50 yrs ago. I was raised birding, took a long break and now that my daughter (8yo) has expressed a keen interest. I hope to introduce her to it and my visit to the Spit was a sort of scouting mission in anticipation of her visiting the spit too.
Pics of the Spit Owls - I didnt get any good ones but here they are. Also, found a Barred (Ajax) early Dec when my father came to visit. Pic of him too (although I was having a lens focusing issue that day).
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd160/davedean/DSC_5431.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd160/davedean/DSC_5438.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd160/davedean/DSC_5415.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd160/davedean/DSC_2507.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd160/davedean/DSC_2446.jpg)[/img]
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Didn't get any good ones?! They're gorgeous! Thanks for sharing.
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Those are beautiful pictures!
The guy at the entrance to the Spit said this morning that he never lets anybody (I asked about birders in particular) through, and it's been that way for at least 9 years. He said he was on duty yesterday and no birders came through. Do some people have clearance of some kind?
Also, because obviously this is a sensitive issue, I want to clarify that I was looking for owls, however I have no need or urge to disturb them, and wasn't even carrying a camera (only binoculars with which I admire from a distance). I am new to birding in Ontario, but I've been birding in other parts of the world, and have been involved in bird conservation through official groups as a university student and field assistant. I have not, and will not, be involved in any activities that harm wildlife.
Dan
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Its open to the public on the weekends.
Tons of bikers, walkers, rollerbladers, etc...
http://www.friendsofthespit.ca/spit_about.htm (http://www.friendsofthespit.ca/spit_about.htm)
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The spit is closed to the public during the week as it may be busy with vehicles dropping off fill. So can be dangerous to be roaming around the roads. It is open on weekends and most holidays.
Daryl
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I forgot to mention that I also found a Shrike during my Spit visit.
That was my first visit to the Spit (that I bothered to look for birds).
4 owls and a Shrike in less than an hour.
Is it always that productive?
I may head back on Sat!
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Are the Baselands/Wet Woods accessible at all during the week or are they off limits too? Can the woods be entered from the road to the Yacht Club...away from the dump truck traffic?
Walter
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Not blaming anybody, but today I was on the Spit and it was crawling with groups of photographers. There were only two owls, one of which was a Saw-whet which I found in a "non-typical" spot, and the bird was clearly under severe stress - it was breathing very hard, twisting its head around and rocking back and forth, with the mouth open and wings drooping. It had almost certainly been flushed. Some people I observed were shaking the conifers and speaking very loudly.
Many I talked to referred to this site as their source of info. Perhaps something to think about.
That being said, the other bird was a Long-eared which was hidden in a tangle and many enjoyed it. It stayed fairly calm most of the time.
Lev.
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I have edited the post, but if the idea of this site is to post your sightings so that others, with interest, can go and find the bird, why not give them the best possible odds of success?
These spots are also where they were, but are not likely where they are (more than 24hrs later). Plus, everyone knows the Spit has owls. I've never looked for them in the ten years I've lived within a few km of the Spit, despite having a 40 yr history of birding, and it took me less 30 minutes to find 4 of them. I've spent longer trying to find the milk at Loblaws!
Seriously, its never my intention to risk the birds in anyway; just trying to help folks have more success and enjoy birding more. I thought that posting that info on this site was appropriate. I've removed it.
i was at the Spit today.
i saw the guy who claims he saw 10 owls last week. he also did two amazing things today:
1. he scared off two LEOs that another photographer had patiently tracked and was shooting. this gentleman takes his bike through the side trails and makes a lot of noise.
2. he refuses to disclose any locations to anyone, but will follow around other birders to see what they're looking at.
the Spit's pretty simple: there are a finite # of areas where you'll see the NSWO and LEOs. if you get there late, like i did, you'll have a person or people who will end up scaring the LEOs into seclusion. and once one person sees a NSWO, everyone sees it. so i kind of feel like there aren't any secrets at the Spit. if you have enough energy to make the walk (i was out for 4 hrs today) and can stand the cold or wind, then you'll likely see what everyone else saw.
today, i saw some redpolls. also saw the peregrine falcon chase away the GHO. that was pretty cool
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Not blaming anybody, but today I was on the Spit and it was crawling with groups of photographers. There were only two owls, one of which was a Saw-whet which I found in a "non-typical" spot, and the bird was clearly under severe stress - it was breathing very hard, twisting its head around and rocking back and forth, with the mouth open and wings drooping. It had almost certainly been flushed. Some people I observed were shaking the conifers and speaking very loudly.
Many I talked to referred to this site as their source of info. Perhaps something to think about.
That being said, the other bird was a Long-eared which was hidden in a tangle and many enjoyed it. It stayed fairly calm most of the time.
Lev.
Lev, not sure if i saw you today, but i saw a few things:
1. a group of 20 young people. they looked like they were on some type of organized tour
2. some photographers. the ones i spoke to saw the LEOs, got their photos and left
3. two idiots walking around the wooded area, screaming to one another "hey Ray/Roy, you see anything yet????"
4. the gent on the bike that i mentioned in the previous post (a birder, not a photographer)
5. the people who were there to count the water foul. they told me about the apparently-stressed NSWO. i also showed them the NSWO that i saw and we all observed it from a respectable distance.
as a "photographer", which, in my opinion, is just another word for a birder with an expensive camera, i'm tired of seeing people acting in a disrespectful manner. that's why i am happy to disclose information to those on this site who i've met and trust.
since it appears as if this site is not moderated and there aren't any rules about what to post, what can we do? people will be stupid regardless of what's posted on here. this site also lets people like me go and see birds that I normally won't see, and i'm grateful for detailed posts. its a double-edged sword...
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This subject unfortunately will never end. :cry:
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I think a lot of people need to read the code of birding ethics, because it seems to me that this isn't being followed a lot of the time, and that saddens me.
The post about the NSWO broke my heart and made me angry, it only takes a few selfish individuals to really mess things up.
I personally think that digital photography has been more of a hindrance to birders and the birds themselves. I wonder if the people running around the parks scaring the owls would bother going for a walk to see what they could see if they didn't have a camera. Something to think about. I know this statement does not apply to everyone who takes pictures of the birds.
If I saw someone "shaking a tree" or "baiting a bird", I would say something. I'd rather ruin a person's perfect shot then risk the bird coming to harm because of stupidity.
If people are so hell bent on getting a good picture of an owl, then go to places to places like Mountsberg Conservation Area. They have different species of owls there, and for a fee you can have a private photo shoot with owls that you know you aren't putting in harms way, because they already had to deal with human stupidity and that's why most of them are there in the first place! GRRRR......this topic makes my blood boil.
The never ending saga of the owls continue.
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Not blaming anybody, but today I was on the Spit and it was crawling with groups of photographers........... Some people I observed were shaking the conifers and speaking very loudly.
Lev.
Shaking the trees and all you did was observe them? Did you not say anything?
I was also at the spit today (late aft) and found 2 owls somewhere between where I parked my car and the water. I guess I was there after the mayhem, because I was alone and saw only two other people with cameras or binoculars. The SW was quite cozy and comfortable. I suspect that many found this beautiful female as she was in an easy location. I also spotted a flying LEO and found him up in a birch shortly after. He was skittish and I could not, but did not really try, to get close. Long after I moved on I saw him in the air again; I guess he wanted to fly around some more. He wasnt flushed.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd160/davedean/DSC_6017.jpg)