Pet store mice and Kestrel photography

[What was that?]

Was out in Col Sam Smith Park last week looking for anything interesting to photograph. Got chatting to one fellow who was walking about carrying a mouse in plastic cage. Turns out he was wanting to get  apicture of a kestrel. From the way he was talking, sounded like this was not an uncommon activity.  
Any comments?

I'm not sure whre I stand (once my initial gut reaction of 'WHAT!!!!) subsided. I mean, after all, most of us are guilty of feeding birds with seed/bread/suet, is this so different? I admit to having a lot easier time carrying around some sunflower seeds in my pocket than a live critter.

Graham

[Dr. John]

I too have no difficulty handfeeding chickadees and sometimes taking pictures of them. But the idea of bringing in a bird of prey for a photo with a mouse or whatever doesn't work for me. Not sure if this makes me a hypocrite but that's my initial reaction.

-John

[DarylG]

I don't think drawing a line in the sand where you won't go makes anyone a hypocrite.  Unless you demand everyone else stick to your line in the sand perhaps then you might be a hypocrite as you are saying you can't be badder then me, not that you can't be bad.

I also have a discomfort with the idea of feeding a live mouse to another animal.  Yet I also feed birds seed and such both for the enjoyment and to bring them closer for photography.

For anyone who has fished there is the same situation.  Most of us who have fished have used live bait at some point.  Even if it was just worms in our youth or perhaps minnows or leeches later.  Is using a live worm or minnow to catch a fish any different from using a live mouse to attract a bird (at least he doesn't get a hook in his lip)?  And yet, I could never use frogs for bait.  That just seemed wrong.  And so it is with the mice and birds of prey.  For me it feels wrong.  So I don't do it.

Maybe it is because mice and frogs are "higher" animals, and closer to us.  And cute.

If there was Purina hawk chow available and you could put that out for birds of prey, would you do it?  I probably would.

DG

[ravynne40]

I find this strange, because each time I attend Sam Smith Park, the kestrel is always visible to me, one time he even followed me down a path (maybe he thought I had a mouse?) LOL
I have never had a hard time seeing him.

the question is, are the mice bought in the store (usually sold as pets and bred in captivity) any different then the wild field mice? I'm sure to the kestrel or any bird of prey they would taste different.

I have also heard stories that at the beginning of Owl season that people will let a bunch of mice out into a field where they know a specific owl is (tripods all lined up and ready to snap) and the owl(s) swoop to get their prey and photographers get their shots.
but what if the kestrel doesn't go after the mouse? There is no guarantee.

Not sure if this is this wrong or right, but if  you were a hungry kestrel I think you would be greatful for the free grub.
I'm neither for or against this action, to each his own i guess.
there is also the fact that many will think that this might be cruelty to mice.

Irene

[Ron Luft]

Perhaps check out the posts under "Barred Owl @ Presquille". The issue is the same and there is some question of legallity.

[mike]

A couple years back I got what could have been a couple of great shots of a Northern Hawk Owl. Somebody had been feeding it white store bought mice. It made the photos look like crap. Unrealistic.

[egret]

I do not like this idea
it gives me the willies


Egret