Dear Friends,

So sorry this post is a bit of a downer, but I am still reeling from the Snowy Owl harassment that I witnessed last weekend, along with a number of photographer’s reactions to the relatively benign post encouraging people to practice ethical owl photography. Name calling, denying the incidents actually happened, and accusations that i am trying to create a firestorm on social media are just some of the tactics used to shift the focus.

Denying that Snowy Owls are struggling displays a deep lack of empathy for the Owls. One photographer commented that Snowy Owls are “just like any other wildlife; if you are harassing them, they will just fly off.” That is precisely the point! Snowies are not just like most other wildlife species. If you repeatedly harass one to the point of flying off, eventually they will not have the strength to hunt and will die of starvation. Snowy Owls are not accustomed to finding cover in trees. They  are here because our windswept dunes and rocky coastline remind them of their Arctic habitat. They are also hungry! It is thought that when there is a shortage of their favored Arctic food, Lemmings, the adults expand their territory, pushing younger birds southward in search of food.

The Snowies are being harassed, without a doubt, as evidenced by the many daytime flying and wide-eyed shots being posted on social media. The morning I went looking for Snow Buntings and came across the 30 plus observers with their cameras all aimed across the river, one of the photographers explained to me that they were waiting for the owl to cross back over as it had already been flushed several times back and forth across the river.

Because of the popularity of owls on social media platforms, within several days of the Snowies arrival, there were photographers from all around New England forming large groups. An Owl that can hear a Lemming under cover of deep snow is fully aware of the large groups of people it is surrounded by.

Hunting a Snowy that had flushed moments earlier. Please keep out of sand dunes! 

We have all made mistakes and errors in judgement when observing wildlife. Hopefully, we learn and grow and become better stewards of all living creatures. In the past, I have loved filming Snowy Owls and we were extremely fortunate one winter six or seven years ago that a Snowy spent the season several blocks from our home. But their popularity has grown so. Sadly, we see the same people year after year, when you would think that at this point, they would know better. I am asking fellow photographers to be part of the solution and not the problem.

Standing on one side of the river looking across, you could clearly see some photographers poised a respectful distance however, half were not. The bird was surrounded on three sides by people taking photos. After I posted the first ‘Loving’ Snowy Owls to Death, I was vehemently told it was not photographers, but a dog off leash. Perhaps there was a dog off leash. I did not see a dog but you can see from the photo that a dog would only have been the tipping point in a morning of harassment. I don’t personally care about the name calling directed toward me and have learned it comes with the territory. I do care deeply though about Snowies and their ability to survive when they are here in our region. This is their winter home as much as it is ours!

If you click on the photo to embiggen, you can see exactly what is the issue.

Massachusetts DCR, US Fish and Wildlife, and Mass Audubon have been made aware of the intense recent harassment and are working together to strengthen owl viewing protocols and will be policing sanctuaries. 

Additional suggestions on what we all can do to help the Snowy Owls that are here to rest and refuel, hopefully for the winter.

As a viewer on social media platforms, please do not press the like button or share posts about Snowy Owls. Perhaps if the perpetrators don’t have an audience, they’ll move on to other subjects.

If you are the Admin on a social media platform, please consider not posting photos of owls.

Do not throw objects at the owl to make it fly.

Because of concerns about harassment, drones are prohibited at wildlife refuges.

Please, keep out of the dunes and stay on the trails. Tracking a Snowy through the dunes is not only a form of harassment, foot traffic damages the dune ecosystem.

If in a sanctuary or reserve and you come across a group of photographers photographing a Snowy, think about NOT stopping.

And please, if you are one of the photographers who sits there hour upon hour waiting for the Snowy to move, please don’t be that person. Take some photos and Move On. Give someone else a chance to take a few snapshots and they in turn will hopefully move on.

Suggestions from the earlier post –

How can people help the Snowies?

As human stewards of these magnificent creatures, we are responsible for putting their needs ahead of our own desire to see them or photograph them up close. When you are out and about and happen to see a Snowy, take a few photos, and move on. The owls are completely and fully aware of your presence. Parking yourself for any length of time brings attention to the bird and will surely draw a crowd.

If you are able to capture a few photos, please, please please do not post them on Facebook and other social media platforms until the Owl has departed the vicinity. I have learned the hard way. For example, with other birds that are vulnerable to disturbance, nesting Piping Plovers for instance, I wait until the birds are fledged before sharing photos or footage of the chicks.

Most importantly, give them lots and lots of space, standing a minimum distance of 200 feet away.

A few more tips – 

Stay low and hide behind a shrub, tree, or car if possible.

Move slowly, and if with a friend, speak softly.

Again, please don’t park yourself for hours near a Snowy. Take a few photos and MOVE ON.

And, of course, never use rat poison (rodenticides).