rcb33483@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Kehaar) (02/03/90)
Netbirders:
Recently a friend of mine related a story about a group of birders in New
Mexico that chased a Black Rail, literally, down the gullet of a Great Egret.
This represents the unnatural death of a theatened species, and is a classic
case of birder irresponsibility. I'm not usually a "soapbox" person, but
I feel compelled to show the "Endangered species Litany" in memory of the
rail and for the sake of all threatened birds:
"Threatened and endangered species usually got that way because of human
disturbance and/or interference. It is a birder's responsibility, when
observing these species, to take great care that they are not disturbed
in any way that will endanger their survival or breeding success. They
are already in trouble because of irresponsible humans, let's not make
their situations even worse."
Predators will be predators, but which is more important, getting that rarity
or ensuring that it will survive to see another day?
And I hope that rail gave that egret a hellish case of indigestion before
it was asphyxiated!
--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
R. Cody Buchmann ^.^
"Kehaar"
email: rcb33483@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu "Now I fly for you..." - Watership Down
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ dmark@acsu.Buffalo.EDU (David Mark) (02/03/90)
In article <1990Feb2.172032.4608@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> rcb33483@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Kehaar) writes: > > Recently a friend of mine related a story about a group of birders in New >Mexico that chased a Black Rail, literally, down the gullet of a Great Egret. I know this is off the main point of the posting but, what was a Black Rail doing in New Mexico in the first place? The Sixth A.O.U. Check-List doesn't include New Mexico in its range, not does the old western Peterson guide. David Mark dmark@cs.buffalo.edu
mjm@oliven.olivetti.com (Michael Mammoser) (02/09/90)
In article <1990Feb2.172032.4608@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>, rcb33483@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Kehaar) writes: > > Recently a friend of mine related a story about a group of birders in New > Mexico that chased a Black Rail, literally, down the gullet of a Great Egret. > This represents the unnatural death of a theatened species, and is a classic > case of birder irresponsibility. I'm not usually a "soapbox" person, but > I feel compelled to show the "Endangered species Litany" in memory of the > rail and for the sake of all threatened birds: > > "Threatened and endangered species usually got that way because of human > disturbance and/or interference. It is a birder's responsibility, when > observing these species, to take great care that they are not disturbed > in any way that will endanger their survival or breeding success. They > are already in trouble because of irresponsible humans, let's not make > their situations even worse." The law protecting endangered species also makes it illegal to harrass (chase?) them. Had these birders been chasing an endangered species, they would have been in violation of federal law (I'm not sure, but I don't think that the Black Rail is actually listed). But the point made is quite valid and, from a conservationist or naturalist point of view, should be applicable to species as a whole. Black Rail watching is a popular event out here at the south end of San Francisco Bay and, for the most part, takes place without a great deal of disturbance to the birds. This doesn't mean that they aren't threatened by Great Egrets or that an occasional human mishap doesn't occur. At the Palo Alto Baylands, a fairly good situation exists for observing these rails. As the tide comes in, they are forced to higher ground; which for the most part is the edge of the paved entrance road that separates the marsh from the parking lot. They take refuge in the taller vegetation along this road, while observers stationed at strategic points can watch them (hopefully) from a distance of about 5-10 feet. A couple of years back there was an incident (I wasn't there for it) when some people spooked a Black Rail, which fled into the parking lot and hid under a car. Fortunately, its choice of hiding place kept it protected from Great Egrets and it eventually made it back to the marsh. However, Black Rails get preyed upon by egrets during high tide, whether people have a hand in it or not. Yet, the presence of people can also help the rails. Certainly, egrets don't approach the road edge where the rails are if there are a number of people standing about. Also, the naturalist at the Baylands has a habit of throwing things at the Great Egrets that come around the "Black Rail corner" at high tide, to scare them off. The Baylands is also an excellent place to see the endangered California Clapper Rail. One only has to walk out the boardwalk during high tide about 2/3 of the way to the bay, to a spot where about 5 or 6 Clappers gather within 10 yards of the boardwalk. They sit right out in the open and provide excellent opportunities for photography. Also, they are much too big for egrets to prey upon them. Mike