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Just a few comments in response to Kathy
Cook. I have nothing but respect for the educational broadcasts Ian Taylor
gives on ABC666. He is really good at giving interesting information to
the listeners on any number of nature topics.
My problem still remains with the specific
information given by the media as to where to find the owl. Kathy
wrote: "I believe the most important thing is to get the general public
interested and excited about having such an unusual and special bird in the
middle of the city. This is likely to have a much greater flow-on effect
in terms of conservation etc..." I wish that were true. I have heard
reports of at least one person throwing sticks at the owl to get it to open its
eyes for the camera. Other people were rude to, or ignored, the Gardens
staff when they tried to give instructions. Others talked in very loud
voices right under the roost tree.
I still think that we should err on the side of
caution. A useful reference is Birds Australia Information Sheet No 9
"Guidelines on recreational bird watching" adopted by BA Council on 30 May 1999
which may be of interest as a starter for discussion.
Regards, Susan Robertson
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