The comments to your post have been informative rather than hyperbolic.
The irony I've found in other situations is that when a photographer posts
to protect an owl, the majority internet response is to condemn
photographers for no ethics rather than to see that ebird postings can have
a down side.
Howard S. Muscott Photography
Amherst, New Hampshire
www.chasingthegoldenlight.com
<hmuscott...>
Retired Professor of Education, Rivier University
Retired Director, NH Center for Effective Behavioral Interventions and
Supports
On Sat, Jan 24, 2026 at 4:32 PM Howard Muscott <hmuscott...> wrote:
> It's important to note that MOST photographers and birders pay attention
> to wildlife ethics even as some do not. It's easy to get on a bandwagon
> and paint everyone with a similar brush. Most of us wildlife photographers
> try to let people who are violating ethics hear from us right then and
> there. As with all things human nature these days, controversy trumps
> reality.
>
> Howard S. Muscott Photography
> Amherst, New Hampshire
> www.chasingthegoldenlight.com
> <hmuscott...>
> Retired Professor of Education, Rivier University
> Retired Director, NH Center for Effective Behavioral Interventions and
> Supports
>
>
> On Sat, Jan 24, 2026 at 6:15 AM Leslie Kramer <kramer.lf...> wrote:
>
>> I wish that people wishing to "see" birds like Snowy Owls were
>> well-behaved, ethical, and would adhereto ABA Birding Guidelines. But, they
>> aren't. And they don't. In the quest to "get a bird, they violate a bird's
>> space, continuously interrupt resting periods, disrupt food needs and
>> hunting, and endanger overall survival needs. Traipsing through dunes and
>> across marshes for close views and shots, baiting an area with rodents,
>> movements to get a bird to fly - gotta have a flight shot. The list goes
>> on.
>>
>> There are well-documented and witness-based reasons for not disclosing an
>> owl's location. Even a Snowy Owl.
>>
>> Leslie Kramer
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Jan 24, 2026 at 5:46 AM Leslie Kramer <kramer.lf...>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
>>> From: Kirk Elwell <gentilisfinder...>
>>> Date: Fri, Jan 23, 2026 at 6:47 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Snowy Owl
>>> To: <danielhubbard...>
>>> CC: 'Steve Mirick' via NHBirds <nhbirds...>
>>>
>>>
>>> For those of us who have been at it for decades, things have most
>>> certainly have changed.
>>> We want others to share in the exultation of finding truly unusual or
>>> rare birds in our area. But, revealing the location of these can pose
>>> risks to the bird itself but also the adjacent habitat, parking, etc, etc.
>>> Needing to get a photograph seems to have become the end all. And many
>>> will stop at nothing to get one. Just to have it!!
>>> I utilize a very exotic device with an incredible "God given" hard-drive
>>> called the human brain! The need to save the bird far outweighs the need
>>> to have a technological record. The literature is loaded with records.
>>> Just look!
>>> This past Spring between some major surgeries I located an incredible
>>> find only a short distance from my house here in East Kingston.
>>> I was actually looking for this species in particular but hadn't many
>>> since my days in Essex County Massachusetts.
>>> American Goshawks are a favorite of mine and I have over 500 sightings
>>> just in Essex County having watched/monitored many breeding pairs.
>>> I found an active nest in late April after having noted some of their
>>> very distinctive habits and preferred habitats for nesting. They fledged 2
>>> I believe?
>>> But, I did not post it nor have I notified any NH folks.
>>> Drew Vitz of MassWildlife, who studies AMGOs, and one other Mass birder
>>> know of its existence because he contacted me in the off chance I
>>> "stumbled" across one up here in NH.
>>> I also found another Osprey nest in a nearby location. It too will
>>> remain secret.
>>> Sometimes the less knowledge the better is a worthwhile course of action
>>> to protect our natural wonders.
>>> Kirk.
>>>
>>> Kirk S Elwell
>>> East Kingston, NH.
>>>
>>> On Fri, Jan 23, 2026, 4:38 PM Dan Hubbard <danielhubbard...>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Such as the Long-eared at Salisbury?
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: 'Steve Mirick' via NHBirds <nhbirds...>
>>>> Sent: Jan 23, 2026 11:20 AM
>>>> To: <nhbirds...>
>>>> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Snowy Owl
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Many people share the opinion that Snowy Owl locations should not be
>>>> disclosed for fear that observers/photographers could put the owl at risk.
>>>> I DO NOT SHARE THESE FEELINGS. While there are owls that demand protection
>>>> from being flushed (Saw-whet Owl, Long-eared Owl, etc.), the Snowy Owl is
>>>> not in the same category. I am not afraid to disclose the location of a
>>>> Snowy Owl for the following reasons:
>>>>
>>>> * Snowy Owls choose to roost in the open and are not fearful of
>>>> predators. They are at the top of the food chain. If they get flushed,
>>>> they might get harassed briefly by a gull, but otherwise are not in any
>>>> danger at all from being attacked.
>>>> * Flushing a Snowy Owl rarely occurs, but when a
>>>> birder/photographer/dog walker flushes a Snowy Owl, they just fly to a
>>>> different perch nearby. That's all.
>>>> * Contrary to popular belief, these Snowy Owls that come south in the
>>>> winter are perfectly healthy. They don't come south from the Arctic
>>>> because they are starving. They eat well at Hampton Beach SP and along the
>>>> streets of Hampton. They feed mostly at night or near dawn and dusk and
>>>> just hang out all day. Take a look at this photo by Ken Faucher of a Rat
>>>> that was eaten last week!!!!!! They will also feed on Meadow Voles and
>>>> just about all of the ducks and grebes in the ocean. They are incredible
>>>> hunters!
>>>> https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/648903021 >>>> * Generally, a Snowy Owl at Hampton Beach State Park is a great
>>>> location for beginner birders and photographers to see a wonder of nature
>>>> and share with others this occurrence. It's easy to watch a Snowy Owl from
>>>> a safe distance and we birders/photographers can police the situation so
>>>> that someone doesn't gets too close.
>>>> * Finally, there are many, many photographers out there trolling the
>>>> coast (especially Hampton Beach SP) all the time looking for Snowy Owls.
>>>> In addition, random people on the sidewalk often are the first to find
>>>> owls. It is a very rare occasion to see an "unattended" Snowy Owl on any
>>>> given day! I often tell people that the key to finding a Snowy Owl is to
>>>> search for the big crowds and photographers lined up in the dunes at
>>>> Hampton Beach SP. Why not share the location of a Snowy Owl that everyone
>>>> else knows about anyway.
>>>>
>>>> To be clear, I certainly don't condone any type of trespassing onto
>>>> private property or walking into sensitive dune habitat and again, this
>>>> does NOT APPLY TO OTHER OWLS that rely on camouflage and NEED TO STAY
>>>> HIDDEN. As a birding community, I think we are all responsible for
>>>> educating and policing each other.
>>>>
>>>> Just my thoughts,
>>>>
>>>> Steve Mirick
>>>> Bradford, MA
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 1/23/2026 9:58 AM, Howard Muscott wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Thank you, Paul and Lynne friendly advice not to list the location of a
>>>> snowy owl. It may put it at risk.
>>>>
>>>> Howard S. Muscott Photography
>>>> Amherst, New Hampshire
>>>> www.chasingthegoldenlight.com
>>>> <hmuscott...>
>>>> Retired Professor of Education, Rivier University
>>>> Retired Director, NH Center for Effective Behavioral Interventions and
>>>> Supports
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, Jan 22, 2026 at 8:57 PM <pkursewicz...> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Some pic's from today taken at Hampton Beach SP.
>>>>>
>>>>> https://ebird.org/checklist/S295725773 >>>>>
>>>>> Paul & Lynn Kursewicz
>>>>> Epping
>>>>>
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>
