Hi everyone!
This message is not intended to single out or criticize anyone, but rather
is a reminder about how to handle reporting sensitive species. I suspect
there are probably folks on the listserv who are simply not aware of the
protocol, so a refresher is always good! Certain species of birds are more
sensitive to disturbance than others, and great care should be taken when
publicly revealing their locations. This is particularly true regarding
roosting owls, but also applies to other sensitive species such as Black
Rails, which are highly sought by birders and easily disturbed. If you are
fortunate enough to stumble upon roosting owls, rare rails, or other
sensitive species, please DO NOT publicly post the location on the
listserv, Facebook, or other public forums. Similarly, great care should be
taken when eBirding these species. It is best to wait at least a week, if
not longer, to report sensitive species, and also to hide the checklist
from public view. It is always better to err on the side of caution, as
sometimes even "hidden" checklists can be uncovered. For further
information on eBirding sensitive species, please see the following
guidelines from Team eBird:
http://help.ebird.org/customer/portal/articles/1006789-guidelines-for-reporting-sensitive-species
Thanks, and Happy New Year!
Best,
--Matt Anthony
College of William & Mary
