Blog #416 Loss of Reverence for Nature
Kayakers at Fenwick, DE, stay at least 300 ft. away from nests, courtesy of coastal kayak.
Come and experience the exhilaration of gliding silently through the water in a kayak while witnessing the majestic dives of an Osprey, a shoreline great blue heron gobble a perch, or a pair of young eagles grappling talons and spinning while playing. The luckiest might see a lone loon on a misty morning. The natural beauty of Cayuga Lake and the many creatures that thrive there do so because of the lake’s high water quality; we must appreciate and protect these clean waters and the animals that depend on them. Geese, ducks, mergansers, gulls, kingfishers, egrets, beavers, muskrat, whitetail deer, fox, turtles, water snakes, frogs, and over a hundred species of fish are just some of the wildlife that live in and along Cayuga’s shorelines enriching our lives. How can it be that some people thrive on nature and others show it no respect?
Kayakers respect a 300 ft distance from the Osprey nest, courtesy of Mass Audubon.
To those who don’t understand lake ecology, please don’t scare or torment the wildlife. It’s not fair to disturb their homes for a laugh. Last week multiple groups of kayakers along Stewart Park Fall Creek and the Inlet in Ithaca tormented the birds along the waterways. They paddled next to the ducks, herons, cormorants, Osprey, and other water birds to take selfies, which spooked the birds resting in preparation for afternoon feeding. They were willing to torment a heron and cause it to drop its hard-earned fish for an appropriately named “selfie.”
Osprey with fish flew towards the kayakers, courtesy of KnappsNarrows.
Kayakers too close to an Osprey nest Platform on Freshkills, Staten Island, NY, by Flicker.
This morning at Salt Point in Lansing, a woman in a solo kayak repeatedly floated underneath the young Osprey’s shoreline perch trying to get a photo and driving the chicks away. Has scaring young Osprey become the new equivalent of cow tipping?
The worst offenders were a group of 6 kayakers pursuing a young Osprey at Stewart Park. This is a critical time in an Osprey’s life; they have only a few weeks to learn how to catch fish before they must leave on a 2,000–4,000 mile solo migration to Central and South America. During this training period, the young Osprey perch on branches studying the water for prey. Two of these male kayakers persisted in chasing the young Osprey, driving it up and down the waterway, preventing it from fishing. Numerous times they paddled directly underneath the young bird’s overhanging perches smacking their paddles on the water to scare the bird from its fishing spot. After harassing the Ospreys along the water for at least an hour a final attempt was made by one of the kayakers to get a selfie as the young Osprey gave up fishing and flew back to its nest.
Why did we not challenge the kayakers’ behavior? Why not question the satisfaction they get out of disturbing a young bird learning to fish? Park officials tell us not to engage with people harassing birds, not even protected species, due to our increasingly hostile and violent society. These middle-aged “sportsmen” should know better, but they did not.
Scratching fledgling Osprey learns to fish by perching over the water, by makeitmissoula.
Harassing wildlife is not a uniquely American problem. Two years ago at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s (SWT) Loch of the Lowes reserve, a kayaker was spotted near the famous Osprey nest. The resident male Osprey known as “Laddie” and his new female was visibly “alarmed” and left the nest unguarded and undefended for more than two hours. Despite numerous signs around the wildlife reserve warning that access to the area is prohibited and that disturbing nesting birds, especially Ospreys, is a criminal offense, it did not stop this harasser. The Scottish are serious about restoring a healthy Osprey population after they nearly went extinct in 1916 from persecution. The reserve is monitored 24 hours a day, including by CCTV with access to the loch and surrounding areas of the reserve closed during the breeding season (March to September).
Why do some people disregard Nature? During most of human history, people have followed traditional customs and beliefs, but during the last few centuries, many have given up the old ways and religion to follow their short-term self-interests. Today there is a growing contempt for tradition, whether it be religion or customs, as people believe they are more rational. But many old customs, which evolved over the ages, have deep foundations, even if these are not understood by all. For instance, crows and ravens, often associated with death and dying, are carrion eaters and help consume rotting flesh. Eating pork and shellfish is prohibited by certain religions because these animals commonly serve as hosts for parasitic diseases.
Kayakers enjoy watching nature on Cayuga Lake, courtesy of Facebook.
Longstanding traditions often served the function of letting people live in peace with one another and with nature. As are lost, so is the guidance to conduct ourselves. Replace religion if you wish, but we must renew our awareness and commitment to biological awareness and develop an environmental ethos founded on science, which will ensure the long-term survival of the Earth’s flora and fauna. Otherwise, loss of reverence for nature and life will lead to disaster.
Female Osprey catching fish, courtesy of Ken Lee.
Closing with a grounded thought, boating enthusiasts may need to be explicitly told not to disturb wildlife. We must get the word out. On a lighter note, please watch Cary Parks’ video of his wife Ruth rescuing a drowning Osprey caught in a fishing line. Each of us has to choose the best ways to live our lives.
Eyes to the sky!
Candace
Candace E. Cornell
Friends of Salt Point, Lansing, NY
Cayuga Lake Osprey Network
EYES TO THE SKY!
WATCH!
READ!
On Osprey Time: Ospreys of the Finger Lakes
VISIT!
HELP PROTECT OSPREYS:
•Stay 300 feet away from nests and birds during the breeding season.
If the Osprey vocalizes, you are too close! Back off Immediately.
•. Don’t make noise to scare the birds.
•Carry binoculars to view wildlife from afar.
•Help keep local waters clean, healthy, and safe.
•Recycle used fishing lines, twine, and nets, which can kill Osprey.
•Join the Cayuga Osprey Network and volunteer to help monitor Osprey nests: cec222@gmail.com.
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