Posted by Forrest Brownell on August 04, 1997 at 04:42:33:
In Reply to: Re: RE Great Northern: 'Laissez faire, laissez passer.' posted by Adam Quinan on August 03, 1997 at 18:25:00:
Adam Quinan has written a charming note, defending his cautious,
if close, approach to a cruising loon. I can see I must tread
carefully here. Relations between our two nations are already
strained. I would not wish the the Common Loon to supplant the
Pacific Salmon as a potential casus belli.
Still, Mr Quinan retails an old and injurious fallacy, one
which acquires new currency with every retelling. I know it well,
having put it forth in my own defense in years past. I should
be very cross with myself, therefore, were I to let it stand
uncorrected.
The Common Loon is an inquisitive bird, to be sure. I, too,
have had loons approach me in order to satisfy their curiosity.
Like many another shy and wary creature, however, loons prefer
that they are the ones to make such advances. If they are
themselves approached, no matter how cautiously, they will, almost
invariable, become alarmed. Indeed, in much-frequented waters --
and Mr Quinan mentions that his lake plays host to numerous
ski-boats -- the resident loons exist in a state of chronic
alertness. It is in just such circumstances that it becomes imperative
to do nothing further to stress birds already debilitated by
repeated starts.
Binoculars, spotting scopes, telephoto lenses, parabolic
microphones -- the birder's arsenal bristles with tools to satisfy
a naturalist's curiosity at almost any distance. It is no more
necessary today to approach wild birds closely in order to reveal
the mysteries of their behaviour than it is compulsory to employ
a shotgun in order to confirm their identities. Such approaches
now belong to history. The world has moved on, and we must keep
pace. The birds have little enough time; we should give them what
space we can.
As for the water-skiers, well .... The Marine sergeant, whose
face I occasionally glimpse staring back at me from the foreign
country of my past, would have named the tools and remedies needed
here without hesitation; but I, today, have none to name.