Janet,
The bird is out of the water because it chooses to be out of the water
because it is not well. Putting it back in the water is not
necessarily "where it does want to be" (that is a human reaction, and we
certainly cannot ask the murre how it feels). Murres do want to be in
the water, but when they are not it is because they are unhealthy and
have chosen not to be in the water. Forcing it back into the water is
not helping it. Furthermore, touching and harassing the bird is
illegal. I am sorry that this might make some people uncomfortable,
but in this case according to Thom the bird was being harassed by beach
goers (he wrote me privately). What's disrespectful is what some of
the people did to it, and it is certainly not disrespectful to leave it
alone. I am a professional biologist, I have worked on the beach for
20 years, this is a rather common event. It is best to leave these
birds alone unless you know a professional who has the permits to deal
with birds.
Cheers
Dave Lauten
On 10/3/2015 8:10 AM, Janet Kelly wrote:
In Response: We as humans help wildlife all the time, spending millions of dollars to ensure their survival ( example: building structures, fish ladders, removing dams, saving stranded whales etc.). It couldn’t be any worse for it to just pick the bird up quickly and gently, no harassment and put it back in the water, where it does want to be, and let it go. It would not ensure it’s survival but it could save it also and allowing it to suffer like a fish out of water is disrespectful of a life.
Janet Kelly
Medford
> Subject: [obol] Re: Common Murre
> To: obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> From: deweysage@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2015 13:55:34 -0700
>
> Hello Thom
>
> Moribund Common Murres are fairly common on the beach, especially near
> nesting areas (although it is late for that). Unfortunately there are
> not enough rehab centers to take all the individuals in, and we should
> all be aware that nature needs to take it's course and it is survival of
> the fittest, no matter how difficult that is for some of us to accept.
>
> With that said, anyone harassing the bird is breaking the law. The birds
> are protected under various federal and state laws, they should be left
> alone, and no one should be attempting to return it to the water.
> Returning to the water does not ensure its survival, and if it wants to
> be in the water, it would be. It is out of the water for a reason.
>
> While I understand people want to help, most times help like this just
> makes the matter worse. The bird is already stressed. And I don't
> mean to be mean, but ignorance does the bird no good.
>
>
> Cheers
> Dave Lauten
>
>
> On 10/2/2015 12:39 PM, Thom wrote:
> > At Cannon Beach (Haystack Rock) around 11am today, low tide. An adult common murre was stranded on land in low tide. As you can imagine, it became a picture taking fiasco; so, I told folks to stop and let him get back to water.
> >
> > A couple guys insisted on forcing it to walk and even pushed it with their hands to get him to move; such ignorance but understand the allure.
> >
> > Anyway, how often does this occur? Is it common?
> >
> > By the time he got to water he was exhausted. Should I have picked him up and moved him to water?
> >
> > He eventually caught a wave back to the Sea and I believe he was home again.
> >
> > -tom
> >
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> >
>
>
>
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