Re: [birdnet] Trash pygmy owl?

["Robin Tuck" <robin at utahnature dot com>]

Pygmy Owls have been really hard to find in past years, causing most of us
to search to find them, mostly to no avail.  This past year, sightings have
increased, either due to more owls being present or to us becoming better at
finding them.  At one of the Utah County Birders meetings, one of our better
birders stated they were "almost as plentiful at trash birds", in a
reference to Starlings.  The whole idea that such a magnificent bird as a
Northern Pygmy Owl could be a trash bird was humorous to us all, and we took
to calling them a 'trash bird' whenever they were seen.  As sightings picked
up more of us called them 'trash birds' to poke fun at the birder that first
said it.

It's probably time we stopped calling them that, but the term has never been
used in derision.  Because we have seen so many, I have chosen this little
owl to be the symbol of the year 2000 birding contest.

I hope this explains it.  Dennis would probably never forgive me if I told
you who started this 'trash bird' deal.

Robin Tuck


- ----- Original Message -----
From: "cldavis" <cldavis@xmission.com>
To: <birdnet@utahbirds.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2001 10:12 AM
Subject: Trash pygmy owl?


> This is at least the second time I've read in the postings the pygmy owl
> being referred to as "trash".  Why?
> Carol Davis
>
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