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Every few years, beautiful two-foot-tall snowy owls migrate south in impressive numbers from the Arctic, in what bird watchers call an "irruption." But this year, the regal-looking birds (which belong to the same species as Harry Potter's Hedwig) are showing up farther south and in greater numbers than ever before.
A snowy owl makes the trip from the Arctic to Hawaii, where it is promptly shot
Seeded on Wed Feb 8, 2012 5:02 PM EST
Article Source: io9
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- Public Discussion (21)
"One showed up at the airport in Hawaii, and they shot it," said Holt in astonishment. "It's the first ever in Hawaii and they shot it!"
For those wondering what could possibly compel somebody to take down a majestic, never-before-seen white owl: the bird was apparently killed on Thanksgiving when federal officials feared it would interfere with landings and takeoffs. This, of course, demanded nothing short of immediate, life-snuffing action.
- 5 votes
#1 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 5:03 PM ESTThis just points out the increasing idiocy of the federal aviation officials. Instead of shooing the owl away, they decided that it deserved death. Why haven't those PETA nuts been complaining about this? I see nothing ethical in killing the one and only white owl Hawaii has ever seen; in fact quite the opposite!
- 4 votes
#2 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 9:43 PM ESTIt wasn't very brilliant for them to shoot the owl, that's for sure...
- 4 votes
There are some seeds that make me angry. This seed made me totally sad. What the f...? I'm hoping some one lost their job over this one! One lousy owl is going wreak havoc at an airport?
Sad, sad, sad.
- 5 votes
#3 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 10:21 PM ESTIt's very sad. I see stories all too often involving wildlife and humans that make me sad.
- 3 votes
yes one owl can "wreak havoc" at an airport(as can any bird that size)...it can get hit by a planes windshield and cause extensive damage and and or get into the engine and cause damage when a aircraft is taking off or landing.......I am suprised they didn't try to "scare" it away with air cannons 1s.....
It really seems like they could have scared it away... There our a lot of big birds in the area where I live, including hawks and eagles. They never tried to scare them away or anything, and there has been no accidents from them. I think they over reacted in Hawaii.
- 3 votes
The Hawaiian Owl is sacred on the islands so I would think that someone that was ignorant of how we honor our wildlife was not aware of this fact. I think over reaction was the problem, but there isn't a lot of information here for this article. I wish they'd stated which airport as Hawaii is made up of 8 islands.
- 3 votes
#4 - Sat Feb 11, 2012 12:06 PM ESTIt was Thanksgiving Day and a white Snowy Owl from the Arctic was fluttering around the runways at Honolulu International Airport.
How it made its way from its native habitat is unknown, but the day would not end well for the owl that local officials say could be the first to grace Hawaii’s shores.
By mid-day it lay dead, felled by a gunshot wound from an official working for the USDA’s Wildlife Services Division.
It was on Oahu. I don't see how anyone could defend killing the owl like this, but some people apparently think it was ok. :(
- 2 votes
McSpocky, I should have explained Ponopono for you, I thought js would follow up. Sorry. I have atached a link explaining ponopono. It is how we live. It is how we fix problems and begin healing. I am not Hawaiian only in my heart.
Ponopono is defined as “to put to rights; to put in order or shape, correct, revise, adjust, amend, regulate, arrange, rectify, tidy up, make orderly or neat.”
Here is the Link. Someone in the Islands must call for this action. There has to be healing on this issue. Owls are very respected as life itself in Hawaii. These is and was wrong. Remember the Islands are the most distant land mass from any other land masses. Planes travel great distances and fuel is an issue. Just guessing logically here. No matter I don't make excuses this still needs to be fixed. Those in Hawaii know how to fix this and start the healing process. No, this won't help the owl but may prevent something like that from happening again.
- 2 votes
#5 - Sun Feb 12, 2012 7:27 PM ESTI am not Hawaiian only in my heart.
I am not Hawaiian but feel that way too in my heart, even though it has been a long time since I lived there. :)
There really wasn't any good reason, or logical reason for doing that. There are larger birds like that around many airports and they don't go out shooting them... I really don't understand why they decided to kill that owl.
- 1 vote
McSpocky, I would almost bet it wasn't an Hawaiian pulled that trigger. Someone within the U.S. Government. Hawaiians don't live that way. That is why I am calling on them to fix this. It makes me want to pick up the phone and ask the good Senator from Hawaii to fix this and make sure it never happens again. It is a black eye on all the people of Hawaii, how we live, teach and not in the spirit of Aloha. JMO
McSpocky, And if you are Hawaiian in your heart you understand.
- 1 vote
McSpocky..I just found this but I am not signed in as a member...But keep your eye on this as other media pick it up. Just as I thought someone from the U.S. Government pulled that trigger. No Hawaiian would do that as it is not in the spirit of the Hawaiian ways.Hawaiians try and live in harmony with the "aina". I have attached what I saw from today's "Star Advertiser".
Owl's killing is defended as necessary for air safety
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jan 25, 2012
at Honolulu Airport after Department of Transportation spokesman defended federal officials Tuesday for shooting a snowy owl -- described as the first seen in Hawaii -- at Honolulu Airport after the owl apparently made its way from the Arctic to the islands.
"These guys are unsung heroes," said Dan Meisenzahl, transportation spokesman, referring to biologists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services who killed the owl. "These guys are a little broken up that they had to do it." Login for more...
- 1 vote
How sickening... I guess I should have expected that they would defend their actions like that. If that's the way those officials think, there are a lot of other airports where they would probably want to bring on an army to kill all the birds of prey. What nonsense...
- 1 vote
McSpocky, You can delete the above. When I pulled this article up the newspaper showed todays date at the top of the page and it said Tuesday. I read the article and it didn't click that the date showing Jan, 25,2012 was the date of this article. This is NOT new news or a new update. My apologies to you and I will read and review more carefully in the future.
- 1 vote
#6 - Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:56 AM ESTNo problem, I'll leave it... It does explain a little more than the info we had.
- 1 vote
McSpocky, I have some emails written on this and they are ready to send. I was hoping someone in Hawaii would address this issue. I believe like you on this one. Their position is very weak and the statements to justify their actions almost laughable. I have learned in the Isalnds you just need to get the messages to the right people and they will make sure it is addressed. So being respectful to the leadership of Hawaii it is my hope they address this issue. The killing of this owl cannot be justified. IMO It makes me wonder who was so important on one of those planes arriving or leaving?
- 1 vote
#7 - Sat Feb 18, 2012 11:08 AM ESTI think that is a great idea, Wise Wizard. I'm sure there has to be someone who would listen.
- 1 vote
McSpocky, Hence the statement we use quite often " Small Island"...If you don't know them someone you know knows them.
- 1 vote
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