Date: 9/2/12 8:16 pm
From: Peter Kaestner <pgkaestner...>
Subject: [MDBirding] Hurlock WWTP -- access restricted


While entering the HWWTP on Saturday afternoon I was approached by a couple in a large, white pickup truck.��The driver�asked what I was doing and I explained I was birding.� He said that I did not have permission, and I explained that the last time I visited (last week) I had asked if it was OK to walk in and was told by the worker that there was no problem.� The man, who eventually said that the was the boss of the plant, said that he and the mayor of Hurlock had decided that they were not going to allow any birders access except for during work hours, from 6am to 2pm, M-F.� He asked me to spread the news to the birding community�"through the Internet." �I turned around and left.�

As the boss�locked the gate on the way out, I approached him and suggested that Hurlock could benefit from the birders, since the WWTP puts Hurlock on the map and attracts hundreds of people to their community.� I suggested that he and the mayor might benefit by�finding ways of balancing the risk of people entering the WWTP with the�advantages of attracking people to the area.� He seemed�somewhat receptive.� Is there someone in the MOS or oin the Eastern Shore who could reach out to the mayor and see if we can keep this destination open on weekends?

Peter Kaestner
Falls Church, VA

--