I don't think it would be a good idea for MOST birders to follow Jim's suggestion about offering help. Even if you have substantial experience as a farm hand or whatever, individual farmers have individual methods of doing their chores, which you will not know. The effort needed to supervise even a knowledgeable, but unfamiliar volunteer is usually just not worth the trouble. And, it might seem like an attempt to get onto the property to film or take samples to be used against the property owner later in court. So, I would suggest that most of us steer clear of this type of offer.
Another point is that there is some advantage to being the first to call the police. It might not be an over-riding advantage if the police are very local and you are not. But, if a person approaches you with a gun while you are on public property, I would suggest that you first leave that area for your own safety, then use your cell phone to call the police and report it for the safety of everybody else. There is a tendency for landowners to lump various types of outsiders together and ASSUME that they talk among themselves. So, a landowner who is already somewhat "near the edge" may go "over the edge" with additional visits by different birders, even though the second, third or whatever number visitor may have no idea about the previous encounters. Brandishing a gun in Maryland is usually taken as quite a serious offense. Having the police talk to the landowner should have a restraining effect if it is not done while you are standing your ground and refusing to leave. At least getting the landowners bad behavior on the police blotter may help with future events if they escalate.
Steve Long
----- Original Message -----
From: James Speicher
To: Maryland Birding Birding
Sent: Monday, March 25, 2013 10:06 AM
Subject: Re: Fwd: [MDBirding] Re: Private property problems
I'm not in agreement with Jason that it has been concluded that it is a fine idea to go to this location. Legally, certainly within the limits that might vary based on the view of local law enforcement concerning vehicles stopped along roadways/shoulders. However, i do have a suggestion for those who will go:
If you are confronted by the angry/defensive property owner, you might ask him if there is anything you can do to help him out today. The first 1/2 dzn times he is asked, he might have the same reply "Get off my property, " but after that who knows, it may turn him around...
Jim Speicher
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