Date: Sun, 4 Feb 2001 12:21:30 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Michael Bowen Subject: Inconsiderate birders Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed I'm passing on this extract from the most recent hot-line report for Duluth, Minnesota, with the comment that even in an area with (relative to ours) rather few birders, some people still seem to have an attitude that respecting property rights is something that pertains only to other people. To me, the really disturbing thing about this report is Kim Eckert's fear that irresponsible behavior by a few people could jeopardize the status of bona fide raptor researchers, who for many years ave had special permission to be on some of these private areas around Duluth and Superior harbors, which is where the rodents -- and therefore the raptors -- are. >Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore >Date: February 1, 2001 >Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) >Reports: (218) 525-5952 >Compiler: Kim Eckert (kreckert@cp.duluth.mn.us) >Transcriber: Kim Eckert (kreckert@cp.duluth.mn.us) > >This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, February 1, sponsored by >the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. > >Permission has again been granted for birders to enter the Cargill grain >elevator property in the Duluth harbor this weekend, Feb 3-4, to look for >that GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH, which has been present since Jan 13. >However, this permission was only extended reluctantly by Roger Juhl, the >grain elevator superintendent, since some inconsiderate birders have been >trespassing on the property on weekdays, despite repeated announcements on >this Report that birders have permission to enter the property on SATURDAY >AND SUNDAY ONLY, NOT MONDAY-FRIDAY. In addition, some birders have been >wandering unnecessarily around the property into areas where the bird has >never been seen. Again, for the fourth time, here are the conditions under >which birders can look for the rosy-finch: > >1) Park by the No Trespassing sign next to the railroad tracks just east of >Garfield Ave, and walk -- do NOT drive -- the 200 yards up the road which >leads to the tallest part of the elevator with the green-and-white Cargill >logo. > >2) Look for the bird feeding on spilled grain on or near this road on the >west side of the elevator; if the bird is not there, walk about 100 yards >to the left (north) and look for it roosting with House Sparrows by the >brick office building. This is now the ONLY AREA where birders are >permitted to go -- do NOT walk through to the east or north sides of the >elevator. Note that mornings are preferable to afternoons. > >3) Birders have permission at this time to enter the property ONLY this >Saturday and Sunday, Feb 3-4. Again, do NOT enter the property at any time >Monday-Friday, even if there is no worker or truck activity. Do NOT assume >yet that birders will again have permission next weekend, Feb 10-11; if >they do, this will be announced on the Feb 8 Birding Report. > >Cargill -- more specifically Superintendent Juhl -- is generously making an >exception to normal operating procedures by allowing birders on the >property, and this could easily end if there are more weekday trespassing >incidents. Duluth birders, as well as Snowy Owl and Peregrine Falcon >researchers and banders, have long been permitted near the docked ships, >railroad yards and other facilities in the Duluth-Superior harbor, but this >favorable situation may not have a future if Cargill's hospitality is >abused. [REST OF HOT-LINE NOT REPRODUCED . . . . ] D.H. Michael Bowen 8609 Ewing Drive Bethesda MD 20817 (Montgomery County) Tel.: (301)530-5764 dhmbowen@yahoo.com _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================