Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2001 10:22:34 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Gail Mackiernan Subject: Re: war and Conowingop and atlas In-Reply-To: <3BCC2375.C6E7D207@home.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Hi all -- I am wondering if the security measures at Conowingo will also invlove restriction of car and (especially) truck traffic across the dam, or approach beyond a certain point by boat from the Pool.If not, clsoing Fisherman's Park will not accomplish too much to ensure security for the dam. Having travelled to Israel last year, one thing I noted was the extreme vigilance of security people, coupled with a rather rational approach to what could be accessed and what could not be by the visitor. I think a lot of current closings are overreactions, while at the same time, obvious vulnerable areas are wide open. Probably in the next few months some sort of region-wide plan will come into effect, but right now there are a lot of snap decisions which (as with Conowingo) seen to be "straining at gnats but swallowing camels." Of course we can expect military bases to remain closed for some time, although I agree with Sherry that we should be able to obtain access for research after appropriate security checks. I participated in biological studies in some of the most (at the time) secure areas of Aberdeen in the 1980s, but it took 4 months to get security clearance! (And I worked for the Army). We were escorted by Army Rangers at all times, btw. As a frequent overseas traveller, I was also NOT pleased to read in the Post that the FAA has found that devices meant to be used to more thoroughly screen luggage at many airports were still not being employed routinely (after Sept. 11) and in some cases, were sitting in packing cases! Gail Mackiernan Colesville, MD On Tue, 16 Oct 2001, Sherry Peruzzi wrote: > I would hope that if an MOS official contacts the commanding officer or security officer in charge of each of these areas, that special permission could be gained for one specific individual to access these areas for the purpose of scientific study. If they can be made to understand what the project is and why it is important to the scientific community, it's possible they might allow a "citizen-scientist" to come into the area at certain times during the year. If we're open to any conditions > they might want to attach, such as restrictions, background checks, or whatever, we're more likely to be successful. > > When the tragedy first happened last month, I considered myself very fortunate that no one I knew was involved. Since then the extent to which all of our lives are going to change has been becoming more and more apparent. I don't think it's wise to delay the atlasing project a year in the expectation or hope that access to places like APG and Conowingo Dam will be reopened. As has been demonstrated in Israel, Northern Ireland and too many other places around the globe, once terrorism starts it is > a threat that never goes away. I think the closing of sensitive areas will get worse before it gets better, and we may never see them freely and easily accessible again. > > Sherry Peruzzi > Columbia, Howard County > bookworms@home.com > > > "rick@blazie.net" wrote: > > > The effects of the September 11 attack and the response has rippled out until it touches even bird watching. Military facilities such as Aberdeen Proving Ground are clsoed to bird watchers, as is Conowingo Dam. I do not doubt that many other public and private lands are likewise closed. > > This could go on for some time, even years. Certainly there has been discussion here in harford about APG and the general concensus is that it will be at least a year and it could be more. I suppose heightened security will vary from site to site but it doesn't appear likely that there will be a rapid resolution. > > My question concerns the Breeding Bird Atlas, scheduled to begin officially on January 1, although most field work will start until mid to late spring. Has anyone thought about the effect of all these closing on the atlas? Many pieces of land will be off limits and in many blocks in the Baltimore/Washington Corridor those facilities are about all the habitat there is. In addition, there are a good number of government installations in Maryland, not just those associated with the military. > > Is any effort being made to assess the problem? Is there a preliminary list of sites that field workers probably won't be allowed on to and has anyone thought about getting in touch with the people in charge to find out if security will prohibit atlassing? > > If this situation continues for more than a year the possible effect on the atlas could be severe, especially if the results are compared to the previous effort. Is it possible that, the goal being a first-class atlas, that initation should be delayed a year? > > I don't have answers, just questions, which arose out of conversations with a number of Maryland bird watchers. > > Does anyone know of any other closed birding spots? Sewage plant? > > > > Rick > > > > Eirik A.T. Blom > > 4318 Cowan Place > > Belcamp, Md 21017 > > 410-575-6086 > > rick@blazie.net > > > > ======================================================================= > > To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com > > with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey > > ======================================================================= > > ======================================================================= > To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com > with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey > ======================================================================= > ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================