Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 16:16:55 -0700 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: teresa layne Subject: Re: Safety in the Park In-Reply-To: <6FBAF0F2D082D511833800105A9CBAC77ACF80@EXCHANGE> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Don't want to sound scary, but with all due respect, I don't think it is ever wise for a woman to go birding or hiking alone for more than one reason: a) if she has an unexpected fall or injury or medical emergency, there will be no one to assist her or go for help (this, of course, could relate to any male birder also.) and b) the Levy case is a cautionary tale to all of us, but especially women. Women (whether we like to admit it or not) are vulnerable and particularly more so when we are alone in a secluded area where no one can hear our cries for help. Parking garages are a primary location for assault, and you generally have people around from time to time, and birding may be much more secluded. I would suggest taking at least one other person and maybe some mace or pepper spray just in case. Terri Layne tlaynewashdc@yahoo.com Denise Ryan wrote: Question regarding safety in Rock Creek Park. Since there are a good number of people on this list serve that visit Rock Creek Park to bird on a regular basis, I have to ask if anyone has ever had a problem with their personal safety around the ridge, maintenance yard or nature center. Since this area including the National Zoo are my Atlas Block I am concerned about my safety and the safety of all visitors in light of the Levy case. I also have never felt uncomfortable or threatened birding this area during daylight hours, I don't see why I should change my life -- using a reasonable amount of common sense and caution and bringing a friend or two when I can drag them out of bed. If you have ever had a problem in the area I would really appreciate knowing what happened and where off line since I'll be spending many hours here during the Atlas project. Many thanks. Denise Ryan Washington, DC -----Original Message----- From: Clive Harris [mailto:clivegharris@YAHOO.COM] Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2002 9:19 AM To: MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM Subject: [MDOSPREY] Olive-sided Flycatcher at Rock Creek An Olive-sided Flycatcher was at the Maintenance Yard c 6:30 AM today - it spent a few minutes on one of the dead snags before being chased off by, of all things, a Cowbird. Small numbers of thrushes around (including a singing Grey-cheeked near the Nature Center) and a few warblers but otherwise I couldn't find much else. The area around the Nature Center and the Maintenance Yard was open but the road down to the large open picnic area (I forget the number but I think everyone knows which one I am talking about)was closed - with a police car at the barrier - presumably due to the Levy investigation. Regards Clive Harris __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience http://launch.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 ======================================================================= ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= --------------------------------- Do You Yahoo!? ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience =========================================================================