Date:         Sun, 13 Oct 2002 08:15:06 -0400
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Mary Alice Koeneke <mkoeneke@EROLS.COM>
Subject:      Re: American White Pelicans in DC, VA
In-Reply-To:  <5.1.0.14.2.20021013033031.01a2f8b8@popd.ix.netcom.com>
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Just some clarification here.  Some of the Potomac is in VA, the border runs
from the Jones Point Lighthouse through the river to a point near Fort Hunt.
Therefore, birds seen from Belle Haven Picnic Area, Dyke Marsh are in VA
waters and would be counted as VA birds.  Belmont Bay in Mason Neck State
Park is also VA waters.  Basically, the rest of the Potomac is MD waters
except for some portion I believe is considered part of DC.
Glenn Koppel
koppel@erols.com
Centreville, VA

-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM]On
Behalf Of Phil Davis
Sent: Sunday, October 13, 2002 3:43 AM
To: MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] American White Pelicans in DC, VA


Hi Rob -

Here's my take ... see below ...

At 10:20 10/12/2002 -0400, Rob Gibbs wrote:
>I have a question.  I'm interested in the discussion of Maryland waters
>vs DC waters, vs VA waters of the potomac.  DC I understand, however, I
>don't think there is any such thing as VA waters of the Potomac.  It is
>my understanding that Maryland claims the entire river - even to the
>point of the high water mark on the VA shore. This would make it
>possible for a bird to be standing on the Virginia shoreline of the
>river at low tide  and actually be in Maryland. Does anyone know any
>more about this?

This is all correct. It is my understanding that Virginia "retroceded" the
river back to MD and DC as a result of "the conflict between the north and
south", some 100+ years ago.

>I guess my other question is - for listing purposes,
>does one claim the bird based on where the observer is or where the bird
>is?  For example, if I'm in virginia looking into the Potomac River
>(Maryland) at a white pelican, is that a Virginia bird, a Maryland bird,
>or both?

The only listing "rules" are the ABA's for publishing their list totals.
Here is the ABA Listing Rule #1:

         Rule 1: within the prescribed area and time period when observed:

The official ABA interpretation of this rule is ...

         * A. Within means that the bird must be within the prescribed area
when observed, although the observer need not be. For example, if an
observer on the U.S. side of the Rio Grande identifies a bird across the
river on the Mexican side, the bird may be counted on his Mexican list but
not on his ABA Area list.

I know many of us have driven to Colonial Beach, VA to scan the Potomac
River for Saint Mary's County, MD waterfowl.

Hope this helps ...

Phil

==================================
Phil Davis      Davidsonville, Maryland     USA
                 mailto:PDavis@ix.netcom.com
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