Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2004 19:48:18 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Fred Pierce Subject: Birding motel in Chincoteague MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Since I'm sure many of you slip across the border into VA to visit A-teague refuge etc. I thought you'd be interested in this. The Assateague Inn, which you may know is the one overlooking the marsh that you see on leaving Assateague, has new owners. Even though it was a bit neglected, I've always enjoyed staying there for the convenience of birding from my dining table etc. The new owners, Peter and Chris Thompson (I think that's the last name) are doing a major overhaul and want to make it a birder's mecca. Chris doesn't know anything about birds but is eager to learn, and plans to add bird boxes, feeders, bird-friendly landscaping and anything else that might make the Inn more attractive to birds and birders. They're doing it not just because it's good business but appear genuinely interested in their surroundings and enhancing the environmental aspects of the property. I gave them one of my old field guides and plan to send them some information to help get started. If anyone knows of someone in the Chincoteague area who would be interested in advising them I hope you'll let me know. Also if you have the address of the VA equivilent of MOS or the OSPREY list that would be great too. Any other suggestions on what birders would like to see in a birding motel (sightings list, gathering area, info on nearby hotspots, what else?) would be appreciated. Probably best to reply off-list unless Norm thinks this would be of enough general interest. I will compile the information and pass it to them. Chris is planning to talk to the refuge folk but I think some potential "user" input would be very helpful. Thanks for any contributions. I think what they're planning is great and would like to see them succeed. fdp -------------------------------------------------------------------- Fred Pierce (DNRC)- fpierce@avialantic.com Mid-Atlantic Aviation on the Web - http://www.avialantic.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================