Just one more comment before we beat this subject to death...
I did want to tell everyone that I spoke with at least 5 folks who live in
Creagerstown while I was looking for the "Lappy" who stoppped and asked with
genuine curiosity about the bird - and when I related some basic yet
interesting conjectures about how it got here they thanked me and drove off
smiling... a little information was all it took to give them a unique
"connection" to the world outside their window. One was a fireman, another
a local law enforcement official. Our friend who lives across from the
turkey farm on 550 calls us on our cell phone to give us updates.
Some of us who now live way out here chose to do so, others were born and
raised here, but hey - life is tough and we're all in this thing together.
As Red Green says, "keep yer stick on the ice!!"
I hav no idea what I meant by that.
hrrrmm... maybe I live a little TOO far out in the boonies...
********************************
Frank Boyle
Rohrersville, MD
********************************
-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Christian Kessler
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 9:27 PM
To:
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] country living, was Lapwing Warning!
thank you, very well said. jck
J. Steven Huy wrote:
>Some things you need to learn about country people:
>
>We are accustomed to traffic continuing on its way. Slowing or stopping
traffic is cause for concern; either a visitor or possible trouble. You
become attuned to the sounds of traffic and any interruption in the normal
flow tends to put nerves on edge to some degree, particularly when the
disruption continues. Someone stopped: do I need to put on some pants or get
the shotgun? In any case I need to stop what I am doing and check to see who
it is. The people in Creagerstown have been putting up with this for many
days and the stress is building, little by little.
>
>People in the country have different boundaries than those in the burbs.
Pulling into our drive is about like walking in your back door unexpected
and unannounced. The quiet has been broken and we are painfully aware of
your presence. So are the dogs and cats (and the watch parrot). In the burbs
its ok to have someone five feet from your window. In rural areas, you're
noticed and watched when you're within 500 feet.
>
>Not to mention other interruptions to normal life. I tend to not have much
concern with being dressed when at home. Can you imagine how I would feel
to come out of the shower and walk past the front window to see a dozen cars
and 20 scopes looking my way? Can you imagine how you would feel if I were
in your field of focus? (ICK!) Now think of how you would feel were that to
happen to you? And now you have to worry about it everyday for weeks?
>
>Many rural people work from home. As farmers or with their own businesses.
Open roads are important for them to get to and from work, whether to get to
the next field or to get the company van to the job site. Blocking roads
makes them late to work, or makes a bad day worse on the way home (think of
how you hate rush hour traffic). Even a partially blocked lane can seriously
impede a tractor or large truck.
>
>Sure a field is huge, it's just for crops and its muddy or grass and will
be tilled soon anyway. But it is still someone's property and it is their
right to determine what they do with it. Consider it a large yard and treat
it with respect. If you disagree I would be happy to park my SUV on your
lawn and look in your windows. I bet your cops won't be as patient as the
Frederick County Sheriff's Deputies.
>
>All the well meaning knocks on the door and thank-you letters won't mean
all that much beyond the first few. They don't want tire ruts on their lawns
or over Granny's resting place. They don't want to wait for ten people to
put their scopes away and move their cars so they can plow a field. These
people just want their quiet and solitude back.
>
>I am disappointed to see that some people feel these people are
over-reacting. Initial friendliness does not convey the right to trespass,
impede or disturb residents. It's being polite, and it is expected that you
return this courtesy when birding.
>
>--
>J. Steven Huy
>Middletown, MD, USA
>
>
>
>---- Frank Boyle <> wrote:
>
>=============
>I agree - with enthusiasm. I live close to Thurmont and have been up
>there several times to find the road blocked by cars - that's all it
>takes to tick off the locals. Look at it this way: how would you
>react if deer hunters showed up in your lovely suburban neighborhood
>one day and started parking their cars willy-nilly, and blocking the
>road? My guess is you'd be a little perturbed.
>
>
>
>Here's to hoping the Lapwing finds its way back home, and y'all can go
>to the zoo to see one.
>
>
>***********************
>Frank Boyle
>Rohrersville, MD
>
>***********************
>
>
>
>"The most powerful weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of
>the oppressed."
>- Stephen Biko
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
>Behalf Of J. Steven Huy
>Sent: 03/07/2005 12:37 PM
>To:
>Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Lapwing Warning!
>
>The bird is protected under the act:
>http://migratorybirds.fws.gov/intrnltr/mbta/mbtandx.html#alpha1
>
>But what should be getting under your skin is that this person has been
>made to feel this way at all. It's been the actions of some
>irresponsible birders that has put the bird in potential jeopardy.
>
>--
>J. Steven Huy
>Middletown, MD, USA
>
>
>
>---- Chris Starling <> wrote:
>
>=============
>Paul O'Brien wrote:
>
>"...About noon, the fellow that leases the land from the owner showed
>up in his truck. He hopped out and posted Private Property and No
>Trespassing signs, and set a large orange cone in the center of the
>drive. Before getting back into his truck, he told me to tell my
>friends (I guess that's you guys!) that if they drove up the drive,
>they would be arrested. With a real attitude, he informed me that he
>was going to "take care of the bird, then there won't be any more
>problems"! As he walked away, he said something about the bird not being a
protected species... "
>
>I would think that this WOULD be a "protected" speceis under the
>Federal Migratory Bird Act"?!!!?
>
>The bird is not an agriculture nusance like a crow, grackle, starling
>etc.... and it certainly not huntable.
>
>Isnt it illeagle to just arbitrarily shoot things!
>
>That comment really get under my skin!
>
>-Chris Starling
>
>_________________________________________________________________
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