Gene
You spend the extra money on carbon-fiber tripods because of the weight and 
stability.  If lightning gets that close to you no tripod will protect you.
George

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eugene J. Scarpulla" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2005 6:55 PM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Hart-Miller Island: A Reflection


> Bill,
>
> In answer to your questions:
>
>> Is there a recent (less than 5 years) summary of your counts to be found 
>> in Maryland Birdlife?
> Don't get me started on Maryland Birdlife.  (Rumor has it that it is the 
> journal of the Maryland Ornithological Society.)
>
>> Does Manomet make site-specific data available to birders?
> I am not sure.
>
>> Have you tabulated earliest arrivals, latest departures, and high counts 
>> of Hart-Miller shorebirds?
> Not as yet.
>
>> Can you tell us how your count data are being used?
>
> The primary use of the data has been its use in the decision making 
> process to restore the South Cell into wetland habitat for migrating 
> shorebirds and nesting terns.  It also is being used to monitor the 
> success of the restoration.  The data goes to the U.S. Army Corps of 
> Engineers and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
>
> The data was also instrumental in Hart-Miller Island being named a 
> Maryland-DC Important Bird Area by Audubon Maryland-DC.
>
> Data has also been used for specific research projects:
> Manomet Bird Observatory - International Shorebird Survey (ongoing)
> Patuxent Wildlife Research Center - Coastal Plain Swamp Sparrow Survey 
> (2000)
> University of Connecticut - Greater Scaup Network (pre-2000)
> Yale University - Phragmites research (pre-2000)
>
>> Are carbon-fiber composite tripods less conductive than aluminum ones?
> I will try the Ben Franklin test.  I will buy a carbon-fiber tripod and 
> take both tripods to the island and hold one in each hand during a 
> thunderstorm.
>
>> Do you take DEET with your coffee on Saturday mornings?
> I haven't used DEET since 1988 when I developed a sensitivity to it (and 
> citronella).  Since then, I have tried regular Skin-So-Soft, Vick's 
> VapoRub, lavender-scented wrist bands, and dryer sheets with little or no 
> success.  I usually just wear layers of clothing.  (In June 2000, I did a 
> Coastal Plain Swamp Sparrow survey in Black Marsh for Patuxent.  The 
> temperature was in the 90s and I was wearing long johns under my regular 
> clothes to keep the hoards of biting flies from biting me.)  I am anxious 
> to try the new REPEL Lemon Eucalyptus insect repellent that was just 
> tested by Consumer Reports. It contains no DEET and Consumer Reports says 
> that it works.
>
> Gene
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bill Ellis" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2005 5:08 PM
> Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Hart-Miller Island: A Reflection
>
>> Is there a recent (less than 5 years) summary of your counts to
>> be found in Maryland Birdlife?
>
>> Does Manomet make site-specific data available to birders?
>
>> Have you tabulated earliest arrivals, latest departures, and high
>> counts of Hart-Miller shorebirds?
>
>> Can you tell us how your count data are being used?
>
>> Are carbon-fiber composite tripods less conductive than aluminum
>> ones?
>
>> Do you take DEET with your coffee on Saturday mornings?
>