I think it's important for birders to make purchases at stores near 
birding areas.
It helps the cause to show that we support local economies. I am sure part
of the reason that nursery is friendly to birders is that so many who 
stopped by
have bought something there.

New Jersey produced a great birding tourism book that includes 
tear-out "calling cards"
to give to stores and restaurants. They read "I stopped by because of the
New Jersey Birding & Wildlife Trails." The book credits include the NJ DOT,
which provided the funding, NJ Audubon Society, NJ Dept. of Environmental
Protection, and NJ Office of Travel and Tourism.

Maybe MOS can suggest a similar project to the state of Maryland?


At 09:30 AM 8/20/2006, Michael Bowen wrote:
>Helen Patton, Joy Bowen and I were at the nursery on several 
>occasions yesterday, Saturday 8/19, but did not sight the Collared 
>Dove at all.  . . .
>
>We didn't come away empty handed, though.  We purchased some very 
>attractive ceramic pots.  It's a very nice nursery, and the people 
>there seem very friendly to birders.

--Pat

Pat Valdata, Elkton, MD | 
"The natural function of the wing is to soar upwards
and carry that which is heavy up to the place where dwells the race of gods.
More than any other thing that pertains to the body
it partakes of the nature of the divine." --Plato