There is no change to the general information. The Monday access
information follows the general information. - Gene
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Birders can make arrangements to ride the Maryland Environmental Service
(MES) boat to the Hart-Miller Island Dredged Material Containment Facility
on weekends only. Reservations are required. The boat travels to the
island most, but not all, weekends. The boat leaves the mainland at 7:00
a.m. and leaves the island at 5:00 p.m. A walking circuit, beginning and
ending at the island boat dock, covers 6 to 8 miles depending on the route
taken. The circuit is mostly level and is slowly walked over 10 hours. The
only shelter is at the administration building, where there are rest rooms
and water available. All food, water, clothing, and optics must be carried.
Spotting scopes are a necessity. Wear a hat and long pants, and carry sun
block and insect repellent during warm weather. Tennis shoes are adequate.
Conditions in the summer can be extremely hot, humid, and still.
To arrange to bird at the Hart-Miller Island Dredged Material Containment
Facility contact Gene Scarpulla after 7 p.m. at (410) 388-0852 or at
no later than the Thursday evening prior to the weekend
that you wish to visit the island. Gene usually does a weekly bird survey
of the island every Saturday. For safety reasons, "first-timers" to the
island must be accompanied by either Gene Scarpulla or another birder who is
experienced with the island.
MONDAY ACCESS
Gene Scarpulla will check with MES on Friday mornings to see whether or not
there will be a boat running on Saturday to the Hart-Miller Island Dredged
Material Containment Facility. If there is not a boat on Saturday, birders
will be allowed to access the island on the following Monday. Here are the
conditions:
*Monday access is only allowed after a Saturday without a boat run.
*There will not be birder access on Holiday Mondays.
*The maximum number of Monday birders is 6, but could be less depending on
whether or not both boats are in operation and whether or not contractors
will be going to the island. It is possible that there could be no space
for birders on some Mondays. (This would all be determined on the preceding
Friday.)
*Since there will be a full MES crew and possible contractors working on
Mondays, birders need to be extra cautious due to the heaver amount of
equipment traffic on the island.
*Birders will need to be at the landbase boat dock no later than 6:45 a.m.
The boat will be leaving promptly at 7:00 a.m.
*On most Mondays, there will be two return trips from the island to
landbase --- 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
*When you contact Gene Scarpulla to reserve a spot for Saturday or Monday,
you will need to specify Saturday, Monday, or both.
___________________
Gene Scarpulla
Millers Island, Maryland
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