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Subject:

Hart-Miller Island Saturday/Monday Access

From:

"Eugene J. Scarpulla"

Reply-To:

Eugene J. Scarpulla

Date:

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:47:51 -0400

There is no change to the general information.  The Monday access 
information follows the general information. - Gene
_____________________

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