Paul's description of trouble makers at Hughes Hollow is
disturbing. I noticed damage (vandalism?) to the notice board the
last time I was there but had not seen any rogue shooters.
Does the Maryland DNR have a telephone number that could be called if
birders notice any irresponsible or illegal activity in this
WMA? Presumably the DNR Natural Resources Police has policing
jurisdiction at Hughes Hollow. But I don't believe I've ever seen
one of their vehicles here -- if so, it was a long while ago. Where
is the nearest NRP police barracks, I wonder?
Mike Bowen
Montgomery Bird Club, MOS
At 11:15 AM 8/12/2009 -0400, Paul Woodward wrote:
>10 August
> You would think that during the week in summer and on the hottest day
>of the year you could bird at Hughes Hollow in peace and quiet, but that
>wasn't the case today as I started the day in an unpleasant fashion.
>As soon as I pulled into the parking lot I saw a car there that had trouble
>makers on July 3- two kids with guns walking into the fields. I wasn't in a
>position then to track them down, but today is was no problem since they
>were on the dike firing their guns. Quickly caught up with them and saw
>they had a high power rifle (illegal here). Ask them what they were doing.
>Said they were shooting geese. Explained to them that that wasn't legal
>either and told them to leave, which they did. This was the third time in
>my last ten trips in the last month I have had unpleasant experiences here
>and makes me wonder if it even worth birding here anymore.
> After following the shooters back to their car as they were mumbling
>under their breath, I drove off to the middle parking lot and walked through
>the fields to the towpath then west to the hiker-biker and then back through
>the fields again. This is the time of year that there are more insects
>calling than birds and also when the sunflower food plots start attracting
>goldfinch and doves. The only plot I checked had 28 AM. GOLDFINCH and no
>doves. The river was almost birdless and there was no sign of stargrass
>mats.
> Returned to the impoundments which were quiet also although I did see 2
>GREAT EGRETS , 5 WOOD DUCKS, 4 E. PHOEBES, and a family of E. BLUEBIRDS.
>Heard a trilling song briefly which may have been a Pine Warbler. I found
>no evidence that the shooters had killed any birds.
> At one time Rough-winged Swallows were common on the wires along
>River Rd, but recently they have become very uncommon. Coming in I had one,
>two hours later there were 8 and when I left there were all of 10.
>
>Paul Woodward
>Fairfax City, VA
>
D.H. Michael Bowen
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda, MD 20817
Telephone: (301) 530-5764
e-mail: dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom
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