Whenever I hear of encounters like this, I feel a mixture of sadness 
and anger ... what it means, in a very trite and overused saying, is 
that the terrorists have won!

Prior to 9/11, this interaction would not have happened (except at 
Dover AFB, but that's another story ...) and now, after 9/11, we 
birders have been deprived of something that we had before. Not to 
say that security implications aren't important or necessary, but we 
should have the ability to "sign in" or somehow otherwise register, 
to be able to continue an activity that we used to enjoy ... and 
preferably not have to pay $50/hr for a security escort, as is now 
the case on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel. In an analogous 
fashion, we all can still fly on commercial aircraft, albeit with a 
myriad of regulations and processes; however, when it comes to 
certain birding locations, we are just totally shutdown ... Sigh ...

Phil


At 18:56 08/13/2010, Colin McAllister wrote:
>Please be cautious ... I was just trying to view the airport grounds 
>from Fooks Rd., south of the airport, and I was asked to leave by a 
>MD state trooper ...he stated "its probably not the best idea to 
>look over a secure area with binoculars, when there are no planes 
>coming or going ...  I should probably look for birds elsewhere".
>(snip)

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Phil Davis      Davidsonville, Maryland     USA
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