Of importance. FYI.  
 
Mark Hoffman 
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry 
 
-----Original Message----- 
From:  
Date: Sun, 26 Dec 2010 21:10:50  
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Subject: OC count canceled 
 
Due to the terrible Nor'easter of today, I regret to have to cancel  the  
Ocean City Count for Tuesday, Dec. 28.  The primary reason is observer   
safety--there will be few, if any, places to park cars on sides of any  roads or  
even in driveways by Tuesday afternoon.  A verbal report from  Ocean Pines  
was already that they had 12-14" of snow at dark and it  was still coming down  
at 8 PM.  Worcester County has little snow moving  equipment.  Side roads  
may see a plow by late Monday or sometime on  Tuesday, but there will be no  
place for birders to safely park to walk the  roads.  I regret having to do  
this, but safety is paramount.  
  
I would ask that you telephone any friends who were planning to work with   
you to make sure nobody heads to the OC area on Monday.  Especially, if   
anyone is currently out of town on holiday and you can reach them by cell  
phone,  etc.  We do not do this lightly.  As I mentioned in a previous email   
today the largest snowfall we had on any previous count was 8", and I can   
remember that was good birding but not fun!  It appears from all reports  that  
probably a total of 15-16" may fall in the eastern half of Worcester County   
before it ends later tonight or tomorrow. 
  
The NEXT option is whether to hold the count the following week, if at   
all????  I see only three options: 
  
1)  Try again in December 2011--That is, no count this  winter! 
  
2)  hold it on the following Tuesday, January 4, 2011. 
  
3)  hold the count on the following Wednesday, January 5, 2011. 
  
  
January 5 is the last date we can hold any Christmas Bird Count according   
to the rules of the National Audubon Society.  Other counts in our region   
are scheduled the rest of the current week through Sunday, Jan. 2. 
  
Please advise me if you would be available to do the count on the 4th  or  
5th, if at all, by this coming Thursday evening, Dec. 30.  I will send  out  
another announcement re the date for the OC count, if any, by Friday   
afternoon, Dec. 31, via another email.  My guess is that perhaps half the  people  
might be able to make it next week. 
  
I will be contacting the Quality Inn immediately tomorrow AM to see if we   
can move our reservations there to the following week at the same  rate. 
  
My apologies for this action, but I feel I have no choice in the  matter.   
I know many of you look forward to participating on this count  each year  
and will have many obligations next week. 
  
Regretfully, 
  
Jay