FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Sharps Ridge Closed (fwd)

[K Dean EDWARDS <kde@xxxxxxx>]

I'm forwarding an email sent to KTOS members by David Trently below.
The topic has been a matter of discussion amongst Knoxville birders
for a few weeks now but hasn't been mentioned on TN-Birds.

Due to the homeland security level being raised to 'orange', Sharp's
Ridge Memorial Park in Knoxville is closed to prevent access to the
communications towers located there.  The Knoxville Police Department
has an officer stationed at the entrance to the park to prevent
unauthorized access.

Dan and Laurie Mooney from KTOS have negotiated with the Knoxville
Police Department and obtained limited access to the park for the
Knox County Spring Count and the TOS Spring Meeting.  There will only
be one field trip allowed to Sharps Ridge during the TOS Spring
Meeting.  As mentioned below, it will be limited to 40 people and
all attending are subject to searches of their vehicle and person
before entry is allowed.  We will have a police escort while we are
in the park.

If the threat level is reduced, the park will be reopened.

Dean Edwards
Knoxville, TN



---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2003 16:38:03 -0400
From: dtrently <dtrently@xxxxxxx>
To: dtrently <dtrently@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Sharps Ridge Closed

This announcement should have gone out over a week ago. There's been so much
discussion among certain people that I failed to realize a general
announcement had not been made, and some people haven't heard about the
closing.

Whenever the US is under Orange Alert status, Sharps Ridge will be closed. Our
best migration birding access point is unavailable to us, except for a group
limited to 40 people during the TOS Spring Meeting, and one birder during the
Knox County Spring Bird Count on April 27.

The best alternative may be the Richmond Hill area - north of Middlebrook
Pike, east of Liberty Street. There is a reservoir and cemetery up there.
Birds there can be the same as on Sharps Ridge, but it is a much smaller place
and so there are fewer birds, but...

The Thursday morning field trips are cancelled, and the April 26 Public Bird
walk is now going to be held at Ijams Nature Center.

More info will come vie email, and at the Ijams Birding Hotline. The number is
in your newsletter.

David Trently
President, KTOS

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