[va-bird] Re: Occoquan NWR, January 21

Its great that you enjoyed your time at the Refuge.  I am so happy to hear
that it was a productive trip.  The interesting sidelight took me by
surprise though.  When you visit the refuge under the Special Use Permit,
it is understood and known by staff and volunteers that you are expected to
be there on the days you've scheduled.  Our hope is that you will not be
delayed in accessing the Refuge and your group will not be questioned by
our Law Enforcement Officer.  It provides the Refuge knowledge of your
scheduled activity and provides you specific information on what your group
will be able to do and where you may be able to go.   And again I must
emphasize that birding clubs are not targeted.  All groups (Researchers,
environmental education groups, programs involving nest boxes, groups
interested in sharing nature with others....the list could go on and on)
must obtain a special use permit prior to visiting the refuge.

Mr. Bowen, I really appreciate you working with us on this.  Because you
went through the proper channels and you went through the 'bureaucratic
hurdles', your group was not questioned or delayed when accessing the
Refuge and you enjoyed a great birding day.

Lets hope that all will follow your example and do things through the
proper channels.

Daffny Jones Hoskie
Assistant Manager
Potomac River NWR Complex
14344 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Woodbridge, VA  22191
(703)490-4979
(703)490-5631 [Fax]


                                                                           
             Michael Bowen                                                 
             <dhmbowen@xxxxxxx                                             
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                                       [va-bird] Occoquan NWR, January 21  
             01/22/2007 06:38                                              
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This is a somewhat tardy report of the trip to Occoquan NWR, Prince William
County, by members of the Montgomery Bird Club from Maryland, on Sunday,
1/21/07.

Highlights of this trip were 10 waterfowl species, including 2 hen Common
Goldeneye, a Red-breasted Merganser, several Hooded Merganser, and 3 Wood
Ducks.  There were thousands of Scaup, rafting and flying around, as
reported earlier by Jay Keller, whom we saw at the refuge.  We also had 8
Sparrow species, including American Tree, Field, and Swamp; a late Common
Yellowthroat, 3 Winter Wrens, a Brown Thrasher, and a brief but good view
of a single Rusty Blackbird.  Raptors were not plentiful but included 4
Bald Eagles, 4 Red-tailed Hawks, and a Northern Harrier harassing a perched
American Kestrel.

We had 47 species in total, not all of which were seen by everyone in the
group.  Our trip was brought to a premature end by snow, which drastically
cut down on visibility.

As an interesting sidelight, no one asked us to produce our Special Use
Permit, now required of all "organized groups" visiting the refuge.  We
did, of course, possess one, although I personally seriously question
whether the FWS refuge manager should be putting birding groups through
this particular bureaucratic hurdle.

Mike Bowen
Montgomery Bird Club
Maryland Ornithological Society



D. H. Michael Bowen (Mike)
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda MD 20817-3845
Tel/Fax: (301) 530-5764
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