[va-bird] Potomac Overlook Park (and Snakes)

VA-Birders,
   
  My family and I visited Potomac Overlook RP in Arlington last Saturday, and 
figured there were folks out there who were interested in those numbers, pasted 
below.  Now that this post is "legal" regarding Virginia birding, I will get on 
my soapbox for a minute.
   
  I feel sorry for anyone who can come on this board and proclaim that he or 
she kills any species of snake on site.  This persistent and unjustified 
ignorant behavior should be roundly dismissed and not tolerated.  So how many 
of these people have ever been bitten by a snake?  Very few.  Why are they 
afraid?  Not out of experience, but by watching the same irrational behavior of 
those around them.  Certainly you must take precautions in areas where 
poisonous snakes frequent, but if you live in these areas and can't tolerate 
the nature around you, then move to the city or the 3rd floor of a condo 
complex.  I can honestly say that the few times I have been bitten by a snake 
were times when I mishandled it and the snake was just defending itself, and 
certainly I have never had a snake proactively come after me.  Only a few 
species of snakes in the tropics have this behavior, so there is little danger 
in Northern VA from snakes at all.  I have always enjoyed herps of all
 kinds, so reading this thread makes me cringe.
   
  Jay
   
   
  Mourning Dove     7
  Yellow-billed Cuckoo     1
  Chimney Swift     4
  Red-bellied Woodpecker     3
  Downy Woodpecker     2
  Hairy Woodpecker     2
  Northern Flicker     4
  Pileated Woodpecker     1
  Eastern Wood-Pewee     3
  Acadian Flycatcher     4
  Eastern Phoebe     2
  Eastern Kingbird     1
  Yellow-throated Vireo     2
  Red-eyed Vireo     3
  Blue Jay     1
  Carolina Chickadee     10
  Tufted Titmouse     5
  White-breasted Nuthatch     1
  Carolina Wren     10
  House Wren     4
  Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     2
  Wood Thrush     9
  American Robin     15
  Gray Catbird     1
  European Starling     12
  Worm-eating Warbler     1
  Common Yellowthroat     1
  Eastern Towhee     5
  Song Sparrow     12
  Northern Cardinal     12
  Indigo Bunting     2
  Common Grackle     8
  Brown-headed Cowbird     6
  Baltimore Oriole     1
  House Finch     1
  American Goldfinch     15
  House Sparrow    22

                
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