VA-Birders,
I think it is important that I let you all know about some unfortunate
occurrences that I have recently experienced at Occoquan Bay NWR if you are
planning to visit.
I will preface this by saying that the refuge is one of my very favorite
places to visit not just in Virginia, but in the country. It is a place that I
have birded dozens of times and think it is well maintained and is very much
appreciated being so close to a major metropolitan area.
I posted this weekend that my family and I were unable to access the refuge
before 7 PM because the gates were already closed, and that we were planning to
"picnic" in the refuge while awaiting the possible return of the reported
Sandhill Crane. I was contacted via e-mail from a US Fish and Wildlife
representative that picnicing on the refuge would not be tolerated and that law
enforcement would intervene if the activity was observed. My "picnic" would
have merely consisted of my family and me eating sandwiches from the comfort of
my car in the parking lot. However, the fact that I was "reminded" about
potential law enforcement action is something that I do not believe is
appropriate, especially since the response came from one of my posts on this
listserv. Additionally, I believe this contact from the FWS representative
violates the terms of this listserv. My apologies if my earlier comments
contributed to a belief that picnicing was welcomed at the refuge.
I would also like to point out that my experience earlier that day was also
marked with an unfortunate encounter by another FWS employee. I was walking
past the gazebo and noticed that one trail that is normally closed was
apparently open, presumably to allow the nice folks from Exxon to host a
clean-up of the refuge. Several of these folks were meandering through this
area so I walked the trail that eventually leads to the bird banding area to
pay them a visit to see what was going on and maybe lend a hand if they needed
it. After I arrived, one of the FWS banders reprimanded me for walking on a
closed portion of the refuge, even though no sign was posted and the Exxon
volunteers were freely walking the area. I left the refuge that day with a
very bad taste in my mouth, as would be the case on my second visit that same
day!
As someone who has been a steward of the refuge for years, taking hundreds of
hours of bird data (all entered on Cornell's eBird), informally helping out
with a King Rail survey (and continuing that on a personal level since), posts
often which may help attract visitors who want to see birds, and who buys an
annual federal refuges pass (formerly the Golden Eagle pass), I take issue with
those who choose to take this tact with the very folks who are among the best
stewards of their refuges. Of course the rules and laws of the refuge need to
be enforced, but there is a reasonable manner in which to do that in my opinion.
I am not sure I will feel comfortable posting my bird observations at OBNWR
any longer. I would hope that the relationship between FWS and the folks that
pay taxes and additional fees to access the refuges while doing so within the
rules and laws would improve beyond what I have experienced of late. We are
all on the same team.
Thanks,
Jay Keller,
Arlington
---------------------------------
8:00? 8:25? 8:40? Find a flick in no time
with theYahoo! Search movie showtime shortcut.
You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx. To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
