VA-Birders,
I appreciate Daffny Jones Hoskie's letter to Jay and her expression
of willingness to listen and respond to the birding community. A
prohibition against conventional picnicking at the refuge is
reasonable and I'm glad that she clarified that eating a sandwich in
a car is not considered picnicking. I think a dialog between the
refuge staff and visitors is a very positive thing, can clear the
air, and bring with it the promise of better relationships and
improved services.
I would like to contribute to this dialog as I have some long-
standing concerns about some of the policies there.
First, I do believe that Jay's complaint that the gates were closed
at least 40 minutes before the posted closing hour of 7 PM is
entirely legitimate.
I was also sympathetic to his complaint about receiving a reprimand
for his use of an unmarked trail, which he could not have known was
closed. I am familiar with this new trail which runs across a meadow
leading generally to the banding station. It is unmarked, in contrast
to trails that have "Closed" signs. Since the refuge uses "Closed"
signs, the assumption has to be that all other trails/roads not
posted as closed are open. "Locust Road" leading from the parking lot
to the intersection of Charlie and Bayview is one example of a trail
clearly marked as closed to foot traffic, although open to vehicular
traffic. (I have witnessed motorcycles using this stretch of road,
forbidden to walkers, and found it inexplicable and astounding.)
Trying to match the trails named in the official refuge brochure with
actual trails is very difficult, since there are no signs to tell you
the name of the trail you are walking. There are a couple of "you are
here" signs showing a map of the whole refuge, but the names of the
individual trails themselves are not signed or color coded. Using
the refuge is extremely confusing for a first-time visitor. Wouldn't
it be great if the refuge used some of the revenues from the new
entrance fees to provide better signage?
A related issue is the policy of requiring a special use permit and
an additional fee of all formally organized groups such as the
Northern Virginia Bird Club and the Wild Bird Center, to name just
two. These organizations have histories of following all the refuge
rules and are no different than any other informal group of friends
merely walking the trails open to the public during normal hours. No
special access or privileges are requested, yet these organizations
are required to jump through idiotic bureaucratic hoops, fill out
forms, and pay extra fees. If the refuge needs user fees to operate,
then they should be applied equitably with higher fees for all. Many
members of these organizations contribute their time to surveys and
the bird banding operations there and yet are penalized only because
they are formally organized and thus can be identified by staff in
advance of a visit. Ms. Hoskie seems to understand the importance of
building and maintaining the good will and support of one of the
largest visiting groups, the birding community, and yet this policy
seems designed to do the opposite. Every birder I know chafes under
it, yet most feel it's just too much trouble to protest. I disagree
and feel that the refuge staff should hear from the users of the
refuge! Although I lead walks for the NVBC regularly at various
Northern Virginia locations, I haven't led one at Occoquan since this
policy went into effect. How many other NWRs have these requirements
for organized groups? I hope an explanation of why this policy is
fair, reasonable, and necessary is forthcoming.
Paula Sullivan
Alexandria
On Apr 3, 2007, at 8:17 PM, Jay Keller wrote:
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.
