Ms, Jones:
Thank you for posting your reply to Jay Keller's recent Occoquan Bay
NWR (OBNWR) post to VA-Bird. I am glad that you have subscribed to VA-
Bird, and I would like to see more public land officials do so. VA-
Bird posts like Jay's make it less likely that this will happen. I
hope that this experience has not discouraged you in any way. I agree
with you. Your remarks should not have been so "contested and
unwelcome."
Jay concluded his OBNWR post by reminding us that "we are all playing
on the same team." Jay really ought to be more careful with the
pronouns he uses in his posts to VA-Bird. He certainly failed to
treat you as a member of his so-called "team." Frankly, I do not know
what "team" Jay thinks that he is playing for, but I certainly have
no desire to associated with his "team" or his recent OBNWR VA-Bird
post. I spend a lot of time birding the OBNWR, and unlike Jay, I have
never been threatened or abused at the refuge.
Jay discussed his so-called "stewardship" at the refuge in his post
to VA-Bird, citing specifically his "hundreds of hours" in the field
collecting data on "dozens" of occasions. I know birders and others
who have made real contributions at the refuge over many years, in
some instances for decades. I am quite certain you know who these
individuals are. I can not recall another instance where anyone else
has found it necessary to call attention to their "stewardship" at
the refuge in quite the same self-serving way that Jay managed to do
in his post to VA-Bird. What Jay's so-called "stewardship" at the
refuge has to do with his complaints about the refuge is a mystery to
me.
Please accept my apology for any discomfort or embarrassment this
situation may have caused you. As a member of the Northern Virginia
birding community, I was embarrassed when I first read Jay's post. I
am even more embarrassed now that I have read your very gracious
reply to Jay. Obviously, I can only speak for myself, but I do not
believe for one moment that I am the only person subscribed to VA-
Bird who feels the way I do.
Thanks again.
Paul Kane
Falls Church, VA
On Apr 4, 2007, at 11:13 AM, Daffny_Jones_Hoskie@xxxxxxx wrote:
I didn't realize that my remarks would be so contested and unwelcome.
Consider me the young lady who is still learning and understanding the
types of experiences that people want to have when visiting a National
Wildlife Refuge. Also consider me as an individual who never wants to
deter anyone from visiting a National Wildlife Refuge. My intentions
where
purely honorable and if I offended anyone, especially you Mr. Keller,
I am
truly sorry. In reaching out to you, I thought I might prevent you
and the
family from having a negative experience at the refuge. I thought this
only based on my opinion - In visiting locations to enjoy a leisurely
time
with my family, I would not want to be stopped by anyone during the
time I
had with my family to tell me I am doing something against the
rules. That
was the reasoning behind the email. That was the reason also that I
sent
it to you solely and not the entire listserve.
Also, so that everyone knows. Picnicking on the refuge is not allowed,
however, we would have no issues or problems with people eating in their
vehicles during their visit. The picnicking not allowed on the refuge
pertains to the type of picnicking you might be able to enjoy at the
other
local parks in the area (involving picnic tables, quilts, a spread on
the
ground, basket lunch, grills, etc). The pavilions that were
installed are
for events that we have annually or occasionally. Several organizations
utilize the pavilions at different times of the year so as to provide
shelter and a base of operations during the events. The bird banding
station also has a pavilion and table to facilitate their operation.
I have attempted to give information to the listserve on several topics
involving the Potomac River NWR Complex, which includes Elizabeth
Hartwell
Mason Neck NWR, Occoquan Bay NWR and Featherstone NWR. Anytime I can
be of
some help, or if any new information comes our way, I share this with
the
listserve. I do this because I recognize the birding community at
large as
one of our largest visiting groups. I know that the birding
community can
be our biggest supporters and in the time of so little, we really need
public participation to assist us in accomplishing many of our goals.
I am so thankful Mr. Keller, that you are one of those people who are
conscious and informed. The email sent to you was sent in the name of
cooperation and not meant to be anything negative or derogatory. Please
accept my apologies if that was what you experienced. Also, to the
listserve please forgive the emails resulting from the misunderstanding.
Daffny Jones Hoskie
Assistant Manager
Potomac River NWR Complex
14344 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Woodbridge, VA 22191
(703)490-4979
(703)490-5631 [Fax]
Jay Keller
<azure.jay2006@ya
hoo.com> To
Sent by: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
va-bird-
bounce@fr cc
eelists.org
Subject
[va-bird] Experiences at
Occoquan
04/03/2007 08:17 Bay NWR
PM
Please respond to
azure.jay2006@yah
oo.com
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
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