So does anyone know how this came out? Should I toss my parking pass? Susan Heath <sheath@xxxxxxx> wrote: -------- Original Message -------- Subject: CBBT Closure for birding: WHERE TO WRITE (ASAP) Date: Thu, 03 Mar 2005 15:26:08 -0500 (EST) From: Phoebetria@xxxxxxx To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, Phoebetria@xxxxxxx, brian@xxxxxxxxxxxx, svstinm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, rake@xxxxxxx, dacris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, cms@xxxxxxxxx, jwwil2@xxxxxx, sheath@xxxxxxx, terika88@xxxxxxx, robert.anderson4@xxxxxxxxxxx, CTumer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, teta@xxxxxxxx PLEASE POST, PASS, AND FORWARD THE FOLLOWING TO ALL PARTS: Hi all birders, in Virginia and beyond, We stand the chance of losing our privilege to bird on the northern three islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel THIS COMING TUESDAY, at a meeting of the CBBT Commission. For those who can come, THIS MEETING HAS A PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION. You should arrive at the Administrative building (just west of the North Toll Plaza) at about 0900-0915 to sign up to speak. The meeting will start at 0930 sharp. I spoke with Lorraine Smith, Director of Public Relations at the CBBT today, and she reports that it is the CONSENSUS of the Security personnel that birding be terminated on these islands "for security reasons." This decision has been forwarded to the Commissioners for their consideration at their next meeting, which is this coming TUESDAY, 8 MARCH 2005 at 0930. Over the next FOUR DAYS, then, we have an opportunity to make our voice heard by FAXING LETTERS (postal service is very slow and often comes through Maryland here); that is the best way to make your sentiments known. The CBBT fax number is 757-331-4565. Two individuals could be addressed in this matter. The most important is the current Chair of the Commission: Mr. Lucius J. Kellam III, Chairman and Interim Executive Director Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission P. O. Box 111 Cape Charles, Virginia 23310 (Again, it's best to FAX this letter to him. If you DON'T have access to a fax, you could easily email your thoughts to a friend who has a fax machine.) The next person to fax, at the same number, but with a slightly different letter, would be: Mr. Clement Pruitt Security Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel P. O. Box 111 Cape Charles, Virginia 23310 There are 1000 things one might say in crafting letters to these people. A few ideas are below, but everyone will have a different idea. The main thing is (as this is the Eastern Shore) to keep the tone calm, civil, and constructive . Angry letters reduce the chances for success; please take my word in this. A few ideas to be directed to Mr. Kellam: 1) Birders have visited the islands for 41 years without incident. All genuine problems of which we are aware have been occasioned by people stopping without authorization. 2) We truly appreciate the opportunity to observe birds from these islands (which are superior to the public island for viewing birds, for many reasons), as they have added immensely to our enjoyment of Virginia wildlife (a good word to use often) and to our knowledge of Virginia avifauna. 3) In the birding community, we tend to police ourselves well and put a stop to behavior that's unethical or improper, which is fortunately very rare. 4) We contribute thousands per year to the coffers of the CBBT and tens of thousands of dollars to the Eastern Shore, where ecotourism - thanks to the CBBT in part - is flourishing. 5) The fruits of the marvelous public relations campaign to attract birders to the CBBT, funded by the Commission, are just now starting to be seen in terms of tourist dollars here. We would be dismayed to see that end. 6) The first island, where the amenities are much appreciated, nevertheless is the least rich in birdlife of the four islands, in part because of disturbances and lack of habitat, in part because of its position closest inshore, where birds are similar to the adjacent First Landing State Park, etc. 7) The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Christmas Bird Count, now 11 years old, will cease to be (it is conducted from the northern two islands). This count detected not only a host of species not recorded anywhere else in Virginia but two gull species not previously recorded on American Christmas Bird Counts. The loss of this data stream, which is archived with National Audubon Society, would be lamentable. 8) University groups would lose the opportunity to teach their classes about sea ducks, maritime sandpipers, Great Cormorants, and other speciality species in Virginia - especially at the close range afforded by these islands. 9) People who have crossed the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay by ferry, and who have birded every year on the CBBT since 1964, will have their privileges erased - people who certainly pose no threat to the facility or to shipping traffic. 10) Young people and people who have just begun birding in the East will be deprived one of its prime locations before they even have the chance to appreciate it. 11) The reputation of the Commission as an open, fair, beneficent body open to ecotourism and other sorts of tourism (biking, walking) will be jeopardized. 12) Birdwatching groups - from Audubon societies, bird clubs, the Virginia Society of Ornithology, large tour companies, and small-group tours - will be denied access to sites that have been on their regular rosters since the CBBT was completed in April 1964. The opportunity to advance the cause of wildlife and waterfowl conservation in Virginia will be lost if this showpiece is off-limits. To Mr. Pruitt, whose concern is security, a few other points: 1) We understand that the Dept. of Homeland Security will close the fences recently erected. If this is the case, then we will respect the Dept.'s decree that we remain behind the fence and observe birds only on the open end of the island. 2) We understand that there is concern for birders' and other motorists safety in the scenario in which the jetty-end of the islands are off-limits to birdwatching. The fear is that birdwatchers will fail to observe the rule that they not cross a lane of traffic when entering or exiting the tunnels. We suggest instead that we would be most happy to continue to adhere to this rule, which we currently follow, and would - instead of crossing traffic - return to areas where U-turns are safe and authorized by Security personnel (such as the first island) - again, instead of crossing any lane of traffic illegally. [This last point is important to get across and SHOULD be emphasized ALSO to Mr. Kellam.] 3) We sometimes fail to appreciate our DEEP APPRECIATION to your Division for its hard work to keep us all safe on the span, in the tunnels, and on the islands. We understand that the extra burden of keeping track of birdwatchers - and checking our permits and licenses - is a chore that most any Security force would sooner be without, like so many additional duties we all carry after the 11th of September. We would ask that you reconsider your position to close the northern three islands because we take such tremendous pleasure from watching the ducks and other birds out there that our lives as Virginia wildlife-watchers would be severely curtailed. It would be like ending deer season permanently in a whole county because of the possibility that one hunter will be a threat to security. 4) So many security measures after 11 September have gone overboard in their attempts to protect life and property - we birdwatchers are now frequently stopped by law enforcement officials when pursuing our hobby, and when one has spent [many decades] in Virginia without such treatment, it's a hard pill to swallow living in this modern age. We truly hope that the Security folks understand how important our hobby, our passion is to us and how hard it would be to be excluded from one of our very favorite places in the state. That's it. There's more to say, but my nerves are rattled and my fingers sore. If possible, please pass this message on to your local listserves, to Bird-Chat, to any state/regional listserves, etc. The more faxes they get at the CBBT, the better! You might also phone 757-331-2960 to confirm that your fax(es) was/were received and put in the receipient's mailbox at the Administrative Offices. Let's not give up our privileges without at least having our voices heard! Ned Brinkley Cape Charles, VA -- Susan A. Heath George Mason University Environmental Science Department Fairfax, VA Secretary, Virginia Avian Records Committee Keeper, Virginia Comp List at www.virginiabirding.org You are subscribed to VA-Richmond-General. To unsubscribe, send email to va-richmond-general-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. To adjust other settings (vacation, digest, etc.) please visit, //www.freelists.org/list/va-richmond-general. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! 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