>From Russell Rogers, Seattle WA, rrogers at halcyon.com

I would like to put a kind word in for hunters. Although I can sympathize
with Christy's feelings of disappointment for not beening able to bird a
favorite birding spot, hunters are the reason that we have places like
Nisqually to begin with. Hunters pay for expensive hunting licenses which
pay a large part of the management cost for these areas. If it was left
to birders, which are generally a cheap bunch of people (myself
included), there would not be nearly enough money to support our National
Wildlife Refuge system. I am more than happy to give hunters a few weeks
out of the year for hunting.

Russell


On Mon, 24 Oct 1994 Birder920 at aol.com wrote:

> I went to Nisqually NWR this morning, and was disappointed to find that
> half the refuge is closed due to it being hunting season. Guess I should
> have called first.
> My frustration was somewhat allayed when I saw a Northern Shrike, a lifer
> for me. I think it must have been an immature, since it was more
> brownish-grey than plain grey. It had a black stripe going back from the
> eye, a hooked bill, and white patches on the sides of its tail. It have me a
> good look, swooping from top to top of short trees and bushes.
> I also saw BC Chickadees, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Winter Wrens, one
> Bewick's Wren, Song and Golden-crowned Sparrows, RS Towhees, and Dark-eyed
> Juncos. I only saw one Great Blue Heron (I usually see so many there). It
> was in what looked like a field with no water around, but maybe I just
> couldn't see it. It was crouched in a hunting position. The only ducks I
> saw were Mallards. Maybe the others were scared away by hunters!
> I missed walking the entire loop. I'll have to wait until January
> according to the signs posted.
>
> Christy Allen
> Bremerton, WA
> birder920 at aol.com
>
>