I'm going to step up and defend the model airplane flying at Marymoor.
Just because a sport or hobby does not appeal to you is not a valid reason
to condemn it. Just because it annoys you occasionally is not reason to
try to stop it.

The model airplane operators are for the most part very conscientious,
safety minded people but of course there are bad apples in any group. If
you think a pilot is flying unsafely or harassing wildlife contact the
club that operates the field with a description of the offending airplane.
They will attempt to identify the pilot and repremand that person. Also,
flying unmuffled engines is against the rules and should be reported.

>From that standpoint of disturbing the birds a person or dog walking the path
will disturb the birds more than the model airplanes flying overhead. I
have observed birds at four different model airplane fields. Generally
the birds just ignore the airplanes. Occasionally a crow or a hawk will
divert its flight path to check out that strange, noisey "bird". Nesting
robins and sparrows fly unperturbed back and forth across the flightline.
Goldfinches courting adjacent to the active runway. Seagulls grazing off
the end of the runway.

It is too easy for a group to decide their particular activity is more
noble than someone elses. So which is more noble, admiring your lastest
creation cavorting around in the sky under your control or adding check
marks to a lifelist? In the grand scheme of things neither counts for
much beyond the interest and edification of the participant.

I enjoy both activities and believe there is room in this world (and
Marymoore Park) for both.

> Unfortunately, and this is the reason I don't visit the park too often these
> days, King County in its infinite wisdom located a model airplane flying
> area adjacent to the main nature trail, and those (I'm trying hard not to
> curse) model planes regularly scream directly overhead while you're trying
> to bird there. Can be intensely aggravating, and I've seen the operators
> intentionally use the planes to harrass Harriers over the meadows on several
> occasions. But on the opposite (Sammamish River) end of the trail the noise
> is distant and subdued. What a great improvement it would be to get rid of
> those model planes! James, has this situation improved any of late?
>
> Anyway, despite this aggravation, the park has some excellent habitat and at
> times some quality birding.
>
> Dave Nunnallee
> dnun461 at ecy.wa.gov
> Bellevue, WA
>