Subject: Re: Sauvie / Scappoose Woes
Date: Apr 09 09:17:14 1996
From: Peggi Rodgers - peggir at aragorn.ori.org


At 12:45 PM 4/8/96 -0700, Brian wrote:
>With everyone out thoroughly combing the state for avian treats over the
>weekend, I have decided to come forward and relate some not-so-delightful
>tales of birding in the past few weeks......

Not being in Seattle, I haven't experienced the problems in those particular
areas. But we've taken trips out by Mapleton (west of Eugene), to quiet
island places and had the neighbors practically send out the militia. I
think it has to do with the feeling that we're unsafe in our homes and so we
(as a population) have come to distrust strangers - not totally without cause.

Especially in outlying communities where law enforcement is scarce. I know
in our area (we live out of town), if you call a Sheriff, he may or may not
get there in an hour or so (and that's on a good day!). It's not that
they're lazy, there's just two deputies to cover alot of territory. As a
consequence, we and our neighbors find ourselves regarding strangers with
suspicion. Although, I must say, being a birder, if I see someone with
binocs, I usually figure they're bird watching.

Not excusing the people you've come up against, they certainly have gone way
beyond what I would consider reasonable behavior, but maybe offer a little
insight into the reasoning behind that kind of behaivor.

Peggi



Peggi Rodgers
Oregon Research Institute
Eugene, OR
peggir at ori.org
"A bird does not sing because it has an
answer, It sings because it has a song"