Subject: Family business vs birds
Date: Jan 06 22:01:43 1996
From: Jerry Blinn - 76506.3100 at compuserve.com


I am the second person to have this identical experience:

While birding on Sinclair Inlet at Gorst (on Hwy 16 between Port Orchard and
Bremerton) my wife and I stopped in at a place called Elanden Gardens, which
is an antique store, exotic plant and bonsai garden, and (you guessed it)
espresso shop. They will sell you stuff out of the store, or charge you $5.00
to walk through their garden.

As it turns out, this outfit occupies a peninsula on Sinclair Inlet, has a
commanding view of the Gorst end of the Inlet, and blocks the view of
significant portions of the Inlet from other birding locations. In other
words, it is a prime birding location and the only spot to see a significant
portion of the waterbird population at that end of the Inlet. (I am ~told~
they lease the land from the state.)

I asked the management if birders could go on their peninsula to watch birds
and they said, "Yes, if they pay $5.00 apiece." I suppose I wasn't surprised.

I then asked if they would charge the team for the annual Christmas Bird
Count to count the birds visible from their property. They said, "Yes." I
asked, "Every member of the party?" and they said, "Yes, $5.00 for every
person."

In defense of their position, they stated very strongly, "This is a family
business!" I responded, "And you are also a part of a community." and turned
away. The remark made to my wife was, "He doesn't have to be nasty!" I guess
being reminded of community responsibility is considered nasty in their
neighborhood.

So, I thought I would recommend these people to anybody who is traveling
along Hwy 16 near Gorst/Bremerton. You might drop in on Elanden Gardens (you
can't miss the big sign) and say, "I was going to buy something, but then I
remembered the Christmas Bird Count." Be sure all your friends and neighbors
are aware of this business and its community spirit and environmental
sensitivity.

I might add that another birder who tried to negotiate with them asked about
providing an annual "birding pass" at some reasonable rate. He was soundly
turned down. "$5.00 per person per visit!"

Oh, I almost forgot -- during the conversation, one of them said, in a very
sincere, sympathetic, and thoroughly condescending, tone, "We are all for the
birds!" She couldn't have expressed it better...

Jerry