Subject: Spencer I, puppy poop paradise
Date: Mar 4 19:55:40 2001
From: Scott Underwood - sunderwood at horizonsoft.com


Thanks, Netta (hehe, just kidding Dennis),

Last week at Spencer I spoke to two doggers also and in the utmost civility
informed them of the "dog-gone" policy. The first apologized and did an
about-face, the other said (albeit politely), "we're gonna keep walking,
thanks." I noticed the "NO" snipped out, too. I hope this type of
vandalism isn't an "us vs. them" mentality emerging. Certainly no need for
that.

Interesting enough, one of the violators last week *was* a birder (out to
see the red-shouldered)... and the one who kept walking.

Scott Underwood
Bothell, WA
mailto:sunderwood at horizonsoft.com


-----Original Message-----
From: TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu
[mailto:TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu]On Behalf Of Netta Smith
Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2001 2:51 PM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: Spencer I, puppy poop paradise


Hi, tweeters.

This is Dennis Paulson, NOT Netta Smith (it's unnerving that people keep
responding to my posts with a "Dear Netta")

Here is a bird list from Spencer Island, Sunday, 4 March, 09:15-11:45

SP = sewage ponds

Pied-billed Grebe 3
Double-crested Cormorant 4 overhead
Great Blue Heron 2
Canada Goose 8
Green-winged Teal 50
Mallard 100
Northern Pintail 50
Northern Shoveler 4 (SP)
Gadwall 6
American Wigeon 1
Ring-necked Duck 2 (SP)
Lesser Scaup 50 (SP)
the huge Canvasback flock seems to have left the sewage ponds
Bufflehead 6
Common Merganser 1
Ruddy Duck 40 (SP)
Bald Eagle 2 overhead
Northern Harrier 2
Red-tailed Hawk 5
we could not stir up any Virginia Rails anywhere by clapping; they either
have left the area or have finally discovered that hand-claps are not rails!
Mew Gull hundreds
Glaucous-winged Gull dozens
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Tree Swallow 5 (nice to see HARBINGERS OF SPRING)
American Crow 6
Black-capped Chickadee 20
Bushtit 4
Bewick's Wren 5
Marsh Wren 10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3
Hermit Thrush 1 (migrant or winterer?)
American Robin 10
European Starling 8
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Spotted Towhee 20 (including at least one brightly marked interior bird)
Fox Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 70
Golden-crowned Sparrow 5
Red-winged Blackbird 6
House Finch 1
Pine Siskin 50

Why "puppy poop paradise," you might ask. Well, we ran into 3 different
dog/dog owner parties as we were heading north along the east side of the
island. All of them crossed into or were about to cross into the wildlife
preserve where, nominally, dogs aren't allowed. One dog was on leash,
another not, the third magically was leashed as soon as the owners saw us.
Approaching the wildlife area from the north, there are two small signs that
say "DOGS NOT ALLOWED" in the wildlife area. In both of them, the word
"DOGS" had been neatly snipped out of the sign. We only stopped one of the
people (it's never an enjoyable task) to tell him about the regulations, and
he was very nice, said he hadn't seen any signs(!), and asked if it was all
right if his young puppy could continue around, as he was tired and it was a
long way to go all the way back by the same trail (which the signs, of
course, stipulate). Two of the people with one of the unleashed dogs were
running full tilt, using Spencer Island as a jogging trail. Also, I saw no
sign of puppy poop paraphernalia on the persons of any of the people, and I
expect that dogs make permanent deposits just about anywhere they wish -
vibram soles beware!

As you enter the area, just after crossing the bridge, there are a plethora
of signs that make it clear that there are to be no dogs in the wildlife
area and that dogs are permitted to the north, but must "return by same
trail." Well, can you imagine walking 75% or so around a loop and then
turning around and retracing your steps? It's entirely unrealistic to ask
this of dog people, so some other solution must be sought, in my opinion.

We saw 3 sets of doggers (including one set of joggers), 3 sets of hikers
(but no bikers), and 3 sets of birders during our walk, which I think puts
birders at 33%, not exactly the largest lobbying group. Of course, this
week there was an article in the Seattle P-I Getaway section in which
Spencer Island was featured as a hike, so the ratio of nonbirders to birders
will probably continue to rise there. It could easily and logically be
argued that dogs should have the run of the place, because there are more
dog people than naturalists and we live in sort of a democracy, so the fact
that any areas have been set aside to be dogless is an amazing thing in
itself.

Perhaps dogs aren't as disturbing to birds as they are to mammals, but I
suspect that mammals will become conspicuous by their absence as dog use of
Spencer Island increases. Maybe I should send these comments to a mammal
listserve ("woofers?").

Given that there has been some success in restricting dog access, I think it
would be quite appropriate if Spencer Island were made off limits to dogs
except during the hunting season, when dogs would be allowed on the Fish &
Wildlife property. But enforcement seems at an absolute minimum on the
island (I've seen an "official" there only once, and he looked about 16, not
projecting much authority), so any restrictions may be a joke (but not a
funny one). Enforcement and presence are surely the keys to a successful
program, but I suppose all park departments are strapped for funds and thus
personnel. I do think dog people need open spaces, but the Langus
Riverfront Park plus the trail on the west side of Union Slough should
surely be adequate.

If anyone feels strongly about this, the number to call to complain
specifically about dogs where they're not supposed to be is 206-339-1208
(Snohomish County Parks & Recreation).

Mostly because of the people who snipped the word DOG out of the signs, we
made the rest of our trip around in a bummed-out mode, agreeing that the
quality of life for people like us would be ever diminishing as human
populations grew inexorably, and that, concomitantly, there really was no
hope for the environment.

Of course, we do have the interesting situation that many birders are dog
owners....

Dennis
--
Dennis Paulson
1724 NE 98 St.
Seattle, WA 98115