Kate and Tweeters,

I suspect part of the problem regarding permits is that there seem to be a
number of different permits created by different agencies for various
purposes that may affect a birder, and a birder often discovers these by
surprise after having driven 50-200 miles to get to a place. Suddenly
he/she is faced with a delemma. Backtracking to find a place to purchase
the permit may take longer than finding the bird sought after, and also
require spending an extra day or more (I have found the necessary govt
office closed all weekend, for example), as well as burning more fossil
fuel, etc.

Examples of permit questions/problems:

The recent report of White-winged Crosbills in Mt. Spokane State Park has
birders going there, but the birds are at a Sno-park in the State Park and
parking there requires a special permit. Where do you get the permit and
for how much? Is this the same permit as for Sno-parks you see marked along
Interstate 90 in the Cascades? Probably not, since this one is in a STATE
park.

Last summer I had driven 50 or so rough, dirt miles into a back area in the
Blue Mtns only to be faced at a trailhead with a sign saying parking there
required a permit. They've gotta be kidding: there's probably one vehicle
there a month, and they require a permit?! I had been hiking in other parts
of the Blues the previous couple days and never encountered such a
requirement. I found a ranger station IN the Blues and they said I had to
go to the USFS office in Pomeroy. Drove 30 more miles to get there (again
over mostly rough roads) and found the office was closed for the next two
days. But patrolmen who might give citations WERE out on forest service
roads. This is a bit disconcerting. People can't always drive to a place,
discover they can't bird until they get a permit and can't get a permit for
a few days, then have to make a special trip for the permit on another day,
and finally make the origianl planned trip a week or so later than first
planned. For me, the extra driving to do that would have added up to nearly
400 miles. I'll pay for the permit if they'll pay for my extra time and
gas!! I think you get the point. I wanted to cooperate, but after so much
hassle, I lost my interest in cooperating.

I think it would be a very useful project if someone (combined tweeters
project, or Wash. Ornithol. Society?) created and posted a list of ALL the
foreseeable permits for all the types of places a birder might go, where to
buy them, and cost. Forest Service and other agency offices could also
distribute the lists, making for wider knowledge and less hassle for all.
Then someone planning trips could use the list to be sure all the bases
were covered BEFORE making a trip.


Dick Johnson
Pullman, WA
johnsonre at wsu.edu





>Tweeters:
>
>I've been reading a few negative reactions to the access-stewardship
>stickers required to park at various State maintained hunting, fishing and
>birding sites, especially in Sno.Co.
>Some folks seemed very upset to get tickets for not having one, and others
>seem to think because it is "public" land that free access is our right.
>"Public" doesn't mean free. We as the "public" share a responsiblity to help
>maintain these great spots.
>The extremely modest fee the state charges for these stickers (a mere $10.00
>a year!) is less than most birders spend on coffee and pastries in the first
>hour of a birding trip.
>Two weeks ago my family and I were birding up at the Wyle Road Access and
>witnessed a birder giving the warden a extremely hard time about the
>"unfair" cost of access. All the while a pair of $1200.00 Swarovski's hung
>around his neck!
>I bring all this up now because at the end of March the current stickers
>expire and you should purchase new ones. The cost is a mere $10.00 ( or if
>you buy a fishing license they're free).
>you can buy them at most hardware and sport shops or anywhere you buy
>fishing and hunting licenses.
>So Birders, let's stop complaining about these stickers, especially the
>cost, and be thankful we have places left to use them at.
>
>kate
>
>kate hammill
>seattle, wa.
>mail to:katehammill75 at hotmail
>_________________________________________________________________
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