Subject: Spies and Kingbirds
Date: Nov 19 08:25:42 2001
From: Mike Patterson - celata at pacifier.com


As Gary points out, birding in other countries can be
problematic. I was nearly arrested for watching shorebirds
on the beach at Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and was routinely
shadowed by plain clothes police in Malawi (back in the one
party, Kamuzu Banda days).

But we shouldn't kid ourselves about spy paranoia here in
the land of the free (and all my experiences are pre-9/11).

I had a farmer point a rifle at me while I was looking for
sparrows on a county road in Lane County, OR. and I had one
fire over my head in Tillamook Co. I had a guy call the
police on me while I was walking a linear park (ex railroad
grade) that passed by his house. I was stopped and questioned
at length by a State Police officer at Champoeg Rest Area
(he apparently thought I was looking for "action"). I have
been grilled by land owners in pick-up numerous times.
The most common reason I am stopped is that people think I'm
spying for the DEQ or the EPA, apparently looking for
environmental violations.

Every one of these encounters was while birding on public
right-of-way (unlike the time in my very young and stupid
days when I ended up with 8 stitches in my calf because I
couldn't quite out run the dog in the yard through which I
had unequivocally trespassed).

It's always been a suspiscious, property rights driven
world out here in the wild west. Don't argue, say "yes sir"
answer all questions put to you politely and leave when
they tell you to.

--
Mike Patterson When I despair, I remember
Astoria, OR that all through history
celata at pacifier.com the way of truth and love have always won.
There have been tyrants, and murderers,
and for a time they can seem invincible,
but in the end they always fall.
Think of it...always.
- Mahatma Gandhi

http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/bird.html