Greetings All

How I wish we could find a way to have a birding stamp, like a duck stamp,
that gave access to a fine array of areas (even if those were, initially, WMA
and NWRs). So far, at many such places, we're the poor step child, with areas
accessible to hunters that are not accessible to birders (hunting season or
not).

If we ponied up the money we should, then we'd have a heck of a lot more
political say at such places. As the money mounted, more could be purchased -
perhaps places with no hunting interest, but with significant birding interest.

But if we stick our head in the sand, and whine when we have to pay, then
we'll be out of the loop forever. Past attempts at some sort of birding stamp
have failed. Just think, for the price of a couple tanks of gas, we might be able
to increase access to those areas that exist and add to such areas in
existence.

Hopefully, an attempt at a state or national birding stamp will arise again.
In the meantime, buying access to WMAs, especially in a way that it is clear
we're not hunters, would give us some voice.

Cheers
Steven Mlodinow
Everett WA 98208
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