At 2:52 PM -0800 1/7/04, Linda Adams wrote:
>Unfortunately, this is simply a side effect of the times that we live in. I
>would rather the police stop and question groups of birders around sensitive
>areas (dams, public works (including sewage treatment facilities), tourist
>sites (including waterfalls), etc.) than to not check on people with
>"optical equipment". They are just doing their job, a difficult one at
>that. I do not believe they "have too much time on their hands". Perhaps
>we birders are so used to our activities that we have forgotten that many of
>the things we do are not the norm for the general population.

I have to disagree. If we're going to accept that level of paranioa,
then the terrorists have won. The Niagra incident could have been
resolved by one police officer politely asking a few questions; the
involvement of more than a dozen is just ludicrous. At this rate, how
long before owning "optical equipment" is illegal?
--
Rob Saecker
Olympia
rsaecker at thurston.com