On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 10:07:43 -0800 Jeff Osmundson <jeffo at cedarcomm.com>
writes:
Tweeters,
I'm taking a risk here, offering a comment that could start a flame
war or deteriorate into something else. Not my intention, but I would
like to offer
that our hobby or avocation seems to be suffering from success.
Yesterday I was on the Skagit flats looking at a very interesting
bird that I had not seen in the area before. I was off on the side of a
two lane road with scope and binoculars in hand. Within a few minutes
the first car showed up - stopped in the middle of its travel lane and
the occupants jumping out to see what I was looking at. This was
followed by two more cars, both stopping in the travel lane, the last
close enough to the interesting bird that it flew.
Not the first time this has happened - it will not be the last. I am
not saying that I have not stopped to see what was interesting to a
fellow birder - I do it all the time. It just seems that as birding is
getting more popular, there may be less understanding by the newer or
more competitive birder as to the safe or respectful distance for optimum
enjoyment by all. What is the point? As birding becomes increasingly
popular, we have the opportunity to educate the newer birder, and remind
some of us that have been around for a few years, that this non
consumptive way to enjoy nature should also show respect to the other
players, both birds and bird watchers.
>
> Jeff Osmundson
> Arlington, WA

This type of problem could easily be avoided if more birds would
carry FRS radios and tune them to the standard birding channel 11,
privacy channel 22. A simple call to the other birder inquiring what the
person is looking at would prevent the need to jump out of a vehicle to
talk to them. The birds that are flushed by people getting out of their
cars often would have remained and could have been viewed by everyone
involved in this incident. These radios are available just about
everywhere at prices of about $40 for a pair. At the River "S" Unit of
the Ridgefield Refuge you can be fined $75 for getting out of your
vehicle between October 1st and May 1st to prevent the disturbance of
wintering waterfowl. The radios are just about necessary for multiple
vehicle groups there.

Wilson Cady
N45 35.618' W122 13.738'
Washougal, Skamania County, WA
gorgebirds at juno.com