I must disagree. Many private landowners freely permit the public to have
access to their property. A property is posted in order to show the implied
permission has been withdrawn. Likewise, a gated fence shows an intent to
exclude. Remember the open range? Therefore, vacant private forest or
range land is generally available for public use unless posted otherwise.
Property owners are not necessarily aware of these rules, and some may
refuse to abide by them, so I am not encouraging birders to argue with a
property owner. Nor should anyone disregard a "No Trespassing" sign. But
you are not violating the law, or committing a crime, by going on vacant,
open, unposted private land for the purpose of looking for birds. Don't do
any damage, of course.

Roger M. Leed
Law Offices of R. M. Leed P.S.
1826 E. Hamlin St.
Seattle, WA 98112-2006
(206) 443-9911
fax: (206) 330-2131


-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Rockwell [mailto:dennrockwell at surfbest.net]
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 6:28 PM
To: tweeters
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Reecer Creek Warning

Tweeters,

I'll add to Mike's comment: ALL LAND is private unless otherwise posted.
Private property owners are under NO OBLIGATION to build fences or post
signs notifying the general public that trespassing is prohibited on private
property - entry onto ANY land that is not public is trespassing unless you
a warrent or specific permission of the property owner/s. On the other
hand, if you are on a public right-of-way and aren't blocking traffic, etc.,
you have a perfect right to be there.
I have had cranky self-proclaimed property owners try to tell me that I
couldn't stand on the shoulder of a public road and look onto private
property to view birds, etc. Those of you who know me best can guess how I
reacted to that suggestion.

Dennis Rockwell
Kennewick, WA
dennrockwell at surfbest.net


----- Original Message -----
From: "mike denny" <m.denny at charter.net>
To: "tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>; "Grant Hendrickson"
<granth1 at comcast.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 5:06 PM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Reecer Creek Warning


> Hello Grant,
> Were you along Reser Creek southeast of Walla Walla? Were you off the road

> out in a field or along side a field? All land in Walla Walla County is
> private land unless otherwise posted.
> Later Mike
>
> ********************************************************************
> Mike & MerryLynn Denny
> 1354 S. E. Central Ave.
> College Place, WA 99324
> 509.529.0080 (h)
>
> IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BIRDING, YOU HAVEN'T LIVED!
> *******************************************************************
>
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