These responses are not surprising, based on two drownings in Columbus
quarries off of Dublin Rd. between the end of May and mid June 2010.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bill
Whan
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 4:39 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Our quarry in the quarries
The bureaucratic responses exemplified in the two recent messages
quoted in part below are not surprising, unfortunately. What business with a
legal department would allow strangers on its property just to look at
birds, with all the potential liabilities involved?
If asked, the folks who run airports, quarries, farms, etc. are
likely--and let us admit, understandably--to ask why they should expose
themselves to lawsuits from birders who might get hurt on their properties,
or the possibility they might be terrorist scouts, or animal-rights
activists investigating on behalf of a suit, economic rivals seeking
advantages by spying, etc., etc. They don't see any advantage to be gained
by welcoming birders, only disadvantages.
Most of these properties might allow negotiated presences of
researchers, preferably sponsored by universities, etc., or even scheduled
limited birding events involving good publicity for their firms, but they
are not, even if implored, likely to welcome the birding public in a general
way.
No doubt there are ways to look at birds on private property by
viewing from other less unwelcoming properties--public or private-- nearby,
especially if we behave ourselves scrupulously. But if owners of property
assert their rights to exclude us, we must comply. If a really important
rarity were to appear on private property, it's likely negotiations might
allow a few people to be admitted to document it, but general admission
might not be possible. Tough on the listers, but good for science.
To minimize the possibility of this happening, we need to be aware:
keep our distance, use adjacent properties if possible, and behave ourselves
in every way. In the words of one of the authors below, we need to avoid
wearing out our welcome by pushing the limits.
Unfortunately, and to a certain degree understandably, just asking
for permission from property owners can result in some paranoid reactions.
If we ask we need to be diplomatic, explain the appeal of birds to the
general public, extol the good behavior of birders, congratulate property
owners for accommodating birds and observers, and obey all restrictions they
may nevertheless impose. Still, we may not always be happy with the results.
So it goes.
Bill Whan
Columbus
--A friend just called me from the Prairie Lane quarry south of Wooster.
There is a sign that says something to the effect of "No Birders Allowed."
An employee said that too many people were there over the weekend and walked
where they shouldn't have walked. Looks like the welcome has been worn out.
----The folks who run Melvin are friendly to birders but want them to check
in at the office and sign a statement with a lot of rules not pertinent to
our mission but required by the government. They want us to check in each
time we visit and to stay on or near the parking lot. It is a small price
for granting us the right to bird on their commercial property. The office
is not open on weekends though we have birded there without trouble.
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______________________________________________________________________
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Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.
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