The Mudflats at Hoover are in the Hoover Nature Preserve - which many of you are aware. Because of this, rules are in place to protect the wildlife and natural areas. It is against the Nature Preserve Rules for people to be walking on the Mudflats. Access is only allowed in designated areas - the boardwalk, Weise Road, Old Sunbury Road by the East Shore Yacht Club, Oxbow, Area N and Area L. It is not that we are trying to keep well-behaving birders out of the area - but other who damage the area. We have had problems with people letting their dogs run on the mudflats and chase the birds, drive their ATVs on the mudflats, etc. And, to be honest, with the large amount of birders coming to the area - the impact of their feet is much greater than you would imagine. Therefore, the best practice is to follow the rules to protect the mudflats and the birds who depend upon them by not going out onto the mudflats. Please, only use the approved areas. We do understand and support your interest, that is why we put up the boardwalk. (BTW - we are seeking funds to finish the boardwalk). Help us to protect what makes Hoover special and the birds that come there. Thanks, Elayna M. Grody Natural Resources Manager Columbus Recreation and Parks Department (614) 645-3304 -----Original Message----- From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask] Sent: Friday, September 07, 2007 1:33 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [Ohio-birds] Hoover Nature Preserve Shorebird Viewing at Areas M and N Bill Heck in his posting noted the low water level at Hoover Reservoir (now almost 10 feet below normal) and the distance to the edge of the water from the boardwalk at Area M. This is a real disadvantage, especially for birder's that do not have spotting scopes or very good optics. There is a solution though which should help those craving for a good view of the phalarope and other species. Just to the east of the parking lot to Area M, as Front Street curves back to the village square, is the entrance to the old road that goes into Area N. Park near the kiosk and enter by going around the wire barrier and follow the old road until you near the old bridge base at Big Walnut Creek. From this vantage point you can easily access the mudflats (which are baked pretty hard at this point) and gain a better and closer view of the shorebird activity. This is where I have entered for years rather than traverse the mud from Area M before we built the boardwalk. This area works best in the morning as that places the sun behind you (no glare). Access is not restricted, but please keep enough distance as to not harass or spook the birds off as others will also want to view them. If you are adventurous you can then backtrack and follow the shore around the corner along Big Walnut Creek. I haven't see any sign of anyone other than myself checking this area and I have found small numbers but good birds here (Wilson's Phalarope - which gives the preserve a trifecta this year). Wiese Road is best in the afternoon or evening as that will then put the sun behind you at that location. Charlie Bombaci, Naturalist Hoover Nature Preserve Delorme 58 C (2) & (3) ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]