After rescuing some red knots from human greed, New Jersey authorities appear to have done the right thing once again to protect another speck of wild habitat. Good for them. See http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/185/story/132234.html . This is an issue in Ohio, too, of course, where the same tradition applies: that it's OK to go raise hell in places seemingly owned by no one in particular, where the surroundings are wide open and undeveloped, and where hardly anyone ever complains about misbehavior. It's one reason we have no wild tern colonies anymore, and why a visit to Conneaut Harbor can be so unpleasant for birds and bird observers alike. It's not just boaters, of course; gasoline-powered recreation, however, is a major factor, since the casual despoilers of the environment are unlikely to take a long walk or swim with a barbecue grill, ATV, or the other impedimenta of "fun" and "freedom" in the outdoors. Finally, some spoilsport wonders out loud if our freedoms to roar around in jet-skis or run our dogs might have limits. I'm sure readers are aware of the many Ohio examples of excesses. Enforcement of the law--far more assiduously employed on behalf of private landowners--equally on public lands shouldn't be left to the terns, plovers, and skimmers. Hats off to the local Sierra Club chapter and the NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife for getting protection for Champagne Island, and may similar efforts prevail here. Bill Whan Columbus ______________________________________________________________________ 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]