That is good news for birds and for birders!  Congratulations to Ohio State
Parks and to ODNR/ODW for what most of us will see as a smart move.

Bill Whan raised a great point about the possibility of "reclaiming" the
parking area for habitat, and Mary's statement that at least part of that
area will be allowed to grow up is welcome news indeed.  I would urge ODNR
to think "outside of the box" to come up with ways to maximize conversion of
parking areas to habitat.  Other great birding areas, such as Point Pelee or
Bentsen SP in Texas, never had close-in parking or have done away with it,
and in the end it's better for birders as well as for birds.  (Exceptions
for handicapped access are appropriate, of course.)

But there's another need here -- the need for birders to support -- and to
encourage -- plans for habitat at the expense of parking.  We cannot be
grumbling because we have to walk for 10 minutes to our favorite birding
spot rather than park at the front door.  Instead, I hope that we will
encourage ODNR to increase habitat, even at the sacrifice of our own
convenience.

Bill Heck

On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 2:42 PM, Warren, Mary <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> As of May 1st, Crane Creek State Park is being transferred from Ohio
> State Parks to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of
> Wildlife to be managed as part of Magee Marsh State Wildlife Area that
> has recently received national attention in Birders World and Wild Bird
> magazines
>
> The area will continue to be open to the public for wildlife
> observation, fishing, and walking.  Access for fishing and birding will
> be improved.
>
> Portions of the area will be allowed to grow up to become wildlife
> habitat, including the beach and part of the existing parking lot.
> Enough parking will be maintained for visitors during peak birding
> seasons.
>
> Swimmers have the options of going to nearly Maumee Bay State Park ( to
> the west) or East Harbor State Park to the east.
>
> The existing pit latrine will be removed and portable toilets will be
> installed.
>
> The transfer will save Ohio State Parks about $20,000 annually in
> maintenance and patrol expenses.  The Division of Wildlife will be
> responsible for the maintenance and enforcement patrols.
>
> This transfer will only be plus for birds and birders.
>
> Happy Birding
> Mary Warren
> Magee Marsh
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Bill Whan
> Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 2:01 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [Ohio-birds] Magee Marsh and Crane Creek
>
>
>        I have been told on good authority that the Crane Creek State
> Park property has been transferred from the Division of Parks to the
> Division of Wildlife (Magee Marsh WA), effective 1 May 2008.
>        I welcome correction from those who know more than I on this
> topic. I assume press releases, etc., will be forthcoming about this
> change. We will all learn more soon.
>        What will the Division of Wildlife will do with this property?
> Much of the the currently very rare wooded beach ridge habitat--what
> makes the Magee Marsh bird trail so significant for migrant
> passerines--was destroyed to make the extravagantly large State Park
> parking lot. In fact, the whole area took quite a beating from three
> governmental agencies--Parks, Wildlife, and the Ottawa Refuge--and the
> public, over the years as they all had their separate ways with it. Some
> rancor developed, but with time--and efforts by birders--migrant
> passerines were generally recognized as the major beneficiaries of what
> little remained. The fact that tourists came from around the world to
> observe them did not go unnoticed either. Nor did the fact that we all
> take our toll on the habitat.
>        What's going to happen, I wonder, to that huge, dry, barren
> parking lot, as well as any sand, etc., delivered to the site to support
> the beach? Eliminating it could eventually lead to a doubling or more of
> the critical habitat, with partial restoration of its role in the lives
> of migrant birds. Seldom do Ohioans have an opportunity to actually
> increase such an endangered habitat.
>        But, some will ask, even if we have lots more habitat and lots
> more birds, where will we park when we come to see them? A fair, if
> selfish, question. There may be less critical areas off to the east
> along the shore for fewer vehicles, but I recommend we follow the
> Canadians and not use critical bird habitat for parking. At Point Pelee,
> they run shuttle buses from parking lots in less important areas during
> busy seasons. Probably during much of the year at Magee a much smaller
> parking lot well east of the current one would serve. Or we could walk.
> We'd probably see a lot more that way.
>        I hope ODOW will opt for wildlife--especially birds--rather than
> humans as they manage this property. Their record is spotty in this
> regard. As for us birders, if we can't sacrifice a small convenience for
> the good of birds, I don't see how we can expect anyone else to.  What
> do others think? Bill Whan Columbus
>
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--
Bill Heck

______________________________________________________________________

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