[mou] Re: [mnbird] Request From Sax Zim Community

[Chris Fagyal]

I especially agree with the "Don't stop on 133 and 52" note, as there
really aren't any safe places to pull off unless you pull of onto a side
road.  I admit the first time I went up there I was guilty of stopping
on 52 and putting my blinkers on.  I found out that I really didn't need
to, so last weekend I just noted what I saw on 52, but never slowed down
or stopped, as I knew more was to come.  Other places have shoulders
where it is quite easy to get off to the side of the road, such as 7,
Forest Rd 11/Mn16 etc....


Chris Fagyal
Senior Software Engineer
United Defense, L.P. ASD
Fridley, MN 
(763) 572-5320
chris.fagyal@udlp.com

>>> Sharon Stiteler <sharonks@mn.rr.com> 12/15/2004 21:21:08 PM >>>
I attended a very exciting meeting today that's part of an effort on
several
groups to make the Sax Zim Bog area more birder friendly.  One of the
issues
that has been brought up, especially for this year are some of the
dangerous
viewing situations that are happening on the roads.  People that work
and
live in the community are asking birders to pull off completely to the
sides
of roads.  There have been a few instances in the last month of more
than
one vehicle stopped in the middle of the streets blocking traffic both
ways.
There was also a day when several cars were stopped just on the other
side
of a hill and oncoming traffic couldn't see the birders until they were
on
top of the hill and very close to hitting them.

This has been a problem with vehicles with Minnesota plates as well as
out
of state plates.  As many of us have websites promoting the owls and
where
to see them, and we are getting posts from people watching our lists
from
out of state, perhaps we can give them friendly reminders to practice
vehicular and pedestrian safety.  Maybe we can even include a friendly
reminder on the Duluth and State Wide Hot Lines.  Locals also pointed
out
that some people who live in the area travel very fast down the roads
and
with the icy conditions and accident is more likely to occur.

Another request for this year is that since so many owls are being seen
all
over the area, avoid stopping and pulling over on 133 and 52 as these
are
the roads used most often by locals.  There are some pull off and
parking
areas on theses roads and locals assure that many great grays can be
seen
from these parking areas.  Also please avoid setting up scopes in the
middle
of these particular roads.  The trees really are dripping with owls so
you
will see them on some of the less traveled roads.

Of course we saw 19 great grays in the area, 1 northern hawk owl and 1
barred owl and a flock of pine grosbeaks.

-- 
Sharon Stiteler
Minneapolis, MN
www.birdchick.com 


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