[mou] birder warnings

[Laura Erickson]

We are long past the days when we defeated our enemies by being
unafraid ("The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.")  It's
unfair and unreasonable to be treated as suspicious by fearful people.
 But it's a given in this fear-driven era.  Do remember though that
policemen didn't write the rules, and if they're conscientiously doing
their job, they may be required to enforce unfair rules.  Being polite
is the right thing to do, as well as the practical thing to do if you
don't want the situation to escalate into something dangerous.

If you happen to have a digital camera on you, you can do what Sparky
recently said he'd done--show the photos to the person questioning
your motives to prove that you're really focused on birds.  Having
field guides and/or Kim Eckert's book in your car (especially if
you're birding at a place mentioned in Kim's book) can also
corroborate your case.  Above everything, be calm and polite--even
when the rules suck and seem counter-productive, we're stuck with them
and we're past the days when American citizens were considered
innocent until proven guilty if even a tenuous case of terrorism can
be suggested.

Meanwhile, maybe the best thing we can all do to be proactive is to
wear our binoculars into restaurants and gas stations when we're
birding.  People should be far more used to seeing birders wearing
binoculars.

Laura Erickson
Duluth



On Dec 23, 2007 10:48 PM, Sid Stivland <stivland at cpinternet.com> wrote:
>
>
> The recent posts about law enforcement response to birders, snowy owl
> sightings, and activity near the Duluth Airport prompts me to comment.
>
> Earlier this fall, I was confronted by St. Cloud Hospital security personnel
> as I scouted the Mississippi River and adjoining habitats with my binocs.
> Apparently, he was alerted by an employee at the hospital to "suspicious
> activity behind the hospital".  In his defense, he calmed down as soon as I
> explained what I was doing and when he learned I had a family member in
> surgery at the hospital.  Nevertheless, I was questioned, had my ID checked,
> and generally shaken down, sort of a humiliating experience.  By the way, an
> employee at the hospital had initially suggested the river walking path to
> me as a way to stretch, get some air, and maybe some exercise.  I guess the
> binocs were the suspicious activity.
>
> My initial reaction was to be upset but, the more I thought about it, the
> more I was saddened by the experience.  I arrived at the realization that
> this is a sign of the times we are living in.  We are encouraged to "turn in
> suspicious activity", be the eyes and ears of law enforcement, "be alert",
> etc.  While I guess this modus operendi has advantages, i.e. community
> control of behavior, I fear we are now reacting to almost everything and
> reports are filed by folks with no particular training or way of knowing
> what "suspicious activity" is.  Does a person walking around in broad
> daylight with a pair of binoculars constitute suspicious activity?  I guess
> so!.  As Mike and Mark (and perhaps others) have reported, even law
> enforcement is prone to overreaction, knee jerk reactions, and
> misinterpretation.  So even trained folks are running scared and taking no
> chances, assuming the worst.
>
> I think it is a sad state of affairs.  I grew up in a small community and
> thought it was bad enough adjusting to the impersonal "Big City" with all of
> its various problems.  But it seems worse now - as Mike pointed out - even
> small towns are paranoid.   In any event, I am now very concious where I aim
> my binocs.  If I am in an urban area, I try to not aim at someone's house,
> for example.  I try my best to respect private property.  I try to ask
> permission or inform people what I am doing ahead of time.  But it is not
> possible to be perfect and we are all surprised from time to time.  This is
> not meant to excuse bad birder behavior, we all know this happens from time
> to time.  I just hope we can continue our hobby without upsetting everyone
> or getting accused of suspicious activity or worse.  Maybe birders will
> always be misunderstood.  Maybe the general public will never believe that
> folks actually stand around in the cold and rain and sun and wind and look
> at birds, they must be doing something wrong!
>
> Merry Christmas to all and lets hope for a more peaceful (and less tense)
> New Year,
>
> Sid Stivland
>
> Plymouth, MN



-- 
Laura Erickson
For the love, understanding, and protection of birds
www.lauraerickson.com



There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of birds.
There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of
nature--the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after
the winter.

			--Rachel Carson