I fully suspect the farmers have requested the road closure because they are fed up with birders/photographers tresspassing on private property and partially blocking roads in the winter while chasing owls. Truthfully I am surprised they took so long to react. The actions of a self-entitled few have resulted in these actions.
If the road closure will keep tresspassers at bay and reduce harrassment of birds I fully support their request. It should be noted Ravenshoe is not the only location where local landowners are pushing back at the constant circus in the winter. Owners in the Strongville area are also becoming fed up with tresspassers. International Water Supply Bruce Wilson, M.A.Sc., P.Eng. -----Original Message----- From: Paul Harpley [[email protected]] Received: Monday, 20 Jun 2016, 18:33 To: himel irving [[email protected]]; [email protected] [[email protected]] CC: ontbirds [[email protected]] Subject: Re: [Ontbirds] 03416 0342 Yonge St closure south of Ravenshoe First I have heard of this Irving. Yes, this kind of decision should not happen without open and professional consultation of all interested and affected stakeholders. The matter should be openly vetted at East Gwillimbury Council. There is undoubtedly flooding and other emergency impact on road users and farm and other residents (motorists,pedestrians, farm and rural non-farming residents) and the open use of this road by birders, other naturalists and the general public ensures open safety monitoring in this respect. Additioanally maintaing the road as public ensures broad egress options in emergency situations. Paul Harpley *Paul Harpley* BSc. (Hons.)M.A., Doctoral Candidate Researcher, York University President, South Lake Simcoe Naturalists, Ontario Nature, www.slsnc.ca<http://www.slsnc.ca> <http://www.slsnc.ca> Director, The Zephyr Society of Lake Simcoe Research Foundation, www.zephyrsociety.ca<http://www.zephyrsociety.ca> <http://www.zephyrsociety.ca> Recipient:1995 Canada 125 Medal – Rouge River Valley Conservation Recipient: 2012 Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement Member, Public Advisory Committee, Federal Lake Simcoe/South-eastern Georgian Bay Clean-Up Fund LSGBCUF 2012-1015 Fellow International, The Explorers Club Fellow, The Royal Canadian Geographical Society Fellow, McLaughlin College, York University Director: The Art Studio Gallery, Town of Georgina Website: www.harpley.ca<http://www.harpley.ca> <http://www.harpley.ca> On 6/20/2016 10:53 AM, himel irving wrote: > If this is a public road I object to the closing of this part of Yonge St > the reason for my objection and probably for the many more bird > watchers is that we have often found recorded and photographed > significant sightings of birds that require the open field, high > grass, marshland and river frontage which are common to this Southern > part of Yonge St. In winter, and it was upsetting to have the road > made inaccessible this past winter the fields are major habitat for > Snowy Owls. The closure prevented an accurate summary of their activity. > > I shall also post my objections on the web sight for Ontario > Federation of Ornithologists > > I do not believe that the use of Yonge street in any ways harms the > farming business > Irving Himel > B.A's Management > 3636 Weston Rd. > toronto > M9L 1W2 > 416 748 4996 > > > _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
