Hi, I find it interesting in this discussion that there is no mention of all the other places that one can walk in the complex as well as the MAC. The wildlife drive to my knowledge is the only place where they ask you to stay in the car. Yes, Knox Marcellus might be more accessible, but they have had guided walks there. Let' a remember too, that the very people you want to recruit as nature lovers use the drive usually without any binoculars or scopes. What can anyone see that follows in the wake of people flushing birds away from the edge? Surely, the same birds, butterflies, and flowers can be seen at most of the places with similar habitat that one is allowed to walk. I am also surprised that in this discussion I am reading of how peoples needs and desires somehow justify not respecting the rule as it stands presently. I learned like Marie that staying in the car was not so bad after all. You see more and so will the next person after you. The refuge could do a lot here by just clarifying their policy. Like Mark said, they are very busy right now moving all that dirt, and would get nothing done if they had to stop every five minutes to police people. I am all for promoting the natural world. I think the refuge meets both needs while respecting what their mission statement is. Walk into the other areas and you can probably still have the same experience you are looking for.
Diana Whiting Sent from my iPhone > On Aug 6, 2014, at 10:26 AM, Melissa Groo <melg...@gmail.com> wrote: > > If there is one thing I've learned, it's that people won't care about > protecting wild spaces and wild animals if they don't see how special these > spaces and animals are. > > Yes, the most important charge of these refuges is to provide a haven for > wildlife in protected, vitally important habitat. But nwrs also see public > education and the affording of recreation (birding, hiking, fishing, hunting, > photography) as an important part of their mission. I spent some time talking > to refuge managers on a recent trip to North Dakota and learned firsthand > about the importance of this. > > From the NWRA web site, at > http://refugeassociation.org/what-we-do/friends-groups-engagement/recreation/ > > "At least one national wildlife refuge is located in every U.S. state and > territory. These areas are set aside primarily to protect wildlife and > habitats, but they are also created for the use and enjoyment of the public. > These landscapes belong to all of us, and we each have the right to explore > refuges responsibly, with an eye to safeguarding them for future generations > to enjoy." > > I think thoughtful, responsible use of a refuge is in the best interests of > both wildlife and people, and I hope that moving forward, Montezuma NWR can > find that sensitive balance. > > Melissa > > > > >> On Tue, Aug 5, 2014 at 8:48 AM, Marie P. Read <m...@cornell.edu> wrote: >> Yes, wildlife refuges are not "nature parks", they are set aside to provide >> a refuge…for the wildlife, a refuge from HUMANS and their encroachment! >> >> Marie (yes I'm a human, yes I encroach with the best of 'em!) >> >> Marie Read Wildlife Photography >> 452 Ringwood Road >> Freeville NY 13068 USA >> >> Phone 607-539-6608 >> e-mail m...@cornell.edu >> >> http://www.marieread.com >> >> Author of Sierra Wings: Birds of the Mono Lake Basin Available here: >> >> http://marieread.photoshelter.com/gallery/Sierra-Wings-Birds-of-the-Mono-Lake-Basin/G0000NlCxX37uTzE/C0000BPFGij6nLfE >> ________________________________________ >> From: bounce-117689184-5851...@list.cornell.edu >> [bounce-117689184-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of John and Sue >> Gregoire [k...@empacc.net] >> Sent: Tuesday, August 5, 2014 7:47 AM >> To: CAYUGABIRDS-L >> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] MNWR discsussion >> >> Many interesting points have been mentioned and certainly are worthwhile >> exploring >> if they fall within the purview of MNWR. Certainly out of car areas could be >> established once the major construction is complete. The north area would >> be ideal >> and still allow the first portion of the drive through Benning to be >> pedestrian >> free. But, before we go saying things like MNWR is a bug and butterfly >> refuge or >> primarily a place to bird and study nature we should know what a NWR is and >> specifically what Montezuma is supposed to do. >> -- >> >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >> >> ARCHIVES: >> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html >> 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds >> 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html >> >> Please submit your observations to eBird: >> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >> >> -- > > > > -- > > Melissa Groo > photographer . wildlife biographer . educator > www.melissagroo.com > > Follow my work on Facebook: > www.facebook.com/melissa.groo > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe.Net > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
