I also find that viewing from a car on the wildlife drive is very limiting. Only the driver and the backseat passenger on the driver's side see much at all, and even then they are limited by the tall vegetation growing at the side of the drive. I've visited the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, and there viewing from the car is more rewarding because of areas where the vegetation is kept low to allow viewing wildlife in the water. I'd like to see some of this at Montezuma's wildlife drive, as well as a few areas along the drive where people are allowed to exit the car which would make the use of scopes possible. Signs at these areas could describe in detail what is appropriate behavior for people outside their cars.
On Thu, Aug 14, 2014 at 2:58 PM, David Marsh <[email protected]> wrote: > I applaud the extensive efforts the Refuge Staff has made in responding in > detail to the comments that have appeared on Cayuga Birds with respect to > the > requirement that visitors to Wildlife Drive must remain in their vehicles. > I > speak as a birder who feels privileged to have such an exceptional birding > venue nearby, and as a regular volunteer who also feels privileged to have > the opportunity to help maintain and improve the facility for wildlife. I > feel that the rule > requiring visitors to remain in vehicles is reasonable and soundly based, > and respectfully disagree with those who suggest otherwise. It is my > conclusion that in recent years the Refuge has made many valuable > improvements and expansions, with plans for many more that have, and will, > benefit both wildlife and those who come to appreciate wildlife. Self > serving criticism serves no useful purpose. I would encourage those who > truly consider Montezuma a valuable asset to the region to volunteer their > time to preserve and improve the facility for BOTH wildlife and visitors. > Through volunteering, and there are numerous opportunities, one can expect > to have the opportunity to make improvements and better understand how > Montezuma > executes its mission. > > David S. Marsh > > > -----Original Message----- From: Carl Steckler > Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2014 12:35 PM > To: Ziemba, Linda ; CAYUGABIRDS-L > Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Foot Traffic on the Wildlife Drive at the > Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge > > I have to respectively disagree with your conclusion and decision to > curtail people getting out of their cars on the wildlife drive. > First viewing is severely restricted by the vegetation that has been > allowed to grow along the drive necessitating that one get out of the > car to see anything that is not flying. > > Second the traffic of the personnel working on the terraforming causes > much more disruption. I realize that this is necessary, but it does > cause more disruption than foot traffic. This would be compounded by > providing and maintaining additional stops along the drive. > > Third the complaints you have received have come from a very few people. > If you were to conduct a survey you would find that most people have no > problem with others getting out of the car and in fact end up seeing > much more of the wildlife they come to see. If you want a pristine > refuge with a severely restricted viewing public either close the gates > or have everyone ride on buses to view wildlife. > > Fourth what you will create is a situation where your inforcement > officers will have to spend much more of their limited time herding the > viewing public back into their cars instead of their much more important > jobs. > > Fifth in reality the problem is very much self regulating. Most people > who get out of their cars do so for short periods and if they see > someone going toff the road will say something. You would have a much > better use of your limited funds by allowing people to be out of their > cars on the drive and posting signs to stay on the drive. > > Sixth your proposal would severely limit the use of the wildlife drive > to educational groups where there are several vehicles in a group. > Those in the front will see something while those further back will not. > Also this will curtail the use of using a spotting scope to view > wildlife that is not close to the drive. > > In conclusion please rethink your decision to restrict the drive and > make it more friendly to the viewing public who in reality own and pay > for the refuge. I do believe that the intended purpose in allowing the > viewing public is part of your mandate. Perhaps you should invite some > of your users to meet with and comment to your policy makers. > Thank you > Carl Steckler > 607 592 8798 > > -- > > 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/[email protected]/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/ > > -- > > -- > > 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/[email protected]/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/ > > -- > -- 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/[email protected]/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/ --
