Not all birders are so lucky... My wife and I are trapped in Peru on what was to be a long birding trip, but we are becoming increasingly despondent about how we will escape the draconian Peruvian policies that have literally made us prisoners here.
If you are not aware, Peru slammed its borders shut on March 16th, preventing new arrivals (understandable), but also preventing foreigners from getting out (explain that one). They have, at times, refused landing permission to US planes coming to take people back; the planes turned around and went home empty. This is coupled with an inept US Embassy that in the last 13 days has not even gotten half of us out. Last week we were denied entry on a plane that would fly to Miami with 33% of the seats empty when it left. Why? Because manifests cannot be altered that soon to takeoff for some red tape reason. It didn't matter that this is an emergency. We too are all for doing what we can to fight the spread of the virus, but not every government reacts in an appropriate manner. The restrictions in Peru are getting scary and dangerous.... there is another man here in Iquitos, a diabetic, that needs to get home soon. The Peruvian government is not concerned about his plight, and he has already been overlooked by the US Embassy when they accidentally left him off the manifest. The cure in Peru may be as bad as the disease, for some... We are trying to bird to keep our sanity, but we may soon be confined to our room, while being in the middle of a birding paradise that we cannot explore, because going outside for a walk is technically illegal now. Police are to stop you and check reciepts to verify that you only went out for essentials. It will be this way, or worse, at least until April 12, when the lockdown ends or is extended. It has already been extended once. I have for several days hesitated about posting this here, but I want to try to bring to light some of the effects of certain COVID-19 reactions on birding that people may not be aware of. I am concerned about how many eco-lodges and guides here in Peru may soon be out of business and how the economy of eco-tourism is going to be damaged due to the incredible extremity of the martial law measures taken here, and the ugly after effects. This place is going to have a black eye and few future visitors when it becomes more widely realized just how overboard they are going... My updates: https://legallyblindbirding.net/2020/03/28/stuck-in-peru-day-15/ Michael Hurben Bloomington On Sun, Mar 29, 2020, 12:36 PM Ellen Vancura <ell...@newulmtel.net> wrote: > Asymptomatic and or minimally symptomatic Covid 19 infected people who are > still going to workplace or assisting the infirm and elderly may not be a > blessing to others as they could be unwittingly transmit the virus through > no fault or their own. Social distancing is imperative. Special thanks you > to all healthcare workers and grocery store employees who are on the front > lines. Birders are some of the luckiest folks on earth. > > Ellen Vancura, New Ulm > > -----Original Message----- > From: Minnesota Birds <MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU> On Behalf Of Judith Clayton > Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2020 9:50 AM > To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU > Subject: Re: [mou-net] MOU President Message > > Yes! Thank you! And let us reach out to our friends and neighbors > letting them know that we are thinking of them and wishing them well! > Sincerely, Judy in Alexandria, Mn > > > On Mar 18, 2020, at 8:58 AM, Brian Tennessen <brian.tennes...@gmail.com> > wrote: > > > > Great message, thank you! > > > > Brian Tennessen > > > > On Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 8:40 AM Richard A King > > <richardallenk...@gmail.com> > > wrote: > > > >> To MOU Members and Friends: > >> > >> > >> > >> Our new normal is shaping up to be quickly evolving and stressful. > >> Most of us have not been challenged with anything like the current > >> Covid-19 pandemic where this new coronavirus is spreading in the > population. > >> Fortunately, most who are infected have mild or no symptoms. Older > >> people, particularly those with a problem such as diabetes, heart > >> disease, lung disease or an organ transplant are at an increased risk > >> of serious lung infection and congestion, and breathing problems. We > >> are being told that we need to slow the spread of Covid-19 in the > >> population – to ‘flatten the curve’ – to give hospitals and the > >> health care providers (physicians, nurses, technicians) the time to > >> care for those who need their care. Right now, reducing the chance > >> and rate of exposure to the virus is the only approach to achieving > this. > >> > >> > >> > >> Self-quarantine and social distancing will help slow virus > >> transmission. In the meantime, we need something that is positive and > >> up-lifting to manage our stress about tomorrow and the unknown, and > >> what can be better than birding. From our windows or in the > >> outdoors, we love to watch birds because watching them removes us > >> from current problems and generally makes us happy. Looking at birds > >> as they come to our feeders makes us feel good any time of year. > >> When we can get outdoors to watch birds, we have the significant > >> additional benefit of a ‘nature bath’ which many believe improves our > >> sense of well-being. Watching birds is an excellent way to reduce > >> stress. We often go birding in groups, but birding alone or with > >> another person while maintaining our needed social distancing should > >> make us feel good and help us manage the stresses of the time. As > >> MOU President, I suggest that our love of birds will help us all get > >> through these changing times, and we are lucky that this is our > >> passion. Be healthy and safe, wash your hands, and keep watching. We > will get through this. > >> > >> > >> > >> Richard A King, MD, PhD > >> President, MOU > >> > >> Professor Emeritus, Medicine > >> University of Minnesota Medical School Chair, Board of Directors > >> Hennepin Health Research Institute > >> > >> richardallenk...@gmail.com > >> > >> > >> > >> -- > >> > >> ---- > >> Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > >> Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > >> > > > > ---- > > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > I am fully convinced that the soul is indestructible, and that its > activity will continue though eternity. It is like the sun, which, to our > eyes, seems to set in night; but it has in reality only gone to diffuse its > light elsewhere. > > Goethe > > > > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
