I have seen these types of closures occur in California, many of which occurred
with no real-world logic or public safety basis to them at all.
Thomas Geza Miko
Claremont CA 91711
909.241.3300
-------- Original message --------
From: Terry Witt <terrywitt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 3/20/20 12:01 PM (GMT-08:00)
To: TN-birds Listserv <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [TN-Bird] Wastewater plant - Memphis
I just read John Walko's post re the closing of the facility to all visitors.
I think we can all agree that this is an over-reaction to our current problem
(clearly nobody will contract or transmit Covid 19 while scanning flocks of
shorebirds), but I am more concerned over what may happen long term.
Here are a few examples of closures which have affected many Tennessee birders,
including me, in the past, and still continue to this day.
I am not sure of the dates, but at some point in time (late 80s, early 90s??)
there was a decline in the numbers of "pothole ducks" migrating south each
winter; several species were involved. A decision was made to restrict access
to certain National Wildlife Refuges in the winter where many of these birds
overwintered. I don't have any research to indicate the ongoing health of
these populations, but I do know that certain areas of these refuges are still
closed each winter to date. Has this closure outlived it's usefulness, or is
it just easier to continue to close the refuges?? (fewer staff needed, no need
to maintain roads ,etc?}.
After 9/11, there was a realistic fear that further terrorist attacks might
occur in the US. Large areas of Fort Campbell that had previously been open to
birders could now only be accessed with at best, a fair amount of red tape.
The areas surrounding many of the TVA dams which could previously have been
visited in the winter to observe gulls, etc, were fenced off, and remain so
today.
My point being, it is easy to have a knee-jerk reflex, and close access to many
of the birdwatching sites that we all enjoy; some of these in fact, actually
belong to the American people. Many of the refuges, parks, etc, that are
closing will certainly reopen, and I just hope that when we have corona virus
in our rear view mirrors, we will be able to regain access to public areas
which seem to be so easy to close, but at times so hard to reopen.
Terry Witt
Bradenton Florida
