Part 2 (please read Part 1 first).
The assumptions that underlie these common insults are based, as far as I can
see, on fundamental ignorance of how the CBBT works and why it has recently
enhanced its security measures for all those who cross it. First: Yes, of
course, shoppers and boaters can damage the facility or people who use it. In
the
case of shoppers and tourists, there are now cameras that monitor their
activities (those who have crossed recently will have noticed the cameras),
just as
there are in Wal-Mart, etc. Boaters fall under the jurisdiction of the
Department of Homeland Security, in particular the U.S. Coast Guard. If
certain
birders feel that attacking fishermen's proximity to the islands is an
intelligent way to regain unrestricted, unmonitored access to the northern
three
islands, then they should at the very least direct comments to the correct
agency -
not to the CBBT administration. In my opinion, birders would do more harm than
good in a harangue against fishermen in this case. Second: Questioning the
good intentions and honesty of the CBBT staff and administration in regard to
the new birding protocol is unlikely to win their trust and friendship, much
less to loosen the rules of access. It has been dismaying to me to read
accusations of this sort - including one email that referred to the security
personnel as "jack-booted thugs." If we lose access altogether because of this
kind
of behavior on the part of fellow birders, I would wager that the bad blood
would persist for decades. Name-calling is the very nadir of ignorance in such
situations. Third: We assume that birders are birders and that we pose no one
a threat. As the security people have pointed out, repeatedly: they cannot
distinguish a birder from a nonbirder, much less a birder from a terrorist.
Their new protocol cannot even make the distinction; they are checking
backgrounds and identification cards in an effort to make it less likely that
someone
slips through security (as would have been easily done before the new
regulations), but it is still possible for security to be breached. This, in
their
view, is a concession to birders, a conferral of privilege that no other group
enjoys.
There is a new Executive Director of the CBBT, as most of you know: Jeffrey
B. Holland, who is quite young (mid-30s) and very pleasant. He has not been
involved in past meeting on the birding issue but will be this year. I'm sure
that he would welcome friendly, intelligent communication on the matter at:
Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel District
32386 Lankford Highway
Post Office Box 111
Cape Charles, VA 23310
fax:
(757) 331-4565
(part 3 to follow)
