Many thanks, Christine. You've made a very important point.
I also see that the Shawangunk Grasslands NWR website has an extensive
section on the preserve's rules and regulations, and that they expressly forbid
visitors from leaving the trails and runways.
(Perhaps, in some cases, a volunteer might need to do this on some limited
basis, but it should not be in such a way as to disturb the wildlife or
habitat. Moreover, that volunteer (if not accompanied by a Fish & Wildlife
Service employee) should have some sort of explicit written permission to
do so.
Being a "volunteer" isn't a licence to disturb wildlife and violate the
rules.
I've copied below some of the relevant sections of the SGNWR website.
Thanks again.
===============
"We carefully considered past uses and now prohibit activities that are not
wildlife-dependent or activities that can disturb wildlife or the
"wildlife experience" sought by refuge visitors. Prohibited uses include:
* Horseback riding
* Dog walking
* Jogging
* All terrain vehicles (ATV=s)
* Snowmobiles
* Bicycles
* Competitive outdoor events
* Model airplane flying
* Take off or landing of aircraft and hang gliders
"Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge is open to the public
during daylight hours. No entry permit is required. Because of potential
safety
hazards left by the military, public access is restricted to existing
roadway and runways."
....
"Important Information for Visitors" [excerpts see link below for full
information]
* Use of motorized vehicles is prohibited throughout the refuge.
Motorized vehicles disturb wildlife, can cause soil erosion, disturb other
refuge visitors, and shatter the tranquility of the refuge.
* Observe wildlife from a safe and respectful distance. Binoculars,
spotting scopes, and telephoto lenses allow you to view wildlife closely
without disturbing them. Please stay on maintained trails.
* Jogging is not allowed on refuge trails. The quieter you walk, the
less likely you are to disturb the wildlife adjacent to the trail.
* Bicycling is not allowed anywhere on the refuge. Bicycling erodes
nature trails, disturbs refuge visitors and can disturb wildlife.
* Horseback riding is not allowed anywhere on the refuge. Horses
erode nature trails, disturb other refuge visitors, and leave non-native weed
seeds in horse droppings.
===========
For more information, here's a link to the site.
_http://www.fws.gov/northeast/shawangunk/visitor%20opportunities.htm_
(http://www.fws.gov/northeast/shawangunk/visitor%20opportunities.htm)
This refuge is an amazing place. Many of us from out of state travel
quite a distance to enjoy the wildlife there and the general peace and quiet.
We appreciate all that people have done to save and preserve this
outstanding and vitally important grassland area.
Best,
John Workman
Ridgewood, NJ
In a message dated 1/21/2010 6:19:45 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:
Perhaps he was a volunteer, but it seems to me as if he was using his
guise as a volunteer to pursue his personal photography hobby. By
driving off the runways he was giving visitors the impression that
this was somehow permissible, and he gave this impression to the 20-
something visitors on the warmest Sunday of this winter. If he wants
to drive around on the grass then tell walkers that they shouldn't
approach too closely, he is sending "do as I say not as I do"
message. And if he wants to engage in this behavior, he should do it
during the week when the refuge isn't crowded with people.
Christine Guarino
New Paltz, NY
On Jan 20, 2010, at 9:07 AM, Peter Relson wrote:
> Nadine Scarpa forwarded to me a post from nysbirds which you might
> not have seen:
>
> <<start-post>>
> Subject: RE: [nysbirds-l] about SGNWR regs/he was a volunteer
>
> The person was a volunteer at the grasslands as I spoke to him as he
> was leaving the grasslands. He showed me his identification and id
> numbers that indicated he was a volunteer. He stated he used his
> own vehicle b/c his truck was large enough for all his photography
> equipment. I said the vehicle should have an identifiying seal even
> if was a magnetic one. However he had the id on him plus a USFW
> hat. I said he could cause ill will among birders by him just
> driving around without identifying himself or other volunteers. He
> said his role was to monitor the grasslands and the wildlife as well
> as the people on the grasslands. If I recall the conversation he
> said birders and others gave him a hard time when he suggested not
> flushing the owls or approaching too closely. He did say “something
> or someone did flush the owls early on Saturday.
> Diana teta
> Long island, ny
> <<end-post>>
>
> The refuge folks told me that, while the volunteer is permitted to
> drive within the refuge, he is not permitted to drive off of the
> runway and they will be dealing with that issue.
>
> Peter Relson
> Ulster Park
>
From: christine guarino <[email protected]>
To: Peter Relson <[email protected]>
Cc: nysbirds-l <[email protected]>; [email protected]
Sent: Sun, January 17, 2010 6:45:03 PM
Subject: [Mearnsbirdclub] Re: [MidHudsonBirds] SGNWR - Ulster County
At least 6 Short-eared owls were present at the Shawangunk Grasslands
NWR on Saturday and many N Harriers as well. I haven't seen any Rough-
legged Hawks since January 9th. There were at least 20 birders, all
of whom should have gotten nice looks at the Owls.
I also wondered about the photographer (see Peter Relson's post below)
driving all over the refuge in his blue Dodge Ram 1500 truck with a
utility cap. The gate was locked and I don't know how he got in,
unless he somehow was there with permission of the refuge managers.
He was not driving on the runways and I saw his wheels spinning in the
soft ground on a number of occasions. He drove very close to a group
of 3 Short-ears sitting on the same branch of a deciduous tree.
We'll see how long the Owls hang around after this evening's weather
and the recent photographic encroachment.
Christine Guarino
New Paltz, NY
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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