Marylanders,

I realize this is a Virginia topic, but I feel it will affect many in 
states that border Virginia so I am forwarding it to this listserv.  I 
hope Norm will forgive my breaking the rules, just this once as access 
to the CBBT for birding privileges is enjoyed by many and thus will be 
missed by many.  Please do not send further discussions of this 
MDOsprey!  I just want to get the word out so we can get as much help as 
possible in retaining our privileges to this excellent birding resource.

Sue

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	CBBT Closure for birding: WHERE TO WRITE (ASAP)
Date: 	Thu, 03 Mar 2005 15:26:08 -0500 (EST)
From: 	
To: 	



PLEASE POST, PASS, AND FORWARD THE FOLLOWING TO ALL PARTS:

Hi all birders, in Virginia and beyond,

We stand the chance of losing our privilege to bird on the northern three 
islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel THIS COMING TUESDAY, at a meeting of 
the CBBT Commission.  For those who can come, THIS MEETING HAS A PUBLIC 
COMMENTS SECTION.  You should arrive at the Administrative building (just west of 
the North Toll Plaza) at about 0900-0915 to sign up to speak.  The meeting will 
start at 0930 sharp.

I spoke with Lorraine Smith, Director of Public Relations at the CBBT today, 
and she reports that it is the CONSENSUS of the Security personnel that 
birding be terminated on these islands "for security reasons."  This decision has 
been forwarded to the Commissioners for their consideration at their next 
meeting, which is this coming TUESDAY, 8 MARCH 2005 at 0930.

Over the next FOUR DAYS, then, we have an opportunity to make our voice heard 
by FAXING LETTERS (postal service is very slow and often comes through 
Maryland here); that is the best way to make your sentiments known.  The CBBT fax 
number is 757-331-4565.   

Two individuals could be addressed in this matter.  The most important is the 
current Chair of the Commission:

Mr. Lucius J. Kellam III, Chairman and Interim Executive Director
Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission
P. O. Box 111
Cape Charles, Virginia 23310

(Again, it's best to FAX this letter to him.  If you DON'T have access to a 
fax, you could easily email your thoughts to a friend who has a fax machine.)

The next person to fax, at the same number, but with a slightly different 
letter, would be:

Mr. Clement Pruitt
Security
Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel 
P. O. Box 111
Cape Charles, Virginia 23310

There are 1000 things one might say in crafting letters to these people.  A 
few ideas are below, but everyone will have a different idea.  The main thing 
is (as this is the Eastern Shore) to keep the tone calm, civil, and constructive
.  Angry letters reduce the chances for success; please take my word in this. 
 

A few ideas to be directed to Mr. Kellam: 

1) Birders have visited the islands for 41 years without incident.  All 
genuine problems of which we are aware have been occasioned by people stopping 
without authorization.

2) We truly appreciate the opportunity to observe birds from these islands 
(which are superior to the public island for viewing birds, for many reasons), 
as they have added immensely to our enjoyment of Virginia wildlife (a good word 
to use often) and to our knowledge of Virginia avifauna.

3) In the birding community, we tend to police ourselves well and put a stop 
to behavior that's unethical or improper, which is fortunately very rare.

4) We contribute thousands per year to the coffers of the CBBT and tens of 
thousands of dollars to the Eastern Shore, where ecotourism - thanks to the CBBT 
in part - is flourishing.

5) The fruits of the marvelous public relations campaign to attract birders 
to the CBBT, funded by the Commission, are just now starting to be seen in 
terms of tourist dollars here.  We would be dismayed to see that end.

6) The first island, where the amenities are much appreciated, nevertheless 
is the least rich in birdlife of the four islands, in part because of 
disturbances and lack of habitat, in part because of its position closest inshore, 
where birds are similar to the adjacent First Landing State Park, etc.

7) The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Christmas Bird Count, now 11 years old, 
will cease to be (it is conducted from the northern two islands).  This count 
detected not only a host of species not recorded anywhere else in Virginia but 
two gull species not previously recorded on American Christmas Bird Counts.   
The loss of this data stream, which is archived with National Audubon Society, 
would be lamentable.  

8) University groups would lose the opportunity to teach their classes about 
sea ducks, maritime sandpipers, Great Cormorants, and other speciality species 
in Virginia - especially at the close range afforded by these islands.

9) People who have crossed the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay by ferry, and who 
have birded every year on the CBBT since 1964, will have their privileges 
erased - people who certainly pose no threat to the facility or to shipping 
traffic.  

10) Young people and people who have just begun birding in the East will be 
deprived one of its prime locations before they even have the chance to 
appreciate it.  

11) The reputation of the Commission as an open, fair, beneficent body open 
to ecotourism and other sorts of tourism (biking, walking) will be jeopardized.

12) Birdwatching groups - from Audubon societies, bird clubs, the Virginia 
Society of Ornithology, large tour companies, and small-group tours - will be 
denied access to sites that have been on their regular rosters since the CBBT 
was completed in April 1964.  The opportunity to advance the cause of wildlife 
and waterfowl conservation in Virginia will be lost if this showpiece is 
off-limits.

To Mr. Pruitt, whose concern is security, a few other points:

1) We understand that the Dept. of Homeland Security will close the fences 
recently erected.  If this is the case, then we will respect the Dept.'s decree 
that we remain behind the fence and observe birds only on the open end of the 
island.

2) We understand that there is concern for birders' and other motorists 
safety in the scenario in which the jetty-end of the islands are off-limits to 
birdwatching.  The fear is that birdwatchers will fail to observe the rule that 
they not cross a lane of traffic when entering or exiting the tunnels.  We 
suggest instead that we would be most happy to continue to adhere to this rule, 
which we currently follow, and would - instead of crossing traffic - return to 
areas where U-turns are safe and authorized by Security personnel (such as the 
first island) - again, instead of crossing any lane of traffic illegally.

[This last point is important to get across and SHOULD be emphasized ALSO to 
Mr. Kellam.]

3) We sometimes fail to appreciate our DEEP APPRECIATION to your Division for 
its hard work to keep us all safe on the span, in the tunnels, and on the 
islands.  We understand that the extra burden of keeping track of birdwatchers - 
and checking our permits and licenses - is a chore that most any Security 
force would sooner be without, like so many additional duties we all carry after 
the 11th of September.  We would ask that you reconsider your position to close 
the northern three islands because we take such tremendous pleasure from 
watching the ducks and other birds out there that our lives as Virginia 
wildlife-watchers would be severely curtailed.  It would be like ending deer season 
permanently in a whole county because of the possibility that one hunter will be a 
threat to security.  

4) So many security measures after 11 September have gone overboard in their 
attempts to protect life and property - we birdwatchers are now frequently 
stopped by law enforcement officials when pursuing our hobby, and when one has 
spent [many decades] in Virginia without such treatment, it's a hard pill to 
swallow living in this modern age.  We truly hope that the Security folks 
understand how important our hobby, our passion is to us and how hard it would be to 
be excluded from one of our very favorite places in the state.

That's it.  There's more to say, but my nerves are rattled and my fingers 
sore.  If possible, please pass this message on to your local listserves, to 
Bird-Chat, to any state/regional listserves, etc.  The more faxes they get at the 
CBBT, the better!  You might also phone 757-331-2960 to confirm that your 
fax(es) was/were received and put in the receipient's mailbox at the 
Administrative Offices.

Let's not give up our privileges without at least having our voices heard!

Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA



-- 
Susan A. Heath
George Mason University
Environmental Science Department
Fairfax, VA

Secretary, Virginia Avian Records Committee
Keeper, Virginia Comp List at www.virginiabirding.org