I got a letter today from the DNR about something this list might find
of interest.  It is regarding those proposed wind farms on State land
in Western, MD.

If you have something to say about it, whether it be pro or con, here
is your chance.

DNR has decided to conduct a public process to help guide the
development of a state policy governing the use of public lands for
wind power turbines and related infrastructure.

Citizen input will be solicited at TWO public meetings (Jan 30th in
Grantsville and 31st in Annapolis), and during a 30-day written
comment period.

Please participate in this process, the letter urges, as the
information we receive will be a critical component of our public
policy development.

The letter offers that more information is available by calling
410.260.8100 / John Griffin (Secretary of the DNR), or 410.260.8501
for Steven W/ Koehn (State Forester/Director of the DNR Forest
Service).

In my personal opinion, if a private company wants to generate
electricity (and profit), they are welcome to do so. I just think it's
wrong to do it on public lands.

I urge everyone who cares about protecting Maryland's open / natural /
wild space to GET INVOLVED.

---------------------------------------------------

Finally, I finally got a chance to go birding today.  My son was born
on Dec 28th, so to save that I've been preoccupied would be an
understatement!

I was happy to observe the following today:

Location:    Private Property off of Forest Drive / Spa Road in Annapolis
Observation date:     1/19/08
Number of species:     22

Turkey Vulture     2
Red-shouldered Hawk     1
Merlin     1
Herring Gull     3
Mourning Dove     2
Red-bellied Woodpecker     1
Downy Woodpecker     1
Northern Flicker     3
Blue Jay     9
American Crow     7
Carolina Chickadee     3
Tufted Titmouse     2
Carolina Wren     3
American Robin     6
Northern Mockingbird     8
Cedar Waxwing     15
Eastern Towhee     2
Fox Sparrow     1
White-throated Sparrow     21
Dark-eyed Junco     5
Northern Cardinal     12
American Goldfinch     4

Location:     Greenbury Point Nature Center (Navy)
Observation date:     1/19/08
Number of species:     29

Mallard     3
Canvasback     35
Greater/Lesser Scaup     7
Ruddy Duck     350
Double-crested Cormorant     2
Great Blue Heron     1
Red-shouldered Hawk     1
Red-tailed Hawk     1
American Kestrel     1
American Coot     3
Mourning Dove     2
Red-bellied Woodpecker     1
Downy Woodpecker     1
Northern Flicker     4
Blue Jay     9
American Crow     7
Carolina Chickadee     4
Tufted Titmouse     2
Carolina Wren     3
Hermit Thrush     2
American Robin     5
Northern Mockingbird     11
Brown Thrasher     2
Cedar Waxwing     11
Eastern Towhee     1
White-throated Sparrow     18
White-crowned Sparrow     1
Dark-eyed Junco     5
Northern Cardinal     14

Location:     My Home in West Annapolis
Observation date:     1/19/08
Number of species:     10

Great Blue Heron     1
Downy Woodpecker     1
American Crow     2
Carolina Chickadee     1
Carolina Wren     1
Northern Mockingbird     1
Cedar Waxwing     250
White-throated Sparrow     2
Northern Cardinal     5
House Sparrow     5

These reports were generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Good Birding,

Dan Haas
West Annapolis, MD
http://wahzoh.blogspot.com/