Now only if we can get some of these sharpshooters to set up shop on 
Assateague to deal with the wild pony outbreak!

Save the birds,
Mike Burchett
Churchville, MD

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Hoff" <>
To: <>
Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 10:24 AM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Deer management plan - Rock Creek Park


> Though I suspect Norm will end this debate shortly, and rightly so, I
> feel an obligation to point out that Ellen and Dave's perspective is by
> no means shared by all of us. I would simply ask that we think carefully
> about whether our love for birds should cause us to kill other wildlife
> whose browsing impacts are the direct result of state wildlife
> mismanagement and the unwillingness of our own species to limit its
> impact on natural areas. Let's address the real problem, not the
> symptom.  'nuff said.   Chris Hoff
>
>
>
>  From:       "CURSON, David" <>
>
>  To:         
>
>  Date:       07/10/2009 09:21 AM
>
>  Subject:    Re: [MDOSPREY] Deer management plan - Rock Creek Park
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Ellen,
>
> Thanks for posting this. Overbrowsing by deer is one of the greatest
> threats to forest-interior songbirds in Maryland and I would encourage
> birders to submit comments and support the preferred alternative of a
> deer cull. This support will be needed to counter the outcry from many
> people who don't understand the need for deer control or who just don't
> like the idea of implementing it.
>
> Do you know when the deadline for comments is?
>
> Dave
>
> David Curson, PhD
> Director of Bird Conservation,
> Audubon Maryland-DC
> Tel: (410) 558 2473
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Tim Boucher
> Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 8:04 AM
> To: 
> Subject: [MDOSPREY] Deer management plan - Rock Creek Park
>
> I hope this topic is suitable for MdOsprey and if not, apologies to
> Norm. I'll understand if it is removed.
>
> Rock Creek Park has published a notice of the availability of a draft
> Environmental Statement for its deer management plan. Details below.
>
> I post this for two reasons:
>
> 1. The preferred alternative will have some impact on birding, in that
> the use of sharp shooters mandates the temporary closure of some parts
> of the park. Typically, sharp-shooters are deployed at night and into
> the early morning.
>
> 2. Every time a county or park tries to do something to reduce deer
> herds, there is a huge public outcry. If you support the park's plan -
> and I am not telling anyone that they should or shouldn't - but IF you
> do, please take the time to comment.
>
> To be honest, though, I will say that it is my opinion that the
> preferred alternative should be supported, for lots of reasons, but for
> the reason relative to birds - the need to protect understory habitat,
> which is really gone throughout most of the park.
>
> Immunocontraceptives are typically ineffective in open populations, and
> it is very hard to imagine that the NPS generally or the Rock Creek Park
> has enough funding for expensive exclosures - very high fences that also
> serve to keep birders out. We already have lethal control -
> unintentional though it may be - in the form of vehicles.
>
> Ellen Paul
> Chevy Chase MD
>