Norm Murr's account of an unfriendly landowner at Prospect Marsh is an unfortunate symptom of recent concerns among some Carden landowners that ecological values may restrict their "development rights" in future. This has resulted in considerable resistance to any form of protection for alvars and bird habitats in the proposed City of Kawartha Lakes Official Plan, and fear about the consequences of anyone finding a Loggerhead Shrike on private lands.
Through the Carden Plain Important Bird Area committee, we are working to find solutions that most landowners can live with, including offering them friendlier versions of signs. While you certainly have every right to travel on local roads and to observe birds on adjacent lands, we would suggest the following guidelines: 1) DO NOT TRESPASS on private lands - it only creates hard feelings and mistrust of birders. 2) Be aware of nearby houses and homesteads, and don't scope towards them; respect the privacy of people who live here. 3) Make sure your vehicles are not blocking traffic. 4) If you are confronted by an unfriendly landowner, respond in a polite and neutral manner, or simply move on. 5) If you are buying food or gas in the area (and we encourage you to leave some money behind), try to make sure the business knows you have come here to bird, to reinforce the connection with local economic development. Remember that the Windmill Ranch along the west side of Wylie Road (from about 1 km north of MacNamee Road to well past Sedge Wren Marsh) is now conservation property. And most Carden landowners, even some with concerns about their landowner rights, still welcome birders to the area. Ron Ron Reid Executive Director, The Couchiching Conservancy Box 704, Orillia, Ontario, L3V 6K7 (705)326-1620 From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mon May 1 14:37:37 2006 Return-Path: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Delivered-To: [email protected] Received: from BAYC1-PASMTP05.bayc1.hotmail.com (bayc1-pasmtp05.bayc1.hotmail.com [65.54.191.165]) by king.hwcn.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id C82A864071 for <[email protected]>; Mon, 1 May 2006 14:37:19 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> X-Originating-IP: [70.51.113.200] X-Originating-Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Received: from your55e5f9e3d2 ([70.51.113.200]) by BAYC1-PASMTP05.bayc1.hotmail.com over TLS secured channel with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.1830); Mon, 1 May 2006 11:37:19 -0700 From: "Eleanor Beagan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Date: Mon, 1 May 2006 14:37:20 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Microsoft Office Outlook, Build 11.0.5510 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2869 Thread-Index: AcZtTkd0bwOBHWi7SgmRnKKoiVqhXw=Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> X-OriginalArrivalTime: 01 May 2006 18:37:19.0387 (UTC) FILETIME=[4711E6B0:01C66D4E] Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.1 Subject: [Ontbirds]Sandhill Crane at Carden X-BeenThere: [email protected] X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 01 May 2006 18:37:37 -0000 Birders, Yesterday afternoon, I saw a Sandhill Crane on a ranch east of County Rd. 35. where it intersects with Curtis Rd. The crane has been there for two weeks or more. Re Ron Reid's post about Landowners relations on the Carden Alvar: For the past 15 years, I have been peacefully birding the Carden Alvar and surrounding areas. It has been my experience that birders have the utmost respect for private land, farm houses, and pulling well over on the road. I have spent many moments chatting to the friendly ranchers, who would be repairing their fences. Several time I herded the run away cattle back into their area and contacted farmers when their cattle were heading for a busy road. In all my years of birding and watching butterflies, I have never witnessed a fellow birder trespassing or being disrespectful of fenced private property. The last thing we birders need is any more signs of any description! In my opinion, the birders and the birds are getting a bad rap. It is my hope that pleasant rapport can be quickly restored for all stakeholders. Thank you, Eleanor Beagan OFO Membership Secretary [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.ofo.ca [EMAIL PROTECTED] Direction: The Carden Alvar can be reached by driving 2.6 km north on County Rd. 6 out of Kirkfield. Take a right turn at McNamee Rd and a left turn onto Wylie Rd. To reach County Rd 35, continue on McNamee Rd until it T-bones at C. 35. Then turn north. Curtis Rd. runs east off C. 35, just south of The Alvar Rd.
