Great job Rodney!
Many thanks to you, Sgt. Kelso, MD DNR Police and others for keeping order in this horrible situation.
I couldn't believe in what I saw in the pictures posted here and on the Flickr.
Thank you Stuart, pepperman, for bringing this matter to our attention!
Rodney, a big Thanks! to your commitment to getting these guys under control. It's a pity that action like this was needed. Both of the offenders obviously have no regard for either the well being of the eagles, or the time of the other photographers. They were only thinking about themselves. I have added the phone number to my phone and will not hesitate to use it if I see behavior such as this.
Have gotten in touch with the chief Exelon Environmental Issues attorney. He is shocked by the jerks' activities and is looking into the Exelon response to this. Unfortunately their guards are, as we here have figured, from a third party company, and do not have any extended police training nor do they carry weapons. I expect to have some more information from Exelon as the week progresses.
Also talked with Col Johnson with the MD Natural Resources Police. I passed on our appreciation of Sgt Kelso's response on this. Figuring it is a good idea to compliment the boss. It looks like we can keep in touch with them and that will help maintain a good relationship. After all photographers are not bad allies for them to have when they need to identify NR violators. The Col appreciates that and thanked us for working with them.
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Didn't make it down there today. The early cloud cover kind of wiped out the day. I'll be looking o get there either Thursday or Friday.
And I want to thank you all here for your support of the eagles. Both Pepperman & I appreciate your posts here. If you see violations like this, don't hesitate to get us the information.
Another big thanks Rodney for your diligence in putting a stop to this and helping protect our birds. I lost a good day on the 21st when the jerk in the kayak flushed all the birds on the island but my real worry is losing the site if behaviors like this increase and the Eagles start avoiding the area. I will keep and use contact information and phone number you posted if I see any more boneheads disturbing the birds.
If I see him I will block his car in the parking lot, and wait for the Feds to show up as he is a Homeland Security Risk that close to the dam.
When it comes down to a security risk he is guilty until he proves otherwise.
DanStugan wrote:
If I see him I will block his car in the parking lot, and wait for the Feds to show up as he is a Homeland Security Risk that close to the dam.
When it comes down to a security risk he is guilty until he proves otherwise.
That could possibly get you in trouble. It's best to take the license plate number, and cops deal with it.
Ted ellis wrote:
While we are at it, let's get these suckers too.
Ted
Were they past the sign located on the island? If not, they have every right to do what they're doing. If they were past the sign...carry on with your witch hunt.
The one day I went to Conowingo the action was great in the morning. Little did I know they decided to clear some brush from under the tower closest to the dam located on the island...of course, everything left. Once the work was done, some Eagles came back but by that time the dam stopped generating power. A few fisherman ventured out in their boats as well...I heard some grumbles from other photographers but to me fisherman have every right to be out there as long as they obey the posted signs. Heck, there's a boat ramp there for a reason right?
Great work guys, it's good to see everyone working together to take care of these jerks that spoil things for everyone else. It would be nice if someone dropped off a box of donuts at the police station. Or better yet, I bet a couple of nice Eagle prints would sure spruce up the walls of the police station. It sounds like a long term relationship is developing.
Man I'm so glad I got there earlier this year (and thanks to all who were there and showed me the ropes)! I got some great shots that I will treasure for a lifetime and that have brought smiles to all I've showed them to. I'd have been PISSED if I had seen jerks like this ruining it for everyone...
I'm glad you guys have been helping to 'bring them to justice' but hope nobody resorts to physical violence or otherwise tries to inser themselves into the situation, let the authorities handle it!
I'm new here, but I had to agree with Duane N.; and add a few more comments.
From what I've read here, heard there, including a brief talk with a DNR officer (sorry, I don't recall the name) during my visit to Conowingo was that any boater within 400 meters of the dam is trespassing and committing a violation (DHS); and that they'll issue warnings/citations to anyone who violates it. He added that this will include anyone who trespasses onto the island or any area within 400 meters north (or south) of the dam.
But, he also clarified that any area outside this 'zone' is legally open to public use, including allowing visitors into the dam premises that allows us to fish or take photos per their agreement with MD state. Therefore, the dam is not exclusive to either photographers (esp., among those who may have commercial interests), fisherman or recreational boaters during this season. Any portion outside the 400m perimeter from the dam is "public", always has been; and everyone, has a right to be there. On this thought, this includes any photographer who chooses to paddle out there (from 400 meters), but can't afford $7-10,000.00 super telephoto lenses; any fisherman who spent $7-10K for his bass boat; any kayaker who spent $3K for his kayak; .. or all of the above.
The officer also shared that the company, which leases the land from the State of MD, had sometimes granted employees special permission to hunt access the river during duck season (btw. duck season starts again Dec 14th). Apparently, if I heard correctly, some employees or locals may had formed a hunting club who obtained special agreements by the operators.
Overall, it's clear that the operators/owners of the dam were not sensitive to the other activities that's popular among their visitors to the dam,.. esp ornithologists and photographers who traveled from afar. Now, they are. And fwiw, it's more than likely that any type of hunting permission will now be forbidden due to the legitimate concerns that many have raised to them.
But my MAIN point is that all sides need to communicate AND to "reciprocally" respect the rights of any MD resident who exercises his/her type of recreation/hobby along the dam, when conducted legally on public land, ... anytime of the year. The comments here seem lopsided, esp favoring those with super lenses. But that's understandable, as these forums are specific for photography.
If there needs to be policies changes, then it seems that there are enough activists here who can make it happen with MD officials and its representatives.
Nice first post Pirate. I'm in agreement. Even though the dam boaters and dam kayakers are an annoyance to the dam photographers, they do have every dam right to be there. Personally, I don't see what all the dam excitement is about.
Ah it looks like the main reason for the concerns here has been forgotten. So I will summarize what went on.
There were two individuals who were interfering with the feeding and perching of the bald eagles and other birds on the island. That is in violation of Wildlife regulations and is a pretty thoughtless thing to do to the wildlife. And the island has always had "NO Trespassing" signs. So there are Natural Resources violations involved both state and federal, plus trespass violations.
Both of these individuals were photographers. Their actions were also way out of line for getting photographs at the dam. The birds are used to and tolerate people where they usually find them which is on the one side of the river along the parking lot. But they are not very accepting of people in other places there, particularly when people go to and onto that island.
The issue is not and was not with fishermen. The one picture in teh thread showing two fishermen fishing was not the main concern. The issue was two people violating Natural Resources and federal wildlife regulations and taking actions which are not in the birds' best interests.
Both photographers and birders were concerned and got involved in this. The incident was serious enough to be followed, I believe, in three photography forums and I believe also in 4 or 5 birding forums, as well as being included in one birder mail list.
We were able to effectively involve the MD Natural Resources police and both individuals are being dealt with by law enforcement authorities. Additionally, Exelon has taken steps to discourage such actions in the future which includes instructing their guards to be more active in the case of future encroachments.
And yes people lost photo opportunities due to the jerks. But the issue is the interference with the birds and the safety of our critters.
Hope that clarifies the situation and the actions taken. And MD NR police are now monitoring the area activities and have met with photographers there. So we also opened up a good line of communication. Again the issue is not with the area fishermen.
Thanks Again Rodney! That clarification is important! I may have taken off of work and then lost my photo opportunities however I am grateful that we have these opportunities! It was not that long ago that these beautiful creatures were not to be seen and the fear was that the only place that they might be seen was in history books! Thanks Again!
Rodney, thanks for the clarification. I think everyone is in agreement that these people violated basics rules of common sense and respect for the wildlife at the very least. Whether they had a legal right or not to be there is irrelevant to my feelings about their bad behaviour and disrespect for the wildlife. If I weren't a photographer I would still feel the same way. I've been at the dam at times when I was waiting in the brush for hours for the eagles to land and eat their catch only to have them scared away by inconsiderate people running up to them thinking they are in a petting zoo. I guess what I'm trying to say is it is bad enough the wildlife have their natural habitat encroached upon by us, we should at least collectively have the common sense and good manners to view them from a distance so we don't cause any more trauma to them. We should all know better.
I'll be looking o get there either Thursday or Friday.
