Burrowing Owls and security guards, Adams county

[Johnson, Candice E., MD.]

Today at 10 am my husband and I got out of our car on 96th Avenue near DIA and briefly saw 2 Burrowing Owls. We used our spotting scope & we noticed a couple of oil company trucks not too far away from the burrows.  We drove on & returned about 20 minutes later. At the same spot was a HSS security vehicle, which pulled up next to us & told us we had to move on. We protested that we were only birdwatchers, but the woman officer kept yelling until we closed our windows. She then harassed another car driven by a birder  with binocs across the road. Just a warning! I don't think they have any jurisdiction over the public highway, but I remain open to education.

Candice E. Johnson

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[Migrant]

I was the other birder that the stupendously self-important "officer" (or whatever she was- a wannabe of some sort) attempted to chase off. I chose not to be chased. When she said, "you need to move along" (with sort of the same intonation one would use on a ten-year-old potential miscreant, loitering outside the sweet shop, awaiting an opportunity to steal a lollipop), I asked why. She replied that all the land around there is owned by farmers, DIA, etc, etc. She didn't specify who owns the shoulder of the road, but I suspect it is a public right of way. When I appeared reluctant to follow her stentorian-voiced instructions, she declared that, by golly, she'd just call the police. I allowed that seemed to be a grand idea, and please do. I waited around for a while (unsuccessfully scanning for the owls), but no police appeared. 

I think she must be comrads-in-arms with Golf Cart Boy out at Latham.

Anyway, as Candace mentioned, I guess we have one more place where we offensive, aggressive, felonious birdwatchers are going to be harassed. I guess there aren't enough real criminals out there to keep these people busy......

Norm Lewis

Lakewood

Sent from my iPad

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[Ira Sanders]

I had a rent a cop try that with me at Marston.  He was inside the fence and I was outside.  He got as far with me as the rent a cop did with Norm at DIA.  I almost pleaded with him to call the cops.  I promised I would wait right there.

Imagine that when no cops showed up.

Ira Sanders

Golden

On Fri, Mar 31, 2017 at 11:46 PM, 'Migrant' via Colorado Birds <cob...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

I was the other birder that the stupendously self-important "officer" (or whatever she was- a wannabe of some sort) attempted to chase off. I chose not to be chased. When she said, "you need to move along" (with sort of the same intonation one would use on a ten-year-old potential miscreant, loitering outside the sweet shop, awaiting an opportunity to steal a lollipop), I asked why. She replied that all the land around there is owned by farmers, DIA, etc, etc. She didn't specify who owns the shoulder of the road, but I suspect it is a public right of way. When I appeared reluctant to follow her stentorian-voiced instructions, she declared that, by golly, she'd just call the police. I allowed that seemed to be a grand idea, and please do. I waited around for a while (unsuccessfully scanning for the owls), but no police appeared. 

I think she must be comrads-in-arms with Golf Cart Boy out at Latham.

Anyway, as Candace mentioned, I guess we have one more place where we offensive, aggressive, felonious birdwatchers are going to be harassed. I guess there aren't enough real criminals out there to keep these people busy......

Norm Lewis

Lakewood

Sent from my iPad

On Mar 31, 2017, at 6:05 PM, Johnson, Candice E., MD. <Candice.Johnson@childrenscolorado.org> wrote:

Today at 10 am my husband and I got out of our car on 96th Avenue near DIA and briefly saw 2 Burrowing Owls. We used our spotting scope & we noticed a couple of oil company trucks not too far away from the burrows.  We drove on & returned about 20 minutes later. At the same spot was a HSS security vehicle, which pulled up next to us & told us we had to move on. We protested that we were only birdwatchers, but the woman officer kept yelling until we closed our windows. She then harassed another car driven by a birder  with binocs across the road. Just a warning! I don't think they have any jurisdiction over the public highway, but I remain open to education.

Candice E. Johnson

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Ira Sanders

Golden, CO

"My mind is a raging torrent flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives."

[Susan Rosine]

There is an area where signs are posted No Stopping or Parking (something like that), but I've always pulled over every where else along that road. I wouldn't worry about it. She must be new. They know birders are always on that road.
Susan Rosine
Thornton

[Joe Roller]

I was curious about the extra vigilance you have described, so I researched the issue on line.

 It turns out that there was a recent Interpol bulletin about the threats and damage to reservoirs, especially

in parts of Great Britain and Germany. Terrorists have been posing as birders in order to avoid arousing suspicion 

from security guards. 

Dressed as birders, with binoculars, muddy boots and field guides, these miscreants have been found 

lurking close to large reservoirs. When no one seemed to be watching, one Isis commando was videotaped 

heaving a gunny sack full of zebra mussels over a fence, where it plopped into Fulz Reservoir, which is the

main water supply of Stuttgart, near the air force base.

When caught, he explained (translated from Farsi), "No way was I going to wear a suicide vest, so I opted for

the safer act of slowly destroying that reservoir with these noxious, invasive bivalves."

Be wary though out this day in early April, and the rest of month too.

Joe Roller, Denver

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[Ira Sanders]

April Fools!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Diana Beatty]

That is funny, but as a Muslim birder this stuff is not much of a joke to me.  I am afraid to go on any birding expeditions out of the country right now, or to even try to get on a plane to go somewhere in this country.  I was harassed and followed by security once for birding at the Xeriscape Gardens in Colorado Springs - apparently because it is owned by the local utility company the fact that I had a scarf and binoculars made me a terrorist.  I just don't trust the 'authorities' are always going to do the right thing because of my appearance.  I have heard the same thing from several birders of color.  I encourage those of you who are less marginalized to keep standing up when people push you like that because you might be indirectly helping out someone who wouldn't be able to do so.

Diana Beatty

El Paso County

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All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost.

[Norm Lewis]

I understand, and this why I encourage other birders not to let themselves be pushed around for no particular good reason. I make it a point never to pass a "private property" sign, to cross fences or enter anywhere that says "keep out". However, I find that more and more I am being harrassed for being in areas which appear have public access. "Golf Cart Boy" out at Latham once called the sheriff on me (he did it while I was standing there, so I know he actually did it; I overheard the conversation). I just stood there while he yelled at me that I was ignoring him, to which I replied, "Yep". He left, but I waited around for the authorities, who of course never appeared. They probably got a good laugh out of his report of a miscreant birder.

Anyway, if law enforcement gives me a valid reason way I should vacate an area, vacate I will. Yesterday's "officer" (who must have looking desperately for a reason to justify her existence) just sputtered about "DIA" and "private property" and really had no good reason why I should leave the area.

That's probably enough on this subject. Please obey all property signs and follow the ABA Code of Ethics. But I submit that there is no reason why birders should be bullied just because we have a reputation for being rather passive.  

Norm Lewis

Lakewood, CO

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[Beth Payne]

 Diana all of us that have birded with you know you are of no threat and I personally would stand strong against anyone that thinks differently. I normally do not post here.

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[Glenn Walbek, Castle Rock, CO]

I just read the ABA has implemented 'sanctuary hot spots', where birders can bird freely without fear of intimidation, deportation, or ID questioning.  Below is a partial list of these hot spots..

Walden Ponds

Baseline Reservoir

Gregory Canyon

Valmont Reservoir

Greenlee Preserve

Glenn Walbek

Castle Rock, CO

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID

On Apr 1, 2017 12:50 PM, 'Norm Lewis' via Colorado Birds <cob...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

I understand, and this why I encourage other birders not to let themselves be pushed around for no particular good reason. I make it a point never to pass a "private property" sign, to cross fences or enter anywhere that says "keep out". However, I find that more and more I am being harrassed for being in areas which appear have public access. "Golf Cart Boy" out at Latham once called the sheriff on me (he did it while I was standing there, so I know he actually did it; I overheard the conversation). I just stood there while he yelled at me that I was ignoring him, to which I replied, "Yep". He left, but I waited around for the authorities, who of course never appeared. They probably got a good laugh out of his report of a miscreant birder.

Anyway, if law enforcement gives me a valid reason way I should vacate an area, vacate I will. Yesterday's "officer" (who must have looking desperately for a reason to justify her existence) just sputtered about "DIA" and "private property" and really had no good reason why I should leave the area.

That's probably enough on this subject. Please obey all property signs and follow the ABA Code of Ethics. But I submit that there is no reason why birders should be bullied just because we have a reputation for being rather passive.  

Norm Lewis

Lakewood, CO

-----Original Message-----
From: Diana Beatty <otowi...@gmail.com>
Cc: Colorado Birds <cob...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Sat, Apr 1, 2017 11:12 am
Subject: Re: [cobirds] Burrowing Owls and security guards, Adams county

[Karl Stecher Jr.]

Is concealed carry legal there?

Or, if you're a turkey vulture, concealed carrion?

Karl Stecher

Centennial/Arapahoe

 

 

 

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From: "Glenn Walbek, Castle Rock, CO" <jun...@comcast.net>
Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2017 5:55 PM
To: migr...@aol.com
Cc: "Cobirds" <cob...@googlegroups.com>, otowi...@gmail.com

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[Ben S]

Surprisingly, although I am a 17 year old, I have never been questioned in this manner.

Ben Sampson
Centennial, CO

[Ted Floyd]

Glenn, we're trying to get the community college woods in Lamar, Prowers County, designated a sanctuary hotspot, but so far to no avail. See for yourself:

(This is one of two known instances in which Floyd family members have made it into the Lamar Ledger crime blotter. No foolin'.)

Ted Floyd

Lafayette, Sanctuary City, Boulder County

P.s. Check THIS out:

We the people of Lafayette, Colorado, declare alignment with the Seven Generations principle of the indigenous First Nations and understand the environment as common to all and base our actions upon its indefinite protection;
We the People of the City of Lafayette, Colorado, find that global environmental destruction, which includes degradation to the climate, ecosystems, flora, fauna, land, and water, constitutes an emergency that threatens our very survival;
All residents and ecosystems of the City of Lafayette possess a right to a healthy climate, which shall include the right to be free from all activities that interfere with that right, including the extraction of coal, oil, or gas, or disposal of drilling waste within the City of Lafayette.
All residents of the City of Lafayette possess the right to enforce this law.
If the City of Lafayette fails to enforce or defend this law, or a court
fails to uphold this law, any person may enforce this law through nonviolent direct action. If nonviolent direct action is taken to enforce the provisions of this law, law enforcement personnel employed by the City of Lafayette shall be prohibited from arresting or detaining persons directly enforcing this law.

And you thought the City of Boulder, proper, was leftist! They ain't got nothin' on us out in the People's Republic of Lafayette!

[Bob Santangelo]

I would recommend that you follow any advice given to you by a sworn peace officer who has constitutional authority and power of arrest.  Privately hired "security" personnel do not have any such authority and compliance or non-compliance is at your discretion. They are not allowed to harass or threaten you and you have the option of reporting them to the local authorities and I recommend that you do that.