Public Relations Issue at Yaquina

[Bill Briskey]

Fellow pilots -

We are carefully dealing with an issue in Newport at Yaquina Head with regard to birds.  Some avid birdwatchers (they set up cameras in the area every day during the nesting phase of Peregrine Falcons and probably other birds) saw two hangs and a mini-wing fly the same day that a female Falcon disappeared.  She left her mate to try to feed four hungry chicks, and the birders are blaming pilots for the disappearance.  

During the following few weeks, the male fed the four chicks and against all odds he got them to the point where they are about to fledge.  Now HE has disappeared and there is quite a stir about whether to intervene to try to save the chicks or to let nature take its course; this has generated enough publicity that a local news service picked up the story.  So far, the story does NOT include us pilots, but some members of the "Friends of Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area" are trying to get all aviation banned during nesting season regardless that there is no evidence of a connection to the disappearances.   In order to reduce the chance of that happening, those of us involved in keeping the peace request that no one fly there until at least mid July.  We are currently trying to gather evidence of pilot/bird compatibility so we can begin educating park personnel and any others we can but this is slow in coming together and will be too late to help much this season.  We are, however, in it for the long game and are actively talking with park authorities.  

Thanks for your support!

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Bill Briskey