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Wings over Water--Register Next Year!!



As most of you know, this year's Wings over Water event on the Outer
Banks was very successful.  Nice weather and lots of really good birds.

However, I would like to go back to a topic that was discussed on
CarolinaBirds back before the event--i.e. people showing up on the Outer
Banks the weekend of the event and not registering, knowing that they
will still be able to look for rare birds found by WOW leaders and
participants.

Next year, I hope everyone birding on the Outer Banks during the WOW
weekend registers for the event, whether they plan to go on any
organized field trips or not.  The reason I urge this is that birds and
birding desperately need more political clout.  Consider for instance a
public hearing on restricting ORV use in areas used by breeding Piping
Plovers or some other similar topic.  In these hearings, the topic
typically gets framed as "economy verus environmental fluff".  We need
for local businesses and politicians to see that birds and birding can
also be "the economy".  Thus, a larger number of registrants over Wings
over Water could be a good thing politically.  So, next year, if you're
going to the Outer Banks on Wings over Water weekend,  please register.
Let's change that--next year, make it a point to go to the Outer Banks
for the Wings over Water weekend (even if you don't plan to attend any
field trips), and register for the event.  It only costs about $25.
Think of it as a very important contribution.  And if you really can't
afford it, then get everyone in your group to chip in for one
registration fee.  Come to think of it, even if you don't plan to go,
you could still register.

John Fussell
Morehead City, NC
jfuss@clis.com