[BCNnet] Clarification of Montrose Beach Pilot Dog Area

[Leslie Borns]

Bird People:

As you may have read recently on this chat line (please see message
attached below), the Dog Days of Summer have truly arrived at Montrose
Beach.  Yes, we are speaking of Chicago's most attractive and productive
beach for migratory shorebirds, which each year provides resting,
feeding, and in some cases, nesting habitat for increasingly scarce bird
species.  

It is difficult to make sense of the proposed doggie plan from both avian
and public health standpoints; however, a clarification is needed. 
According to the Chicago Park District, the entire length of Montrose
Beach will NOT be affected if the pilot plan is implemented.  Instead,
the eastern portion of Montrose Beach, a vegetated area of natural dunes
a little over two acres large and now fenced off permanently with a
seasonal protective fence, will NEVER go to the dogs.  No matter what
happens on the rest of Montrose Beach, the eastern dune portion will
continue to be off limits to dogs during ALL seasons of the year.  In
addition to the higher fines and increased police enforcement of dog
laws, the Park District intends to erect several new signs in the dune
habitat similar to the two existing bilingual signs stating, "No Dogs."

It looks like we'll have two completely different scenarios at opposite
ends of Montrose Beach:  NIGHT, to the north/west, and DAY, to the east. 
Let's hope when the pilot program ends, the light of day will shine on
the entire beach.


/Leslie Borns
Chicago/Cook
birdperson@juno.com	
__


-----Original Message-----

From: Birdchris@aol.com [mailto:Birdchris@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 18, 2002 11:48 AM
To: bcnnet@ece.iit.edu
Cc: cwilliamson@crain.com
Subject: [BCNnet] BCNnet: Montrose Beach Pilot Dog Area

A story from the forthcoming COS Birder newsletter that you may be
interested in...

Montrose Beach IS Going to the Dogs!
Birder Vigilance Needed

By Christine Williamson, COS Conservation Chair

Despite much scientific and birder opinion in support of keeping Montrose

Beach free of dogs to benefit shorebirds, the Chicago Park District
likely is 
introducing a LEGAL dog beach there in the fall.  The dog area will be
fenced off for use by dog walkers only. The area is small, located at the
northern end of the beach past the Wilson Boat Launch.

The dog beach area will be in use from April to November. Dog walkers may
use 
all of Montrose Beach in the mornings and late afternoons throughout the
winter months.  A delegation of birders and conservation activists met
with Chicago Park 
Superintendent, David Doig, in August. Superintendent Doig was cordial
and listened closely to birder arguments regarding keeping dogs off
Montrose Beach. He was sensitive to the needs of migrant shorebirds, but
nonetheless, said the pilot dog beach area may go forward. 

Superintendent Doig stressed that the program is a trial and that if dog
walkers do not confine their dogs to the dog area on Montrose Beach,
police will enforce the leash law and fine violators a minimum of $300
per violation. If dog walkers chronically disobey the leash laws and let
their pets roam elsewhere on the beach, the Park District will reconsider
the pilot program, Superintendent Doig said.

Conservation activists from a number of birding and environmental groups
are exploring ways to stop the pilot Montrose Dog Beach program, but if
it does go forward, birders should start keeping track of dog walker
violations and reporting their sightings. If this pilot program does not
keep dogs confined to the very northern part of Montrose Beach, we must
be quick to report our findings to the Park District. 

Please send the date, time, and nature of violation to me at
birdchris@aol.com. Still photos and video footage also would be useful.
If you do not have email, please keep a written log and mail it to me at
4016 N. Clarendon Ave., #3N, Chicago, IL 60613.

Christine Williamson
Chicago/Cook
birdchris!aol.com


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