Just read the fb link classic I can just see the head lines "Naked birds Scare Naked Birds" Now thats some funny sh#t
Well just on a point of order, I must point out that MM sailors were less than half the total number in there. And the main subject of the pics was a CST member.
So if you're going to rename anybody it should be Coastal Speed Team. I suggest something like The Abomoes.
But to be fair, Pinnas were also in there, so we could have Pinnaboms, manaboms and coastaboms
From the photos it would appear that Hot Sails are the sail of choice for Hooning Swan killers.
Any chance of some of the sailors teaming up with local authorities to assist in maintaining the area or marking out dedicated walk ways etc, try to get a good news story.
So quickly we fall out of fashion, we've been overtaken by hovercraft
www.facebook.com/EyesOnTheWaterPeel/photos/a.1422783411346161.1073741828.1413586345599201/1491226044501897/?type=1&theater
I wouldn't say that all of us in the Mandurah Mob are nutters. OK, granted, some are close to the edge but we are, on the whole, improving immensely thanks to careful medication.
We know that, unfortunately they have come to realize that we (collectively speaking) have done nothing illegal so they can only slag us of.
Fortunately we've always been in communications with the relevant authorities and are currently being proactive still working out guidelines.
Unfortunately, the Paddler's and bird watchers are extremely militant and are not shy in spreading a liberal amount hysteria and bulls1t around (and here we thought they were trying to reduce nutrient runoff), we should feel lucky that ANY watercraft not using a paddle is allowed on the 300km² of Peel inlet.
No doubt they have seen the comments on the news article and are muttering like Bominator when someone contradicts him.
An interesting recent post from Mr Lester on his Facebook page, expressing frustration at not getting any response from the Relevant Authorities. I wonder if this is in relation to the recent events on the Pond.
www.facebook.com/craig.lester.311/posts/1615529528725483?pnref=story#
Ah the smugness of the righteous who think they are saving the world from the uncaring masses. They see the world only from their narrow point of view.
Nicely put Jamie I cant wait to meet these people they might see a big bird in there binoculars the one from my middle finger!
I love how they tagged and "liked" the photos of the sailors the turn around and bag the event.
Amusing play on words and actions. It's the little things
Well I've had a nice constructive chat with Craig Lester, he's certainly no ogre, just a guy who's been retrieving sick and broken birds from the estuary, that have been run over by jet skis and the like. His negative reaction to Joanne's photos and her description of us running birds over is completely understandable.
He still thinks it's inappropriate for us to be in there, (the canoe club have agreed not to go in there) but he's prepared to live in the real world, and help us minimise any negative impact we may have on the environment.
As far as the Samphire goes, walking thru it can create trails which are then eaten out by hide tide storm surges, causing a loss of habitat. So it's probably better if we walk our rigs along the channel.
In the conditions we sail in there, birds especially swans are in there for the same reason, protection from the rough water.
Swans are in there to feed, they're grazing on all that bottom weed.
So if there is a flock in the way, sail through them as gently as possible so they cam move out the way without panicking, hopefully they'll move to a part of the lagoon we aren't using, if so do as little as possible to disturb them again.
I've invited Craig to join this discussion, please don't bite his head off, he didn't bite mine off.
Congratulations, Mike, for defusing the situation. We are lucky to have you as our team Captain and you have just given us a captain's innings.
Many thanks!
Good going decrept & Craig, it's good for both sides to be able to put across a perspective. At the end of the day both sides have some merit in their words & actions, and yeah we should even refrain from shallow or generalising comments as I did. I dunno bout you west aussie folks but I dont know too many windsurfers who dont respect & appreciate nature & attempt to leave as small a footprint as possible. If I saw a windsurfer sail into a flock of birds or as alleged I would feel exactly the same as the bird watchers, but I just cant see guys doing that. A jumping mullet hurts enough at pace so I wouldnt like to collide with a feathered friend either.
Sometimes excluding those that may care is not such a good outcome, ive also found that birds dont tend to be put off by windsurfing, & if there are low impact users such as us, canoes, sups etc on the water operating at a respectable distance there is higher chance of seeing/finding injured wildlife & also gives a deterrent to the stink boaters & vandals that shouldnt be there.
But it sounds like a bit of a dangerous spot, with those naked bird watchers frolicking about out there id get distracted & crash
It might be worth checking if sailing gradually upwind at slower speed to the speed spot will result in the birds just flying upwind to the water upwind of the grass shore and settling there. It's a 20 second flight for them. They do seem to prefer to stay upwind of moving things they want to keep some space from. That might avoid actually sailing in between them. The moment you leave they will be back down to their preferred spot, which tends to indicate that the experience hasn't affected them much at all.
We had a good chat with Craig this morning who is not a bad bloke and got a lot more information about the why's and wherefore's of what the issues are which are quite serious as there are some severely endangered species impacted by ours (and others) behaviors.
The seriously critical part is to STAY OUT of the Samphire grass as this is the breeding area for the endangered species, it should also be noted that the same area also has a nice population of Tiger snakes which have their wonderful cheerful disposition all year round and nobody wants to mess with one of those buggers.
There'll be more information posted soon.
Huge thanks to Decrep who started the discussions with Craig, nice work there Mike