Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Ann Brokelman on March 26, 2008, 06:09:05 PM

Title: Ashbridges Bay - Car Problems
Post by: Ann Brokelman on March 26, 2008, 06:09:05 PM
On my way home from work at 5:00 I stopped in to see the ducks and to my dismay I saw a man driving around in circles really fast terrifying the ducks and geese and almost hit some.  Another lady and myself stopped the two men and asked them what they were doing.  They said he was practicing their driving skills.  We asked them to stop as they almost hit a couple of ducks and the man laughed and said this was public parking and he had a hunting licence.  He got back in the car and took off.  Needless to say there were no ducks around the area.  

Has anyone else had this problem down at the bay?   Ann
Title: Nutters At The Bay
Post by: BIGFRANK on March 26, 2008, 07:00:43 PM
Never heard of such things Ann...U just attract the nutters.
Title:
Post by: Anonymous on March 26, 2008, 09:18:19 PM
Now now Frank, go easy on her.... :D

Ann - there'll always be people out doing very silly and stupid things, especially in areas marked public parking.  With these people, talking doesn't seem to make any breakthroughs - what is necessary is a quick dial on the cell phone of 9-1-1 stating that there is someone driving erratically in a public place and you'd like the police dispatched to the location.  Remember to say that it is YOUR safety at risk - not the ducks and geese.  Confrontation with the person isn't a good idea as they will either drive away as they did in your case or may also become violent in other circumstances.

Be careful out there everyone - I think this excess amount of snow is driving people bananas.

Attila
Title: Re: Ashbridges Bay - Car Problems
Post by: blindthief on March 27, 2008, 02:06:52 PM
Quote from: "Ann Brokelman"
Has anyone else had this problem down at the bay?   Ann


On Easter Sunday, I took my son for a hike in the Don Valley and when we were coming out at the Millwood Bridge, I heard a loud bang to look over the railing and see a man with 4 dogs setting off firecrackers next to the river to scare all the ducks, of which I took a few shots...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonybursey/2355328671/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonybursey/2356161956/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonybursey/2356161850/
Title:
Post by: Halton Hills on March 27, 2008, 02:42:58 PM
Quote from: "Attila"
what is necessary is a quick dial on the cell phone of 9-1-1 stating that there is someone driving erratically in a public place and you'd like the police dispatched to the location.  Remember to say that it is YOUR safety at risk - not the ducks and geese.

.


Not that I'm condoning what those idiots were doing......but I disagree with your advice.

Calling the police and basically lying to them is never a good idea. If the jerk was trying to kill the ducks, then that's what you tell the dispatcher.

I'd hate for you to be in a real life & death situation somewhere else.......and waiting for the police who might be busy at the parking lot,

based on a less than honest report.


.
Title:
Post by: Anonymous on March 27, 2008, 03:05:13 PM
HH...

You're right - I should have used the terminology "if you feel threatened by their driving actions" then use the following advice.

Sorry if that was lost in translation....  :shock:

AP
Title:
Post by: Michael A on March 27, 2008, 08:10:48 PM
How about a call to the police with a licence plate?  Most people on this forum probably even have binoculars handy.
Title:
Post by: Ann Brokelman on March 27, 2008, 09:22:36 PM
I took the licence plate in case the guy continue chasing the ducks.  I didn't want to confront him again.  I also didn't want him to harm the birds.  I would have called the police next had he not left.  

The main reason I posted to see if anyone else had a problem at Asbridges Bay with speeding cars before.  

Ann
Title:
Post by: norman on March 29, 2008, 05:27:06 PM
Ah, Ashbridge's Bay ... I've gotten accustomed to odd behaviour 'round these parts, and the "Yahoos Chasing Things That Move" story doesn't surprise me a lot. I agree with the 911 call, followed by a call to Toronto Parks (numbers provided by request). When you're outnumbered by brain-dead hominoids, that is a prudent move.

The area south of the parking lot ($105 if you're thirty seconds late -- It's "Miller Time"!) is largely unregulated, and I've seen my share of frustrations down there. Fortunately, my aunt is a disturbed individual, and one wave of her curling iron is usually enough to terrify the most
ardent cretin. Being pelted with wooden Resplendant Quetzals helps to get the point across, but of course I don't condone these activities. Oh, no ... she's playing that Pere Ubu CD again ...

Social and political pressure will expedite any number of things.

Cheers,

Norman