I've been wanting to get this of my chest for some time now.

[beresford]

Last month I got up early and headed to Cranberry Marsh. Just after I turned onto Halls Rd., I noticed the car before me had turned to. Kind of odd, but whatever. The car followed me all the way down to Marsh parking lot. I got out and started down the trail with binoculars in hand.

A few minutes later a man in his mid forties followed. He shadowed me everywhere I went. To the point where I headed to the beach and grabbed the largest stick I could find. At one point I just stopped and glared at him but he never spoke he just followed me around. It was friggin' unnerving.

I don't pretend to know much about that segment of the population. But when another man stops and picks up a large stick I think that sends a pretty strong signal. Apparently his receiver was tuned into another frequency because he ignored every signal I was sending.

Eventually I just left. I'd had enough of the idiot following me around. And strangely enough he left only moments after me.

This is the second time this has happened to me and at least the first guy tried talking to me. 'Is this a good place to look at birds?' Neither man carried a pair of binoculars and neither man for a second gave off that vibe a fellow birder does. They were cruising pure and simple and it pissed me off.

I'm just there to bird and these fools are following me around creeping me out. Cranberry is a long way from anywhere and you never know what kind of person you're dealing with.

Anyways it just pisses me off.
The next time I'll just turn around and leave.

Happy birding
Tim

[lovemypt]

There was a big police crack down last year and arrested many men, may be good time for them to have another look at the spot, you may want to send a note to the police there as a complaint. It was pretty clear there for a while after the crack down but maybe they are starting to come back...I think the large amount of birders are keeping them away during the peak bird season


Dave

[tellin]

Welcome to the reality that women face all of their lives. We are not able to freely use parks and natural areas, on our own or even with another woman. That's just a given. I have not only been followed but flashed and chased by men, some of whom where intent on rape or maybe even murder. I do not go to many parks on my own now. Because of my experiences (and those of many other women) I can empathize with your position, but to be truthful, your posting also annoyed me a little...as men often seem to be unaware (or are dismissive) of the threats women face, until they experience something themselves.

[GStuart]

There was a big police crack down last year and arrested many men, may be good time for them to have another look at the spot

Unless, of course, that was the police.  The not-saying-anything part makes the non-police-officer have to make the first move.

[beresford]

Tellin...

I have to admit I'm a little confused by your post. I appreciate this experience is different for men then it is for women. Hands down. But I'm far from ignorant of the violence many woman face day in and day out and in some circumstances the violence men face at the hands of other men (but that usually lacks the sexual component). I have several friends who've been raped, my sister included and it enrages me that any man would EVER do that to a woman. Its a horrible, shameful act that should never be attempted or carried out and I can tell you I know a lot of men who feel the exact same way I do. So to suggest this woke me up to the violence women face is a heck of a supposition on your part and to be truthful annoys me.

[Raven11:11]

Totally know what you mean and who in the world knows what his intentions were??? Really, we do not know. Gay? other? ,etc.. no laughing matter, its like confronting a person while they piss on your lawn in daylight and they smile and walk away calm as is nothing happened. Ya, it happened.  

Avoid all of these wack jobs, could have been on drugs, .... I could go on. Reality is often stranger than fiction y'all.  I am not even 40 y/o and I am finding most of of my childhood and recent LIFE stories / experiences are considered lies or made up stories by many I share them with, close minded people that never get / got out as kids, and have little life experiences themselves will think you made this up, but unless its them alone in the forest and a stranger follows them ... :twisted: