Hall's Rd: popular "cruising" spot?

[mr.sharp-photo]

Anyone notice that Hall's Rd is very popular for middle-aged males?
I've heard stories and didn't think it was true until yesterday. Its pretty clear that its a meet-up spot for men to have, um, extracurricular adventures while enjoying nature.

I've seen the cruising and the eyeballing and the parked cars. Just wanted to make sure i didn't wander into an area that I don't want to wander into. anyone know which parts of Cranberry Marsh are "off limits"?

[Craig McL]

Hi NO part of Cranberry Marsh should be off limits BUT the police and the cosevashon have posted
the wood areas so stay out of ther for ferr of being tikated ..

it is a shame what is hapaning in the area but No one will do any thing ??

Craig

[egret]

Are you kidding?

I did not know this
and was just fixin to go out that way

that is the area with the birding platform right?

Sheesh!


Egret

[mr.sharp-photo]

an older birder mentioned this to me a while ago and i thought he was just being homophobic.

when i got there yesterday, i noticed a few things that were really obvious:

-a fancy car literally stopped behind my car and watched me get out of my car. he just watched. no attempt to park no attempt to drive off. almost like he was looking for an "invite". when i walked towards the platform, he turned around and drove off.
-a few parked cars with men sitting in them. no winter coats. they all looked when i got out of my car, like they were expecting someone to be joining them.
-lots of car traffic on the road with no one stopping to get out and bird. just lots of looking
-hearing about some observed frolicking and a DVD being left over

just so you know, this is nothing to do with sexuality. if it was a case of girls and guys cruising and frolicking, i'd be almost as annoyed (I admit that it is strange to be eyed by random men in cars). its more of the idea of me going someone to bird and relax and wondering if i'm going to accidentally stumble upon something i am not really wanting to see.

so yeah, a heads up for you all.

[Kin Lau]

It's been like this for many years. There's old threads on this site about it.

By all means call the police. I've seen Durham Region police down Hall's Road many times, and have been stopped a few times too. I just show them my bins or camera, and they're fine. They know who's causing the trouble.

Also, I know that the same area has been used for "bush parties" by teenagers in the summer. Plenty of beer/booze bottles left behind.

[lovemypt]

I had almost the exact same situation at Marie Curtis park last summer.  I had heard stories about problems at night but never thought that at 9am on a Sunday morning it could happen. Stupid me I just thought it was a sunny day and the guys were going for walks as lots of bike riders, jogger, and such on the paths.  I did question why so many individual men walk around in circles it seemed but I was more intend on finding that special bird..at least until I quietly walked up to the pond where I have seen a pair of wood ducks before and found two men in the bushes.................not looking for birds.........too bad it has put me off that area

I am sure everyone knows about this area but me but a warning to those who maybe new to the area. :shock:  :shock:

[Ron Luft]

The irony to this situation is that in order to get rid of this practice 'we' should not avoid this area but visit it even more. Areas of Toronto have been changed from red/pink light areas to people friendly by making it more popular; areas of High Pk. for example. For most of the cruisers of Halls Rd., the last thing they want is a lot of people around and gawking. Should they be there at night well I think the teens might take of them as the birds are hard to see in the dark anyway. All kidding aside the solution is not so much with the police but the conservation authority to attract more people.

[Luv2Bird]

Good point Ron ... knew about Cranberry marsh .. but not Marie Curtis ... good to know.

[Daniel]

I guess I was blind and naive, thinking folks gathered here for birding.

I agree with what others stated, don't avoid this lovely spot.

More traffic will ultimately force them to find another location... hopefully.

[Bluffs Birder]

BIGFRANK and myself will be there tomorrow afternoon.  That should be more than enough to scare most things out of the area!!!  :lol:

Walter

[lovemypt]

BIGFRANK and myself will be there tomorrow afternoon.  That should be more than enough to scare most things out of the area!!!  :lol:

Walter

  I was just curious if you found anything notable on Sunday. I was debating all morning whether to go or not because of the weather. One moment it looked like it would clear, than rain or snow...

[Bluffs Birder]

Hi,

No, it was fairly quiet there, all the usual lttle ones were around but that was about it.  We did manage to see a flock of Tundra Swans flyby just out over the lake which is always a great sight.

Walter

[mr.sharp-photo]

by the way, going to a popular cruising spot with someone named "Big Frank" is a great way to make new friends real quick  :lol:

[Greg Schneider]

Appears something has been done about it:

http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/artic ... ation-area

[mr.sharp-photo]

Appears something has been done about it:

http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/artic ... ation-area

i was there on tuesday. CHEX did a report and they interviewed me as the "avid bird watcher". tried to give as much of a unhomophobic message as possible. anyways....