Dear all
As a Darwin resident and regular visitor to Lee Point, Buffalo Creek, East Point, Botanic Gardens and most other well known birding spots in Darwin, the risk outlined below is greatly exaggerated and in my view quite silly. This is not to deny breakins are reported occasionally and it is never good to hear of bags being stolen at any time. There is heightened risk at Holmes Jungle particularly during the wet season when only the top car park is available given its negligible visitation (a fantastic birding spot nonetheless). For Buffalo Creek - there is a secure managed parking area - use it if you are concerned. For places like Fogg Dam park on the main causeway and walk. There are plenty of signs around. East Point has few issues and is heavily used for multiple purposes. As a general precaution do not leave valuables or hire car paraphenalia visible in your car (people
still do). As with almost anywhere in Australia walking around late at night is not advisable in areas with few people. Do most local birders use these places - of course they do every week, at certain times of year every day! And if it isnt birders it is fishermen, joggers, walkers etc These locations are fabulous birding spots and shouldnt be avoided
lars
--- On Tue, 8/4/08, Denise Goodfellow <> wrote:
From: Denise Goodfellow <>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Lee Point break-ins
To: "Klaus & Brenda Uhlenhut" <>, "Birding Aus" <>
Date: Tuesday, 8 April, 2008, 9:28 PM
I include a warning about theft from cars at Buffalo Creek and Lee Point and
other places in my book "Birds of Australia's Top End" (published
2000 and
2005), in the section "Safety" (page 16).
There is also a warning about walking alone. Darwin has an extremely high
rate of assault.
I didn't put such information in my books for the fun of filling an empty
space, but because of my concerns. I back that warning up to my clients
with a verbal warning.
And as for the police - last year my son Rowan and a friend were walking
home from the East Point restaurant where they worked, when they were chased
by a drunken mob armed with an axe. Luckily they made it to the friend's
home in Fannie Bay. Rowan was able to give the police a very good
description of their attackers, but the friend was too shaken. The case
didn't even get to court.
Unless you are raped, seriously injured or killed in an assault, your
chances of getting justice are minimal. So prevention is better.
I use places other than Buffalo Creek and Lee Point to bird.
Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow
1/7 Songlark Street
BAKEWELL NT 0832
Ph. 61 08 89 328306
Birdwatching and Indigenous tourism consultant
> www.denisegoodfellow.com
http://web.mac.com/goodfellowdl
> http://www.earthfoot.org
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/baby-dreaming
http://www.ausbird.com
on 8/4/08 10:28 PM, Klaus Uhlenhut at wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> The only time I ever had a break-in into a vehicle was at Buffalo Creek
car
> park (next to Lee Point) in 1995. It happened while I was on charter with
an
> overseas group, and even some passports were stolen.
>
> When we went to the Police Station in Darwin to report it all, all they
said
> was: ³oh well, it happens there all the time². Gee, thanks for the
warning!
> And it sure looks like nothing has changed in 18 years! Well done, police
in
> NT!!!
>
> Happy Birding for the Chestnut Rail or any Gull,
>
>
> Klaus
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>> From:
>> To: ;
>> Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] Car break-in at Lee Point, Darwin
>> Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 13:43:22 +0930
>> CC:
>>
>> Yes, Lee Point is a known car vandalising spot. And so too is the car
>> park at Holmes Jungle.
>>
>> T.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From:
>> [ On Behalf Of peter crow
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:28 AM
>> To: Chris Sanderson
>> Cc: BirdingAus
>> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Car break-in at Lee Point, Darwin
>>
>>
>> Lee Point had a reputation when I was there in @002 and 1997
>>
>> Pete
>> r
>> On 08/04/2008, at 10:58 AM, Chris Sanderson wrote:
>>
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> Sadly I have to report that a friend of mine had their car broken
>>> into and
>>> all their bags stolen at Lee Point in Darwin yesterday while
>>> looking for the
>>> Black-headed Gull. I wasn't (and they weren't) aware that
the area
>>> has a
>>> reputation, at least with the police, of being unsafe. My friend
>>> asked me
>>> to post this in case anyone was thinking of going for the bird
>>> soon. They
>>> were there from 6-7pm, and when they arrived the carpark was full,
>>> but empty
>>> when they left.
>>>
>>> They didn't see the gull either.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>> Chris
>
>
>
> Klaus & Brenda Uhlenhut
>
> Kirrama Wildlife Tours
>
> PO Box 1400
>
> Innisfail QLD 4860
>
> Australia
>
>
>
> Ph: 07 4065 5181
>
> Fax: 07 4065 5197
>
>
>
> Kirrama Web Page:
>
> HYPERLINK "http://www.kirrama.com.au"http://www.kirrama.com.au
>
>
>
> Web Directory:
>
> HYPERLINK "http://www.ausbird.com"http://www.ausbird.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
> Checked by AVG.
> Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.22.9/1365 - Release Date: 8/04/2008
> 7:30 AM
>
> ==============================www.birding-aus.org
> birding-aus.blogspot.com
>
> To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
> send the message:
> unsubscribe
> (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
> to:
> ==============================
==============================www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
============================== |
