A letter is being sent, on behalf of the Forbush Bird Club, to several residents on Grafton Street in Shrewsbury, MA where the Painted Bunting has been seen. Club Member-at-Large, James Hogan of Northboro thought it would be a goodwill gesture to show our appreciation for their courtesy and patience. Jim prepared and sent the letters addressed to "Resident". In the letter, Jim identified their neighborhood as "bird-friendly" and explained the reason for our excitement over a beautiful bird that is seldom seen in northern regions. The letter also mentions that birders follow a Code of Ethics when trying to see a bird that is found on private property. He extended apologies for any distractions caused by our presence. It's good to hear that it is still being seen.

From Kathy Mills, posted to MASSBIRD 1/20/04:

Massbirders: I have just spoken to the moderator and am posting this with her approval. I have talked at length tonight with the homeowner at 764 Grafton Street. She and her husband said that all the birders coming to view the Painted Bunting have been courteous and very respectful of the homeowner's properties. Birders have not come on their property without permission. They are still willing to have birders come and view the bird from THEIR property. They feel that they are lucky to have Painted Buntings at their feeders and want birders who do this for a hobby to enjoy this bird also. Their next door neighbor (primarily the wife) at 768 DO NOT want to have birders on their property. This is the property that birders need to avoid. If you face the houses, 768 is on your left and 764 is on your right. To view the bird go to the right side of the 764 property and look behind the house. The juice bottle feeder is behind their house. The bird frequents this feeder. Unfortunately, if the bird is not in this feeder it goes to a spot at the back right side of this property in a patch of sunlight. This would be visible from the 768 yard. But, DO NOT look from the 768 house. You might try to view this back right corner from the street in front of the 764 house it may or may not be visible from the street.
Barbara suggested that birders might try parking near the condos behind these houses, and not on Grafton Street. This may avoid some of the problems that have occurred in the past few days. She said however, the right back corner of 764 was not visible from the condos. There have been times that birders have not followed ABA rules and have not been respectful of private property. This does not seem to be the case in this situation. I feel that if we post rarities on Massbird, the homeowners who are not Massbirders, should have someone to contact if they should have problems with birders who do not respect their property. The homeowners at 764 have my phone number. If something happens and she and her husband no longer want birders there, she will contact me and I will forward this to Massbird. Until then, it's OK to try for this bird. Just avoid the 768 neighbors. If you have any additional questions, please contact me (gkmills(AT)charter.net) or the moderator privately.

Below is a prior note from Mark Lynch regarding the Painted Bunting in Shewsbury, commenting on earlier posts to MASSBIRD.

"... Please note that the people involved [see MASSBIRD post below] were NOT the very nice couple at whose house the bird appeared Saturday. On the other hand, birders have been parking on both sides of this somewhat busy and narrow road and it is the kind of neighborhood where a few birders goes a long way. My recommendation is to stay away for a bit." (from Mark Lynch).

From MASSBIRD:

"After Nick Bonomo left us, the Painted Bunting still had not shown up by 4:25 when Debbie and I left. We did catch the fouth quarter of the Pat's game. While we were there, a Shrewsbury police patrol car came up, rolled down his window and told us that the people at 768 Grafton had called and complained. He said we could not stand in the driveway there. The owner had come out earlier to shovel his drive, and at the same time, the lady who lives across the street came to ask us what we were doing. A profanity-laced conversation ensued, with the gentleman at 768 making it clear he was unhappy about people standing for hours in front of his house with binoculars and scopes. The implication is that he can't force folks out of the street or sidewalk in front of his house, but be sure you do not stand in his driveway and *never* point optics at his house!" (posted by Ron Haaseth and Debbie Finch to MASSBIRD).