Fireworks and birds can't fly together at Depoe Bay this year
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DEPOE BAY, Ore. - An Independence Day holiday fireworks tradition was canceled this year and some people in this coastal town said they don't like losing out to a bunch of protected birds.
The fireworks were supposed to go off Tuesday night at Boiler Bay State Wayside. July 3 fireworks have been a staple here since 1993.
The birds causing all the controversy are migratory sea birds and some are federally protected.
Two years ago someone reported the fireworks were frightening nearby birds. The Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed that in a study during the 2011 fireworks.
Video from that study showed some birds were frightened by the flashes and booms. Wildlife biologists documented nine nests lost to predators after scared birds flew away.
Linda Wisniewski, owner of The Fuddy Duddy Fudge shop, said the cancellation of the fireworks show has disappointed customers.
"We tell them, you know there is no fireworks tonight and they don't believe us," she said.
Local residents like Pat Osuna are also fired up.
"I think it's so ridiculous that one person can call and say something like that that the fireworks are doing bad to these birds," she said. "It don't last that long. It's not gonna hurt those birds. I'm telling ya!"
Both Wisniewski and Osuna said the entire town feels the same way they do.
"There's a lot of people out there right now that are animal conscious as are we," said Wisniewski. "We love our birds here. They've been going through this every year."
The woman who called the Fish and Wildlife Service two years ago said the fireworks show could have been saved by simply moving it to a different location. A fish and wildlife spokesman confirmed that but said Depoe Bay leaders insisted on the usual spot.
This is one woman who reported this to the state. Have you looked at the little city of Depoe Bay? It's not that big. There aren't other areas to have the fireworks display. The area they suggested Foggerty Creek State Park is about one mile north of Boiler Bay State Park. The parking is fair there the beach access is not good. There is NOT enough room to accommodate  the number of people who attend this fireworks display every year. We are a tourist town. This affects the whole town, and county. The people that book hotel rooms also go to the grocery stores and the tourist shops. This is as one of the put it "Our Black Friday". The state refused to give us a permit we couldn't have the display without it. Where else is there to have it? Anywhere else is more then likely also going to be a state park as all of the Oregon beaches are!
Unreal. Â This is ridiculous. Â It may have frightened some birds, but the display only lasts an hour and it is over for another year. Â As to the nine lost nests, Fish and WIldlife need to consider that predators have to eat, too.
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The decision to cancel is just plan stupid, in this case. Â The people of Colorado have a much better reason for their fireworks cancellations.
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Next year, let the people of Depoe Bay vote on it in a democratic process.
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Fireworks since 1993 well listen people the birds have been there a whole lot longer. Move to a different location, the birds  were there first.
Some people are going to start calling this a conspiracy theory to start ending fire works sales.
 @lee986321 When some people get older and no longer enjoy what they did, they expect everyone else to follow along. That's where free societies are nice to have, rather than the tyranny of the minority as we see all over now.
After awhile just gets silly. What did this survey cost? The lady that complained must have a lot of pull somewhere. That and a lot of time on her hands.
 @irsmart Unfortunately a lot of people have too much time on their hands in coastal communities, I would know I live here :(
If they shot off a few fireworks every day of the year the birds would not nest there to begin with.
The woman who called the Fish and Wildlife Service two years ago said the fireworks show could have been saved by simply moving it to a different location. A fish and wildlife spokesman confirmed that but said Depoe Bay leaders insisted on the usual spot.
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The city could have had their fireworks with a little thinking, but they did not want to change anything, so they lost.
You know what else disturbs the birds? Aircraft. People. Cars.
Clearly the only way to ensure the birds are not disturbed is to remove all of the people from the area and establish a no-fly zone.