Homeowners on Plum Island in Newbury, Massachusetts, received a notice from the municipality advising them not to use objects, including flags, to scare away protected shorebirds. This is reported by Fox Newswho had a letter from the local administration in his possession. The authorities' call caused a negative reaction from part of the population on the eve of Independence Day on July 4, since US flags are also subject to the ban.
The letter warns that “actions designed to prevent protected shorebird species from using suitable habitat may be considered a disruption to normal feeding, nesting or migratory processes.” Authorities cite federal endangered species laws that protect rare animals and birds.
Examples of devices that could potentially be used as deterrents include “tinsel ribbons, flags and reflective materials.” The notice specifically emphasizes that non-compliance with the laws “entails significant administrative and financial sanctions.”
“Failure to comply may result in enforcement action by state or federal authorities, so the City strongly encourages residents to comply with applicable state and federal wildlife laws,” the notice states.
Local residents reacted critically to such notifications from the authorities, Fox News claims. Mark Sarkadi, who has lived on the island for 30 years, in an interview with the channel’s journalists, called the calls an attempt to prevent the celebration of Independence Day on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the United States.
At the same time, the man said that last year, an employee of the Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) sent almost the same letter to one of his neighbors after she hung decorative banners on the beach lawn. As a result, she got scared and removed them.
“This individual actually threatened the Plum Island homeowner with fines, possible arrest and jail time. She felt threatened,” Sarkadi told the TV channel.
Negative reactions to the authorities’ position can also be found on social networks. Some users believe that calls for environmental protection are no longer relevant, and “many cities have abandoned all this nonsense about “saving birds” and protected species.” Others highlight the lack of sincerity in calls for environmental action.
“In fact, they [властям Ньюбери] don't care about wildlife. If that were the case, they would be against wind energy. Wind turbines are simply killing birds and bats,” says a Reddit user.
Many also accuse the administration of hypocrisy regarding the symbolism and note that the measure applies only to the American flag, not the Palestinian or LGBT-related ones.
“According to city officials, rainbow flags do not harm birds at all. US flags only. It’s strange, but science confirms this,” another user sneers.
Some people call for not paying attention to the administration’s calls and not removing the flags, while others even call such a policy a suppression of freedom of speech, noting the opportunity for birds to “simply fly to another place.”
“These clowns [власти Ньюбери] are using endangered species laws as a weapon against basic patriotism, and against the flag in general. Take them higher, higher than ever before. If these chicks can't handle our glory, let them pack up their bird bags and fly somewhere else,” points out a user on X (formerly Twitter).
Some users questioned why such a measure was being introduced now, even though “decades of July 4th flags have not affected birds.” Others call Plum Island “the birthplace of the communist bureau for justifying anti-American flags.”
Sarkadi and two of his neighbors contacted the human rights legal organization Pacific Legal Foundation. Its director of environmental and natural resources litigation, Mark Miller, emphasized that the actions of local authorities violate both the First Amendment to the US Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech, and the Fifth, which is related to the protection of private property.
At the time, City Administrator Tracy Blase said officials “simply agreed to MassWildlife's request to help spread the word about protecting endangered species.” However, the administration “in no way attempts to interfere with the rights of homeowners,” including “limiting their use of their property for ordinary and patriotic purposes,” the official added.
“The letter simply lists the provisions of the law, and the city does not threaten or claim legal liability – it simply reminds property owners that they live in a special place, and that comes with certain obligations,” Blaze said in an interview with Fox News.
An environmental agency spokesperson told the station that it “does not prohibit residents from displaying American flags on their property,” and the organization “has not issued any letters or notices of violation” and “has not taken any action to fine or threaten” local residents.
