No birdwatching here!

By RITA SAVARD, Sun Staff

GROTON -- The lush meadow and tall trees stretching out behind 296 Boston Road instantly gave Melanie Campbell a sense of peace.

The idea of having a quiet, backyard sanctuary prompted her to buy her home in rural Groton.

Now Campbell frequently lingers outside, peering through binoculars. But it's not nature that's catching her eye.

Campbell said the noise from small airplane engines, "buzzing like chain saws," cuts through calm days and nights. Since 2002, Campbell has been recording the number of stunt pilots spiraling beneath the clouds, hovering over houses and revving engines, as well as student pilots learning to fly above her home."

I love listening to birds and nature sounds," Campbell said. "Battling with aviation noises was the last thing I expected since the nearest airport is 20 miles away."

"I thought I would be bird-watching here," Campbell said. "This was not the kind I had in mind.

...This is bird watching of a different kind. You would neve expect to battle with aviation noise pollution when all your wanting to do is birdwatch of the feather kind...

Lowell Sun Online - Unfriendly skies over Groton? Residents say planes, noise are on the rise

technorati tags:bird, watching, birdwatch, Groton, Residents, aviation