On Tue, 2 Aug 1994, Burton Guttman wrote:

> The terrible fires in eastern Cascades have really messed up plans for
> birding. (And, my god, they talk about the cost in $$, but it's painful
> to even imagine the ecological cost, in terms of the vast areas of
> devastation. [Yes, I know fire is a natural element in forest
> ecosystems, but we ain't got that much forest left any more.]) Anyway,
> plans for birding in the Wenatchee area are out, and even the campground
> off 97 in the Swauk Pass area, which has been recommended for
> Black-backed Woodpeckers, is off limits. So we're going to go farther


Actually, it should be fascinating to see what happens birdwise in a fire
this large. Maybe over the next 2-3 years Washington will be a mecca for
Black-backeds?

Mike Smith
whimbrel at u.washington.edu