Tweeters:

Burton Guttman has suggested that I post a status report on the Bowerman
Basin boardwalk. Here it is:
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>Fish and Wildlife Service has just about completed the first phase of the
Bowerman Basin Boardwalk at the Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge. It
only covers the end of the peninsula; there is a straight walk north from
the airport grounds half way to the water line then a circle route which
gives very good views of the mudflats and bay. The boardwalk is mostly in
the trees (alder) but opens out into the marshland near the water.
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>Come shorebird migration in late April/early May folks will have a
comfortable view of the birds, and the marshland will be PROTECTED. But the
half mile walk OUT TO the boardwalk (west from the airport road), on the
grass, will probably be very muddy as usual.
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>Currently construction is still going on so access to that particular area
is prohibited.
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>Grays Harbor Audubon contributed a thousand dollars to the construction of
the boardwalk; Congress came up with most of the funds. (They still need to
come up with much more to complete the project; and a visitor center appears
to be a long way off). We stipulated that our funds had to be used to
purchase materials LOCALLY; they were. We have an additional $500 that we
are designating for the installation of one or more benches for shorebird
viewing. We raised the money from last year's Shorebird Festival. We'll be
sponsoring the festival again in April (25-27) and any proceeds we raise
will go to enhance shorebird viewing.
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>Hoquiamites and Aberdonians are slow to appreciate this spectacular natural
resource. We hope to show them that it can work economically for them; and
that they should come on out and see what we birders find so thrilling.
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>David Beatty
Grays Harbor Audubon President
(360) 532-0908
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DJ Beatty