Subject: Black-throated Sparrows
Date: Jun 20 17:49:58 1996
From: steppie at wolfenet.com - steppie at wolfenet.com


Richard Rowlett and I located 2-3 singing Black-throated Sparrows on the
rocky slopes immediately sw of the west end of Priest Rapids Dam last night
19 June. To reach the site, from a point 1.5 miles s. of the Vernita Rest
Area on Hwy 24 (DeLorme p. 52 D-3), go west on the Midvale Substation Rd
about 10 miles to the crest of the dam. There a dirt track heads west up a
sagebrush-covered hill. It ends in about a mile. The sparrows were near the
end, singing from the steeper slopes a few hundred yards to the south. The
sparrows seemed to be most attracted to the rocky and more "desert"
appearing slopes above the sagelands by the road.

These birds augment the 3 singing birds found about 7 miles further north on
the Yakima Training Center 16 June. This site is accessible though.

Its a fairly sure bet birds could be located south of I-90 west of the
Wanapum State Park entrance or thereabouts which would be the most
accessible spot for Seattleites given the ease I've found them on the slopes
to the south in Yakima County this year.

Also found were Sage and Lark Sparrows, Chukars, White Pelicans, Caspian Terns.

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA