Tweeters,
Today (04-13-97) myself and two other Wenatchee birders took an early
morning tour of Douglas County to check on the current status of Sandhill
Cranes and Sage Grouse. Only a couple of Sage Grouse were present at the
Sagebrush Flats Lek, the second peak of activity (due to hens renesting
after nest loss to predators) hasn't hit yet.

We watched with great interest for over an hour 1800 - 2000 Sandhills
intently feeding in the wheat stubble at Sims Corner. No nuptial displays
and very little calling--just feeding, no doubt stoking-up for an impending
long flight into Canada. All the Sandhills we observed were within one
mile of Sims Corner (north and south) and seen from the Hwy (17). DeLorme
page 85.
Enjoy Spring,
Dan

Dan Stephens
Dept. of Biology
Wenatchee Valley College
1300 Fifth
Wenatchee, WA 98801
(509) 664-2503
e-mail: dstephen at ctc.edu