Hotline: Lower Columbia Basin
Date: February 19, 1997
Phone: 509-943-OWLS
Compiler: Bob Woodley
Transcribers: Bill and Nancy LaFramboise, wlafra at oneworld.owt.com

Birds reported:

Northern Cardinal (Lewiston, ID)
Harris' Sparrows
Blue Jays
Northern Hawk Owl (Cheney, WA)
Western Gull
Western Bluebird (Wenas)
Glaucous Gull
Thayer's Gull
Mew Gull
Tundra Swan
Long-eared Owl
Northern Shrike
Golden Eagle
Red-breasted Merganser

-transcript

This is the Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society Bird Alert for February 19,
1997. For any questions regarding LCBAS call Mike Lilga at 946-8966.

To skip the message, push the star button on your phone and give your
sightings after the tone.

On February 19, Madeleine Brown reporting for Dan Landeen (?) indicated that
the (NORTHERN) CARDINAL was still in Lewiston as of February 6.

On February 10, Dennis Rockwell and his family and Ruth Fischer birded the
Big Flat Habitat Management Area near Dalton Lake on the Snake River and
found among other things, 5 Hermit Thrushes, 3 HARRIS' SPARROWS, and they
heard a BLUE JAY.
Randy Hill of Othello reported that the (NORTHERN) HAWK OWL was still
present in Cheney on February 7 and 8 and that a BLUE JAY was found farther
west of the campus on Washington Street. The owl was also seen by Bill and
Nancy LaFramboise and Ruth Fischer on February 15, so there's still a chance
to see this northern visitor.

Back in Richland, on February 14, I (Bob Woodley) found an adult WESTERN
GULL on the Yakima Delta. Considerably farther afield, on February 15, my
wife and I found 6 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS along North Wenas Road about a mile
west of Wenas Lake for those of you looking forward to spring.

On February 16, Nancy LaFramboise discovered a first winter GLAUCOUS GULL
(which was also seen by Bill LaFramboise. Then they were joined by Ruth
Fischer and Dennis and Glenda Rockwell who missed the Glaucous Gull but saw)
a first year THAYER'S GULL on the Yakima Delta. She also reported seeing a
MEW GULL on the delta on February 14.

Christine Simonen and her husband observed three swans, most likely TUNDRA
SWANS, on February 17 in the Crab Creek area near Beverly. Many other
waterfowl were present.

Back to the Big Flat Area on the Snake River, on February 17 Bob Norton of
Port Angeles found among other birds, 1 LONG-EARED OWL and a NORTHERN
SHRIKE. Whereas Nancy LaFramboise, Ruth Fischer, and I birding the same
area found 2 BLUE JAYS. (Since the North Richland Blue Jays are still in
residence, there are at least 4 in the area)

Lastly, on February 18, Dennis Rockwell reported that an adult GOLDEN EAGLE
circled over Two Rivers Park( Finley) and then over Sacajawea State Park in
Burbank (across the Columbia River) and onward. A good reason for looking
up occasionally.

Also on the 18th, Ruth Fischer discovered a male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER on
the Yakima Delta.

To report your own sightings, please give your name, phone number and
sightings after the tone. Thank you.


Bill and Nancy LaFramboise
Richland, WA
wlafra at oneworld.owt.com