Subject: Summary of WOS Conference Birds
Date: May 09 20:14:36 1997
From: Bill and Nancy LaFramboise - wlafra at owt.com
The WOS Conference total is now officially determined to be 164 species -
just about the number of attendees at the Conference.
The best bird overall has to be the Snowy Egret, discovered by Wilson &
Susan Cady as they stopped at Crow Butte State Park on their way to the
conference. Excitement was high as this was one of the stops planned for
the Bickleton/Rock Creek trip the next day.
The Snowy Egret was relocated on Friday and Saturday (and maybe by folks on
their way home on Sunday). We were fortunate that it persisted through
Monday evening, so we too could enjoy this find, a state and county bird for
us but not the first Benton county record. As we arrived at Crow Butte, the
egret was not visible. We concentrated on finding the Common Yellowthroat
that was singing. As we watched, the egret emerged from the cattails and
circled quite high. It was last seen heading upstream.
Bickleton/Rock Creek also had Wild Turkey, Gray Flycatcher, Lewis'
Woodpecker, and both bluebirds. 103 species were seen on this one trip.
ALE, North Slope and Webber Canyon produced great birding with many expected
birds being seen by most people. Highlights included Ferruginous Hawk, Gray
Partridge, Chukar, Lewis' Woodpecker, Vesper, Sage, Lark, and Grasshopper
Sparrow. Warblers were a little low in numbers but Yellow, Yellow-rumped,
Nashville, Wilson's, Townsend's, and Orange-crowned were seen.
Shorebirds were actually a surprise because a lot of the rivers/deltas have
high water. Semipalmated and Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Solitary,
Least, and Western Sandpipers, American Avocet, Long-billed Dowitcher,
Black-necked Stilt, Dunlin, Marbled Godwit, Long-billed Curlew, and Common
Snipe were seen.
10 Raptors werte observed on the Walla Walla Delta trip and 13 overall were
observed. 5 species of owls were found including a Burrowing Owl within 1
mile of the hotel.
We'd like to thank those that particiapated in the conference and to
especially thank the many pepole who helped as field trip leaders, speakers,
and organizers.
Bill and Nancy LaFramboise
Richland, WA
wlafra at oneworld.owt.com