Okay, alright, it's Thursday(!) already... Out with it somebody! Do I sound
impatient? '-) What *really* happened up in the Okanogan Highlands this past
long President's Day weekend? I know that there were at least two major
organized trips up there, and I just learned from Andy Stepniewski who was
program speaker at the monthly ELWAS meeting in Bellevue last night that his
group (a VENT tour) went nearly belly up on the White-winged Crossbills and
turned up only one lone male *and* covered all or much of the same tracks as I
did in late January. Didn't Seattle Audubon have a trip up there too?? Gene,
care to pass the vapors and enlighten us a bit???

With so many flocks totalling over 1200 individuals carefully counted up in
the Highlands (Okanogan & Ferry Co.) in late January and in light of the
Sullivan/Taylor expedition to some of those same areas as recent as Feb 5-7
reporting the 200+ Sitzmark WWCB flock still intact, I am astonished to learn
that Andy's group encountered only one just little over a week later! I 'was'
fairly optimistic that at least of few of these birds might linger and breed
in some of those sprucey 'island' areas as soon as about 'now' (late winter)
and on into early spring. Surely they all didn't just pack up and disappear
overnight!?

I am aware of at least one other party planning a trip to the 'Highlands' this
coming weekend and I'm sure an updated report would be greatly appreciated by
them as well as anyone else contemplating the long trip. Any flirtations with
death and destruction? How are the roads? All interesting, significant, and
useful information even for those of us from a distance living 'your'
adventures vicariously.

If it is indeed true and the last WWCB did turn off the lights thus leaving
you with an empty bag, well just take it to heart and remember this -- my
motto which I've learned to live by and must keep reminding myself and others
when even multi-month at-sea trips are pretty bird-bust-dry; "Negative data is
just as important as positive, ...just not as much fun to collect." Thanks
for any updates anyone may wish to share. -- Richard

P.S. Oh, and while I'm in the 'negative' data report mode, I received an
email message yesterday from Washington grouse-man, Michael Schroeder
(grouse at televar.com) answering my query about what I perceived as a dwindling
status of the Sharp-tailed Grouse at the Chesaw Wildlife Area (Okanogan Co).
The species there is indeed declining and has been for many years due to the
poor conditions of the range land and probably accelerated by some severe
winters as well. My occasional sightings (far more misses than hits) have
been consistent with those of the Department of Wildlife and only a few grouse
still hang on there. Any casual sightings at all by anyone visiting this area
and with any details on where exactly and what they might be doing would be
greatly appreciated.

Richard Rowlett (Pagodroma at aol.com)
47.56N, 122.13W
(Seattle/Bellevue, WA USA)