Subject: aerial surveys
Date: Nov 09 13:23:12 1998
From: randy_hill at mail.fws.gov - randy_hill at mail.fws.gov



Jim Tabor and I flew a waterfowl survey last week across much of Grant
County, parts of Franklin, Adams and Douglas Counties, and the
Columbia River from Grand Coulee to Priest Rapids Dam. Thanks to a
few postings on Tweeters, we looked at Atkins Lake for the first time
and found 400 swans there, which made up more than 80% of the swans
counted on the survey. There were impressive numbers of diving ducks
on Wanapum and Priest Rapids pools, but the big northern flight of
mallards hasn't made it here yet.

On a sad note, two of my co-workers from the Mid-Columbia River
(Umatilla) NWR Complex were trying to complete their survey on the
Columbia River below Priest Rapids Dam on Friday when they collided
with powerlines. The pilot was able to get out, but Kathy Cheap and
Mike Callow both were trapped in the plane as it sank. Kathy had
worked at the refuge for 7 or 8 years, Mike just arrived in August.
They were both fine people that I knew from working with them in other
states, dedicated to wildlife conservation and improving wildlife
habitat. They will be missed.

Randy Hill, Othello