Subject: Crab Creek/Moxee
Date: Apr 13 21:02:23 1999
From: Bbsenturia at aol.com - Bbsenturia at aol.com


Tweeters-
Bob, sorry to hear of your scope loss! Yeowww! Hope it turns up somehow.
Just to add a bit to the info. on this area. On two recent visits to the GH
owl site at Caribou Rd. and the Old Vantage Highway, the nest has been empty,
whereas it had definitely been occupied previously. The nest seems to have
been abandoned.
On Sunday, there was a major motorcycle event in the shrub-steppe between
I-90 and the Old Vantage Highway in the Quilomene. There were hundreds of
off-road cycles and spectators everywhere. Even a helicopter flying low back
and forth. I also happened to hit one of these races last year. It really
impacts both the habitat/wildlife and the birding in that area. I believe it
is privately owned (for sale signs nearby) and probably being leased. What a
shame!
Sunday, on the Crab Creek Road just east of Smyrna, there was a huge mass of
Sandhills. Too far away to try to count (and late in the day) but very
impressive.
The Ferruginous Hawk was present Monday on Rte. 24 between Moxee and the
Vernita bridge. We observed it both flying and on a telephone pole beside the
road. We had excellent looks at this magnificent bird.
Brenda Senturia