I am finally convinced that spring has arrived. Here is my proof:

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: A beautiful male at my feeder in Albion, Whitman Co.,
WA, April 24, 1999, 0800 PDT

WESTERN KINGBIRD: Madame Dorian Park, near Wallula, Walla Walla Co., WA,
April 24, 1999 1200 PDT

CLIFF SWALLOW: a large ranch along U.S. 12 near its intersection with
highway 730, Walla Walla Co., WA, April 24, 1999

AMERICAN AVOCET: Two, Walla Walla River Delta, Walla Walla Co., WA, April
24, 1999, 1330 PDT

BREACHING CARP: Okay, not a bird, but the sound of these large fish
"breaching" has always been a sound of spring to me. I assume this is some
sort of courtship ritual or used to signal females but I don't know. May be
they are just happy it is spring! : ) Walla Walla River Delta, Walla
Walla Co., WA, April 24, 1999 for over an hour, 1300-1400 PDT.

KILLDEER: has been here for a while but have started their distraction
displays. They are probably nesting near the railroad tracks, Walla Walla
River Delta, Walla Walla Co., WA, April 24, 1999

CASPIAN TERN: Large numbers flying over and standing on the mud flats of
the Walla Walla River Delta, Walla Walla Co., WA, April 24, 1999, 1300 PDT

RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET: Full song! My first RCKI were in February and I
heard one attempt to sing last week. But on Saturday, April 24, 1999, a
male was belting out the full song on a fairly consistent basis.
Occasionally, he would leave off parts of the long, bubbly song at the end
but several times he reached the full song. Walla Walla River Delta, Walla
Walla Co., WA, April 24, 1999

BLACK-NECKED STILTS: Three at McNary NWR, behind the refuge headquarters.
They were very beautiful birds. April 24, 1999, 1440 PDT

BONAPARTE'S GULL: Two were flying above "Burbank Slough" near the parking
area (just across the road from the headquarters. They were in full
breeding plumage. McNary NWR, Walla Walla Co., WA, April 24, 1999.

RUDDY DUCK: Several of the males at McNary NWR were in full breeding
plumage with the bright blue bills and chestnut body. They are so
beautiful. April 24, 1999.

CANADA GOOSE: My first family; two adults on the Walla Walla River Delta,
Walla Walla Co., WA, April 24, 1999, were accompanied by five bright yellow
goslings. There is a female goose incubating a nest at the sewage ponds
near the trailer court along Albion Road, Whitman Co., WA. She has been
incubating for about two weeks so I am keeping an eye out for the goslings.

SWAINSON'S HAWK: Still rather uncommon. We didn't see any between Colfax
and Walla Walla or Walla Walla and the Tri-Cities. I did spot one between
Yakima and the Tri-Cities on April 24. In addition, there were two soaring
around the north end of Pullman, Whitman Co., WA, April 22, 1999.

BARN SWALLOW: Today, Pullman, Whitman Co., WA. My first of the year.

GREAT HORNED OWL: The two nestlings in the nest along Albion Road, Whitman
Co., WA, are really getting big and have pushed mom out of the nest.

AMERICAN ROBIN: incubating eggs on the electrical box on the front of my
house, Albion, Whitman Co., WA. I haven't bothered her yet to find out how
many eggs. I'm hoping to get a chance when she is out feeding. April 25,
1999.

Now I am just waiting for the neotropical migrants to start arriving here.

Deb Beutler
Dept. of Zoology
Washington State University
Pullman, Whitman Co., WA

dbeutler at wsunix.wsu.edu