Howard Gross wrote:

CHELAN RIDGE RAPTOR MIGRATION PROJECT 2002 UPDATE: PROJECT UNDERWAY BUT
VISITATION TEMPORARILY CLOSED DUE TO FIRE

>
> HawkWatch International (HWI) and the Okanogan and Wenatchee National
> Forests (OWNF) are teaming up again in 2002 to monitor and learn more
> about raptors migrating through the eastern Cascade Mountains of
> Washington within the Pacific Coast Flyway. HWI and OWNF began
> standardized counts at the site in 1998 following exploratory surveys
> in 1997. After two seasons of partnership with the Falcon Research
> Group, HWI took over the banding efforts at Chelan Ridge in 2001 and
> will continue these efforts in 2002 with the support of the OWNF. In
> addition to banding raptors, HWI will endeavor once again in 2002 to
> deploy satellite transmitters on Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, and
> Northern Goshawks. Visit www.hawkwatch.org to see the 2001 Chelan
> Ridge project report along with maps showing the movements of Chelan
> Ridge raptors fitted the satellite transmitters in 2001.
>
> The project runs from 27 August through 31 October (or whenever the
> snow forces the crew off the ridge). Counts typically range between
> 2,000-3,000 migrants of up to 17 species per season. The most commonly
> seen species are the Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's
> Hawk, Northern Harrier, Golden Eagle, and American Kestrel.
>
> Support for this project in 2002 is being provided by the M.J. Murdock
> Charitable Trust, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, State of
> Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Mountaineers
> Foundation, Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests, U.S. Fish and
> Wildlife Service - Wenatchee Field Office, North Central Washington
> Community Foundation, Kittitas Audubon Society, PacifiCorp, and HWI
> members and volunteers. HWI is particularly grateful for the Chelan
> Ridge efforts of its Project Coordinator Bob Davies, OWNF Biologist
> Kent Woodruff, and WDFW Biologist Jim Watson.
>
> LATEST NEWS: DEER POINT FIRE FORCES TEMPORARY VISITATION CLOSURE AT
> CHELAN RIDGE. Normally, HWI encourages and is thrilled to have the
> public visit its project sites. However, due to public safety issues
> posed by the Deer Point Fire, the Chelan Raptor Migration Project is
> closed to the public until further notice. Both HawkWatch
> International and the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests regret
> any inconvenience this may cause. Hopefully, this visitation closure
> will be lifted the time the peak of the migration arrives in the
> second half of September. For the latest word on the Chelan Ridge
> visitation closure, please call the Methow Valley Visitor Center at
> 509-996-4000 or HawkWatch International at 1-801-484-6808.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Howard Gross
> Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2002 4:16 PM
> To: Marlin Stum
> Cc: 'Daniel M Harrington/R6/USDAFS'; Paul Grindrod; Howard Gross;
> Jeff Smith; Mark Vekasy; Kent Z Woodruff/R6/USDAFS
>
> Subject: RE: HWI website
>
> Hi Marty,
>
> Please put the following notice on HWI's website, under the latest
> news section and also in red letters at the top of the Chelan Ridge
> home page:
>
> "August 24, 2002: "
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Daniel M Harrington/R6/USDAFS [mailto:dharrington at fs.fed.us]
> Sent: Friday, August 23, 2002 6:48 PM
> To: pgrindrod at hawkwatch.org; hgross at hawkwatch.org;
> jsmith at hawkwatch.org; mvekasy at hawkwatch.org; Kent Z Woodruff/R6/USDAFS
>
> Subject: HWI website
>
> Hello guys,
> Things are moving along better now... fire shelter training tomorrow
> (Sat) morning should be the last hurdle and we catch 4 of the crew
> with
> that training, so the 4 will be up there tomorrow afternoon and we
> should
> be counting on Sunday morning. With the current situation, it seems
> as
> though we ought to post a notice on all of the pertinent websites to
> let
> folk know that the site is currently not open to public visitation and
> to
> check with us before making the journey up there, is that possible on
> your
> end? I'll work to get that done quickly on our end. Thanks!
> DMH