Tweeties,
I saw a cool bird sight that had slipped my mind until Diann's most recent
vulture summary. On 21 July, I was on I90, travelling east over Snoqualmie
Pass. After a really ugly traffic jam just past the summit, the drivers who
hadn't overheated, fallen asleep, or given up were rushing past Cle Elum around
7 pm.

Just past the western Cle Elum exit, where the Yakima is close to the freeway,
I saw about 70 vultures. All I saw were in the air. They appeared to have been
perched in the trees along I90, because all were near tree-top level and
flapping hard to gain altitude. I've never seen this kind of concentration
except at dawn or dusk.

I couldn't get a better look or any estimate of ages because that clot of
traffic was as ill-behaved as any I5 Seattle mess. I don't suppose any of you
were there and got a better look?

John Fleckenstein, zoologist
Natural Heritage Program
Asset Management and Protection Division
EMail: John.Fleckenstein at wadnr.gov
Phone: 360-902-1674