Scott and all,

I must amplify Scott's praise of Taylor's "Sagebrush Country". This really
is an excellent (lightweight) book that belongs in the backpack of any
amateur naturalist hiking in the Columbia Basin.

Speaking of wildflowers of the shrub-steppe, both Shaggy Daisy and Showy
Phlox were putting on flowers in January in my backyard. It's been another
mild winter, so far, here in the"banana belt" of Eastern Washington.

Regarding looking for Sage Thrasher nests this spring:

I hadn't planned to announce it until mid March, but Saturday, May 10, 2003,
I plan to lead a field trip for the Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society to
the Snipes Creek State Wildlife Area on the central south slope of
Rattlesnake Mountain seeking Loggerhead Shrike, Sage Thrasher, Sage Sparrow
and other bird, mammal and plant species of the shrub-steppe. This will
entail hiking as much as 6 miles over rough, uneven terrain under uncertain
weather conditions. This trip is limited to 6 participants. For details
and to sign up contact me at (509)582-6462 or dennis.rockwell at gte.net .

Dennis Rockwell

----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott G. Downes" <DownesS at cwu.EDU>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2003 8:54 AM
Subject: Re: Natural history of E. Washington


> Sagebrush Country: A Wildflower Sanctuary
> by Ronald J. Taylor
>
> If you decide to spend any time in the shrub-steppe or steppe
> vegetation of the basin, this is an excellent plant book. On the surface
> it might seem like a casual field guide, and it doesn't have every
> species in it, but the photos are great and is probably the best quick
> reference many biologists dealing with the steppe and shrub-steppe can
> use. When doing my veg work on the quilomene its always in my pack.
>
> Speaking of the shrub-steppe....spring comes early out there and within
> 2-3 weeks the sage sparrows will return, followed soon after by the
> other residents out there. Some of the early wildflowers are already
> popping up.
> I'll post more on this later, but this spring I'm looking for
> volunteers to help me nest search for Sage Thrasher nests from about
> Apr.15-May.15. If interested let me know and i'll keep you posted as
> time gets closer and I will probably do a more formal post later asking
> for volunteers.
>
> Good Birding.
>
> Scott Downes
> downess at cwu.edu
> Ellensburg WA
>
> "Think of the fierce energy concetrated in an acorn! You bury it in the
> ground, and it explodes into a great oak. Bury a sheep, and nothing
> happens but decay." -george bernard shaw
>