Hotline: Lower Columbia Basin
Date: March 12, 2003
Phone: 509-627-BIRD
Compiler and Transcriber: Bill and Nancy LaFramboise, wlafra at owt.com

BIRDS REPORTED

Sandhill Crane
Eurasian Wigeon, Barrow's Goldeneye, Bald Eagle, Wilson's Snipe
Tundra Swan
Long-tailed Duck
Ferruginous Hawk
American Tree Sparrow
Great Horned Owl

TRANSCRIPT

This is the Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society Bird Alert for March 12,
2003. For questions regarding LCBAS, please leave a message.

To skip the announcement, push the star button on your phone and give your
name, phone number, and sightings after the tone.

SANDHILL CRANES have been flying over our area. Bob Woodley had 65 fly
over his Richland home on March 2. He also had 3 flocks totaling around
200 birds while he was touring the LIGO Facility on Hanford on March
8. Michael Crowder has heard cranes near Twin Bridges in West Richland
frequently in the past few weeks. A small group of cranes flew over the
LaFramboise's home in Richland today.

On March 3, Bob Woodley noted that the male EURASIAN WIGEON remains at
Leslie Groves Park in Richland. He also found a pair of BARROW'S
GOLDENEYES, a pair of Common Goldeneyes , 6 Lesser Scaup, and 3 Common
Mergansers there. At the Yakima Delta, Bob noted 2 adult BALD EAGLES, 30
Killdeer and 1 WILSON'S SNIPE.

TUNDRA SWAN are visiting the McNary National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters
pond. There were 14 there on March 8, reported by Greg Greger and 18 were
there on March 11, noted by Chris Simonen.

A LONG-TAILED DUCK was in a flock of scaup just east of Bateman Island on
March 9. At times this flock is fairly close to the marina, other times it
is close the Franklin County shoreline. The duck was still present this
morning, March 12.

Bob Woodley noted the return of a FERRUGINOUS HAWK to a traditional nest
site on the Hanford Reservation. As these birds will abandon nesting if
disturbed, this location is not specified. But other Ferruginous Hawks
should be around. There was one flying over Snively Road in West Richland,
noted by Ruth Fischer and Nancy LaFramboise on March 11.

Today, March 12, Nancy LaFramboise found 2 GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS and an
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW along Snively Road in West Richland just past the
Barker Ranch headquarters.

Roy Churchill noted a GREAT HORNED OWL near the Audubon Nature Trail in
Columbia Park in Kennewick today.

To report your own sightings, please give your name, phone number and
sightings after the tone. Thank you.