Natalie and I ran into something similar today in the Wenas Creek area in
Yakima County. We hoped to check for early arrivals in the lower section
of Hardy Canyon, but signs were posted at the gate stating that the area
is closed until May 1, and the entryway was fenced off. Later in the day
we hoped to do a quick survey of birds along Oak Creek Road in the Oak
Creek Wildlife Area, but we found that it too was gated and there was a
sign posted that the area was closed until after May 1.

I am not sure if this is an every year occurrence in both of these areas,
since this is the earliest in the spring that we have passed by them. It
seems likely that the areas are closed to protect a specific species,
such as elk.

Happy birding!

--
Rob McNair-Huff ---------- Tacoma, WA
Author of Birding Washington (Falcon Publishing, 2004)
and Insider's Guide to the Olympic Peninsula (Globe Pequot, 2001)
White Rabbit Publishing ---- http://www.whiterabbits.com
Mac Net Journal ---------- http://www.macnetjournal.com
The Equinox Project ------ http://www.whiterabbits.com/weblog.html

>We tried to hike/bird Robinson Cyn today but the road is blocked and posted
>about a mile short of the gate/parking area. The area is closed until May 1.
> Ed Deal
> dealgen at aol.com
> Seattle, WA