Subject: Sandhill Cranes
Date: Mar 24 20:10:04 2004
From: Hill - hill at cbnn.net


We expect a great crowd this weekend and hope the corn fields that are being disced every day don't disappear too quickly. The cranes are much more concentrated this year = less widely distributed. I hope everyone coming over and birds outside of organized tours will remember that cranes can be spooked easily. There are 13 busses going out Friday through Sunday (there may be space left on the Sunday morning bus) just to view cranes. There already have been disturbances to the Scooteney Reservoir roost this week, so please consider the next group coming before leaving your vehicle to get a closer look, or trying to photograph cranes without long reach telephoto equipment. We have tried to give out information so everyone has an opportunity to see birds on their own, but everyone on 12 of the 13 busses is paying for that opportunity. While viewing roads may not be heavily travelled, please don't park in unsafe or inconsiderate locations, and remember that most cranes will be on private land. Both of these conditions apply to the Para Ponds; McManamon Road is both heavily travelled and has narrow shoulders.

Many of the tours are sold out. There is still room for Robert Bateman's Friday evening Art Seminar. There will be tickets available at the door, but if you reserve your place ahead of time (call) it will help with a chair count. Too many tickets sold at the door will result in standing room only.

Randy Hill
Othello
hill at cbnn.net

----- Original Message -----
From: Kukui28 at aol.com
To: leftee at qwest.net
Cc: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 7:19 AM
Subject: Re: Sandhill Cranes


Great photos of these wonderful birds. I hope to get some fine views this week-end at the festival.

Linda McKenzie
Kenmore, WA
kukui28 at aol.com