We have both around Othello. And I'm pretty sure there are still seats available for the morning and afternoon van tours (limit 10 each) Saturday. All of the Burrowing Owl tours during the Crane Festival are sold out. The pre-Festival tours on March 17 will look for both cranes and owls (and maybe Tricolored Blackbirds), as will the post-Festival tours on March 31 and April 7. But I'll stick my neck out and guarantee both on both trips Saturday, rain or shine, or I'll personally guide another trip. Hmm, cocky or confident? I'd guess there are close to 2000 cranes around Othello now, and Sunday I found 10 owls at 8 sites during very windy conditions. If you'd rather avoid the crowds and get more personal these van trips are the way to go. Go to www.othellosandhillcranefestival.org for details and call the toll free number (1-866-SANDHIL) to reserve. The Othello Sandhill Crane Festival is a 501(C)3 but sorry, no write-off; the value of the trip is more than the cost.

Sunday there were two Snow Geese with the 20K Canada and Cackling Geese at Corfu, and yesterday my first Tree and Violet-green Swallows showed up at Columbia NWR. Spring is right around the corner.

Randy Hill
Othello