Subject: [Tweeters] Othello BURROWING OWLS
Date: Apr 11 21:27:47 2009
From: Hans-Joachim Feddern - thefedderns at gmail.com


Seems there are some of our fellow birders still looking
unsuccessfully for BURROWING OWLS. I personally have had no luck for
at least the last three years. The last ones I saw where on a a rock
pile on the west side of Highway 281, heading into the Quincy Wildlife
Area a few years back.
After missing the Othello Crane Festival, while attending my 50th high
school reunion in Hamburg, Germany and observing European Cranes on
breeding territory while there, I decided to head to Othello last
Monday, April 6th to catch the SANDHILL CRANES before they headed
north. I had printed the directions for Othello Burrowing Owls given
by Megan Lyden on March 23rd on this site. The directions given are
excellent, except that Booker Street is not West of Othello, but EAST!
I do have a DeLorme,but prefer to use the Benchmark Atlas. The
location would be on page 89, G-12. I would suggest to head east from
Othello on SR 26 for about 5 miles, past SR 17 ( north/south) and turn
left (north) on Booker. Go past Gillis, a gravel road and you will see
a farm on the west (left) side of the road, which does have a name (?)
sign. The owls are at a burrow on top of the ditch on the west side
within about 100 yards or less, south of the farm. If you hit
Cunningham, you have gone too far. I personally missed them on my
first north to south pass, but found them going back north. Had the
loving couple looking at me curiously, one saying to the other:" Look
honey, another of them bird freaks!" I did not check the second site
given, but headed west on SR 26 for a successful quest for SANDHILL
CRANES before sunset.
I had gone up and down Dodson Road from Birders Corner earlier in the
afternoon, but once again as in previous years was unsuccessful in
locating any Burrowing Owls. I did have a GREAT HORNED OWL on its nest
though.

Good Birding!

Hans Feddern

Twin Lakes, Federal Way, Wa.