We came home from Portland Sunday by way of a detour to Sauvie Island in the Columbia River. We drove around birding between rain squalls. We were surprised and delighted to see 200-300 Sandhill Cranes near the north end of the island. They were grazing in the marshy areas there, lots of moving around and resettling, not far from the road--we could hear their little trilling sounds. Wonderful! A first for me.

Brenda Burnett

Seattle

beaknbird at hotmail dot com