Hi, Bird Enthusiasts!

I know some of you bird in Douglas County, especially up Central Ferry
Canyon. Aug. 1st someone was burning weeds in an orchard across from
Pateros and the fire got away. It moved east and north, burning approx.
13,000 acres, which includes Central Ferry Canyon and Packwood Cemetery.
I was able to drive the roads today to see for myself, and "burnt toast"
describes it well. The very lowest parts of the canyon are fine, but
about 1/2 mile up it is burned on both sides of the road all the way to
the top! Really unbelievable. It was not hot enough to completely burn
large trees (but did some), but most of the under story is gone. At the
top it burned as far as Road 2, burning about two miles of wheat fields
on the west side of Road 2, going north.

On July 13th there was a smaller fire on Bridgeport Hill Rd., going up to
Mansfield. It burned a lot of Game Dept. land also. And now there is a
fire in Chelan/Ok. County, that started Sunday. It is on Antoine Creek
Rd., which is the way to reach the Chelan Ridge Hawk Watch Site from
Chelan. By the way, their annual festival is Sept. 8th at Memorial Park,
in Pateros. There are free shuttle rides to the ridge all day. Find out
more on NCW Audubon's home page: ncwaudubon.org.

Meredith Spencer, Bridgeport, Wa. 98813 merdave at homenetnw.net