Hi Tweeters,

Just a quick note to let you know that there's currently a wildfire that
has consumed the Larch Mountain area and has massively expanded westward
towards Brush Prairie. Unfortunately, all of the birding spots on Larch
Mountain including Migration Corner (the 1500 gate) and now the Mountain
Bike trailhead and even my viewing spots for fall migration are solidly in
a code 3 (aka evacuate now) zone. Please don't plan on making any birding
trips to the Larch Mountain, Clark County area.

The only silver lining that I can put on this is that we'll be able to
witness the regenerative aspect of nature next spring and for years to
come. Maybe there will be a few Black-backed Woodpeckers that will find
the area! Don't know if there's a silver lining for the Sooty Grouse,
Snowshoe Hares, Mountain Beaver, and other wildlife that call Larch
Mountain home.

In the meantime, please support your local, county, state, and federal (?)
firefighters.

Keep your eyes and ears down when ash is falling.

Jim
--
Jim Danzenbaker
Battle Ground, WA
360-702-9395
jdanzenbaker at gmail.com