This is the first part of a continuing narrative describing our participation in the Winter Raptor Survey project which is going on in Washington state. This project was developed and is coordinated by Jeff Fleischer of East Cascades Audubon Society out of Bend, Oregon. We are a mother/daughter team (Marilyn and Amanda Sherling) belonging to North Central Audubon Society. We drive three survey routes each month, beginning in November and going through March. Usually on these routes, I drive and Amanda photographs and we both count. We travel pre-approved survey routes and count the various species of birds of prey. These “Raptor Ramblings” will be a brief accounting of some of these trips.
The survey we are embarking on today is a brand new route. It was added by Jeff Fleischer, the developer, as he seeks to expand the survey area in Washington state, and Amanda and I have taken it on. It is named “Coulee City,” as that is a center spot in the area covered.
As with any area in North Central Washington, we usually encounter snow in the winter. One challenge in outlining a route is determining what roads get plowed after it snows. If it isn’t plowed, we can’t drive it. When we started this project, I downloaded maps from the Douglas and Grant County websites which show the roads that are plowed in the winter. That way, I can compare it with the route Jeff gives me to see if all the roads are drivable, and make necessary adjustments. Of course, once it snows, we get the real test as to whether the map is accurate. But it’s a place to start.
The Coulee City route starts at the north end of the town of Soap Lake and finishes in Hartline. The total mileage for this route is 80 miles, and the starting point is 62 miles from my home in the Monitor area. I pick up Amanda in East Wenatchee and we head to Soap Lake.
There are thick clouds, high overhead and it is 46°F, with a little wind. We head north along Highway 17 along the lakes in the coulee, Soap Lake, Lake Lenore, Alkali Lake, Blue Lake, and Park Lake. We scan the skies, hoping to see a Golden Eagle, or perhaps a Gyrfalcon hunting waterfowl. Fortunately, along this stretch of road there are many spots to pull over. I’m driving relatively slowly as we watch for raptors, and I frequently pull over to let the traffic pass me. We stop at the Dry Falls overlook before heading into Coulee City and going south on Pinto Ridge Road.
Our route takes us east from Pinto Ridge Road to the area south of Hartline. The map will show how the route winds around and ends up in Hartline at the end of the drive. Considering this is the beginning of winter season, we are happy with what we have seen today. This includes:
Red-tailed Hawk (RTHA) 10
American Kestrel (AMKE) 8
Northern Harrier (NOHA) 1
Bald Eagle-Adult (BAEA-A) 2
Rough-legged Hawk (RLHA) 7
Great-horned Owl (GHOW) 1
