March 2008

Going Places: web extra

Head East for Sandhill Crane Festival

By Janice Lovelace

March is the prime time to see thousands of migrating lesser sandhill cranes darken the skies of central Washington. They are heading to breeding grounds in Canada and Alaska after wintering in California. They make a rest stop in the Columbia Basin area because it offers fresh water and food from the leftovers in corn fields. These beautiful birds with a patch of red on the forehead are about 5 feet tall with 6-foot wingspans. Their appearance makes them easy to spot in the brown agricultural fields.

Three hours east of Seattle, the small town of Othello celebrates these magnificent birds with the annual three-day Sandhill Crane Festival the last weekend of March (28th-30th this year). The busiest day, Saturday, is filled with exhibits, tours, lectures and special activities geared for children. All ages will enjoy the tours to see the cranes and other wildlife in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, the Potholes Reservoir and local farmers’ fields.

Make it a weekend, arriving mid-day on Friday in time for a late afternoon birding tour. See the cranes feasting before heading to their roosts at night. On Saturday, take in free children’s activities, including mask making, face painting, wildlife drawing, making bird feeders or seeing and hearing about rescued owls and falcons, at Othello High School, 340 S. Seventh Ave. Adults and older children will also enjoy the lectures about cranes and other birds, ecology and geology.

Before leaving, take in another tour to see the geology of the region. The Potholes area of small lakes was formed by Ice Age floods, which carved out small indentations that filled with water. This area is important for much wildlife in the region and a favorite of birding enthusiasts.

For more information, visit www.othellosandhillcranefestival.org. Call 866-726-3445 for registration (recommended, especially for tours). Lectures are free; shorter tours are $10 for adults, $5 for children, and longer tours are $35-$45.

Getting there: Take Interstate 90 east to Vantage; take Highway 26 east to Othello; take a left on First Street and a right on Main Street; go to Seventh Street and turn right to the high school parking lot. An alternate way is to continue on I-90 to Moses Lake; take Highway 17 south to Othello; turn right at Cunningham Road, which becomes Main Street; turn left on Seventh Street to the high school.

Where to stay overnight: Best Western Lincoln Inn (1020 E. Cedar St., Othello, 800-240-7865, www.bestwesternothello.com); Shilo Inn (Moses Lake - I-90 at Highway 17; 509-765-9317; www.shiloinn.com); Comfort Suites (Moses Lake - I-90 at Highway 17; 509-765-3731, www.comfortsuitesmoseslake.com).

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