"Springer fever" is beginning to set in on the lower Columbia River, a sure sign that winter is nearly over. During a recent aerial survey, biologists counted 219 boats and 184 bank anglers fishing for spring chinook salmon from Cathlamet to Vancouver. Nearly 100 more rods were counted during the first week of March on the Cowlitz and Lewis rivers.

The catch? Five springers, all hatchery fish, turned up in area creel checks that week.

"Hey, this season is just getting started," said Joe Hymer, a fish biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). "As a rule, the catch starts out slow, then picks up quickly once the bulk of the run arrives."

By that time - usually in early to mid-April - survey flights may tally as many as 2,000 boats on the lower Columbia in a single day, Hymer said.

Meanwhile, a different kind of gathering has begun in the farmlands of the Columbia Basin. Thousands of sandhill cranes, majestic birds with a wingspan of up to six feet, are now arriving on their annual northward migration.

To celebrate this spring spectacle, the Othello Sandhill Crane Festival will offer a variety of crane-viewing tours - by bus, boat and bicycle - guided by expert birdwatchers and local farmers. Information about the festival, which runs March 24-26, is available at the festival's website or by calling 866-726-3445.

Trout fishing lakes that opened March 1 on the east side of the state got off to a cold start, but catch rates should heat up with air and water temperatures. In the Columbia Basin, best bets are Martha, Quincy and Burke lakes. See the northcentral and eastern Washington fishing reports below for more details.

In western Washington, blackmouth fishing is picking up in several areas of Puget Sound and steelhead anglers are averaging one fish for every two-to-three rods on the Olympic Peninsula.

Razor-clam fans should note that WDFW has tentatively scheduled a dig on ocean beaches March 25-28, followed by another dig April 28-May 1. If marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat, razor-clam beaches at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks, Copalis and Kalaloch will all open for digging on evening tides March 25-27. Two of those beaches - Twin Harbors and Mocrocks - are also tentatively scheduled to open for a fourth day of digging March 28.

For more information on these and other developments, see the regional reports below.

North Puget Sound

• Fishing: Anglers continue to have some success hooking blackmouth in the area's fisheries. The catch in marine areas 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay) and 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner) has slowed recently, but anglers in marine areas 7 (San Juan Islands) and 9 (Admiralty Inlet) are finding some nice fish. "I'm hearing reports of some larger fish - 10- to 15-pounders - in area 7, and some decent size fish in area 9, particularly around Useless Bay and Mutiny Bay," said Steve Thiesfeld, WDFW Puget Sound recreational salmon manager. Overall, the blackmouth season has been fairly good, said Thiesfeld. "This time of year, folks need to decide whether to go spring chinook fishing on the Columbia River or blackmouth fishing in Puget Sound," Thiesfeld said. "With the success some fishers are having with blackmouth, I would stick with Puget Sound and wait a few weeks before heading out to the Columbia River."

  The Everett Ramp has been the busiest in the region, with 41 anglers checking in seven chinook on March 3, and 117 fishers hauling in 16 blackmouth on March 4. Elsewhere, 23 anglers accounted for six chinook at the Bellingham Ramp on March 4, while 62 fishers checked in six blackmouth at the Washington Park Launch the following day.

  Anglers fishing in marine areas 7 and 9 have a daily bag limit of one salmon in both areas. Those fishing in marine areas 8-1 and 8-2 have a daily limit of two salmon, but wild chinook must be released. Unlike hatchery fish, wild chinook have an intact adipose fin.

  For steelhead anglers in northern Puget Sound, the Skagit and Sauk rivers are about the only rivers open for fishing. Most areas of the Skagit River remain open for the harvest of hatchery steelhead through March 15, then switch to catch-and-release from March 16 through April 30. The catch-and-release fishery on the Sauk River started March 1. Wild steelhead are distinguished from hatchery fish by their intact adipose and ventral fins. Anglers planning to fish for steelhead in northern Puget Sound should check the 2005/2006 Fishing in Washington pamphlet and WDFW's Emergency Rule Changes, which are posted on the same website.

  Anglers interested in Puget Sound salmon fisheries might want to attend a public meeting March 9 at WDFW's Mill Creek office, 16018 Mill Creek Blvd. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m.-9 p.m., and is part of the state's salmon season-setting process. Two additional public North of Falcon meetings, which involve planning for the numerous fishing seasons on Washington's waters - including Puget Sound - are also scheduled for March 15 and March 30. Both meetings will be at the Lynnwood Embassy Suites Hotel and are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on both days.

• Wildlife viewing: The hot spot for orca sightings has been the Whidbey and Camano islands area. One observer reporting to the Orca Network spotted a pod near the Mukilteo ferry terminal spread out and feeding. The observer also spotted about 40 seals catching a ride on a log boom, and noted a gray whale was sighted at Guemes Channel, at the north end of Fidalgo Island in the San Juans.

  Short-eared owl sightings are on the rise in the region. One birder reporting to Tweeters birding website spotted about seven short-ears at the Lummi Flats, just north of Bellingham. "Wow, they are fun to watch," noted the birder. Another birder spotted three short-ears on Fir Island, where several harriers were fighting with the birds. Short-eared owls are medium-sized owls with brown plumage, according to the Seattle Audubon Society. Short-ears have light facial disks with dark patches at the eyes, and dark markings at the wrist on the under and upper side of their wings. Short-eared owls are easier to spot than most owls because they are active during the day, especially at dawn and dusk. The owls also perform dramatic courtship flights, involving vocals and wing clapping. During the winter, the owls are abundant and easy to find in western Washington.

  In the Kent area, a birder reporting to Tweeters spotted a Say's Phoebe recently. The bird was at the Kent Ponds, "patrolling wide and far in this area, calling quite frequently," according to the report, which also noted that the bird was missing one or two tail feathers. Say's Phoebes are grayish brown flycatchers with pink bellies and black tails, according to the Seattle Audubon Society. They perch on low shrubs and rocks, darting out to grab prey. They are more noticeable and louder during the start of the breeding season, which is March and April.

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

• Fishing: After a winter marked by periods of record rainfall, steelhead anglers are once again routing for a bit more liquid sunshine. Rain is in the forecast for the second week of March, the antidote to the low-water conditions that have hindered fishing since the last week in February. That could mean good news for the weekend of March 12-13, said Mike Gross, WDFW fish biologist.

  "Steelhead fishing could get pretty hot this weekend," Gross said. "Often, a good time to hit it is when the flows peak and start to drop. That's when the fish move."

  Despite low flows, creel checks conducted March 3-5 found that anglers have been finding steelhead - especially wild steelhead - on several north coast rivers. On the lower Hoh River, 95 anglers interviewed caught 50 wild steelhead and one hatchery fish, the only one kept during that period. A similar story played out on the upper Hoh above the Oxbow Campground, where 81 anglers caught 42 wild steelhead and one hatchery fish.

  On the Bogachiel River, 141 anglers caught 49 steelhead, divided fairly evenly between wild and hatchery fish. Five anglers were checked on the Calawah River with seven fish, the best catch rate of any surveyed. "There are definitely steelhead in the Calawah, but that river is hard to access - especially during low flows," Gross said.

  Gross reminds anglers that selective gear rules will take effect on the Hoh starting March 1, when anglers will be required to release any wild steelhead they catch. Gross also reminds anglers that the Hoh will close to all steelhead fishing April 1 - rather than the usual April 16 end date - because of low run returns.

  Farther south, steelhead fishing has also been good to fair on rivers such as the Chehalis, Humptulips and Skookumchuck, said Hal Michael, another WDFW fish biologist. "But they, too, could benefit from a little rain," he said.

  On the saltwater, creel checks for blackmouth salmon during the first week of March were heavily weighted toward Hood Canal, where 113 chinook salmon were entered in the 24th annual Geoduck Restaurant Salmon Derby. An 18 pound, 9-ounce fish took first prize, worth $600. "Hood Canal may be the best place in the region right now to catch a blackmouth salmon," said Steve Thiesfeld, WDFW Puget Sound recreational salmon manager. He noted that Coyote Banks in Marine Area 6 has also been producing some nice fish lately, as has the middle part of Marine Area 9. Anglers fishing off Ediz Hook near Port Angeles have also been logging consistent catch rates.

  Razor-clam enthusiasts should note that WDFW has tentatively scheduled a razor-clam dig on ocean beaches March 25-28, followed by another dig April 28-May 1. If marine toxin tests are favorable, razor-clam beaches at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks, Copalis and Kalaloch will all open for digging on evening tides March 25-27. Two of those beaches - Twin Harbors and Mocrocks - are also tentatively scheduled to open for a fourth day of digging March 28. As during previous digs this season, no digging will be allowed before noon at any of those beaches.

  The dig tentatively scheduled in late April, on the other hand, is the first of the season scheduled on morning tides. Any digging done during that opening must be completed by noon. Provided toxin tests are favorable, four - and possibly all five - razor clam beaches will open for digging in late April. Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks and Copalis are all tentatively scheduled to open April 28-30 on morning tides, followed by a one-day dig May 1 at Twin Harbors and Mocrocks.

  An April opening at Kalaloch is in question, however, because the clam harvest on that beach has been unusually low during recent digs. Final word on digs tentatively scheduled this month and next will be announced once marine toxin tests determine whether clams on those beaches are safe to eat. Diggers are required to carry a valid 2005-06 fishing license and keep their clams in a separate container.

  Anglers looking ahead to halibut season might want to check out opening dates and other information on the WDFW website. Seasons for most waters are similar to last year, although most areas of Puget Sound will open April 9 - five days earlier than last year. In addition, halibut fishing in marine areas 3 (La Push) and 4 (Neah Bay) will be limited to three days per week to help extend the length of the popular fishery. Starting May 9, those areas will be open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until the first area quota is taken.

• Wildlife viewing: A pod of resident orcas - rarely seen in Puget Sound this time of year - were spotted near Boston Harbor recently. About 16 killer whales from the K pod and a portion of the L pod ventured into the region. The orcas are part of a larger population of resident killer whales that reside in Puget Sound from early spring to late fall. Although the resident orcas spend a majority of their time in the sound, they are rarely spotted in local waters during the month of March. "That's because there's really not that much out there for them to eat this time of year," said Rocky Beach, WDFW wildlife diversity manager. "So, it's quite a surprise to see them out there."

  Unlike transient killer whales, which occasionally wander into Puget Sound to feed on marine mammals, the resident population favors fish, such as salmon and steelhead.

  About 90 orcas make up Puget Sound's resident J, K and L pods, which are protected under the state and federal endangered species lists. Of the three pods, only J pod is frequently spotted in Puget Sound throughout the winter. Both the K and L pods usually leave Puget Sound sometime during the winter and reappear in early June, often joining the J pod near the San Juan Islands.

  Meanwhile, a pair of birders reported spotting a golden eagle March 4 off the western portion of the Brady Loop Road near Montesano. During a beach walk, they also counted 35 snowy plovers between Midway Beach Road and Warrenton-Cannery Road on the incoming tide that day. People hiking in the region should also keep an eye out for sea-run cutthroat, now spawning in many small streams, said Hal Michael, WDFW fish biologist. Kennedy, McClane and McClary creeks are all good places to look, he said. "You can't catch them at this time of year, but they're fun to watch," he said. "They generally run 15 to 20 inches long."

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: "Springer fever" is starting to set in on the lower Columbia River. During an aerial survey the first Saturday in March, biologists counted 219 boats and 184 bank anglers fishing for spring chinook salmon from Cathlamet to Vancouver. Nearly 100 more rods were counted that week on the Cowlitz and Lewis rivers. The result: A total of five springers - all hatchery fish - turned up in creel checks that week.

  That's about par for the course this time of year, said Joe Hymer, a WDFW fish biologist. "The leading edge of the run is showing up at almost exactly the same time as last year," Hymer said. "As a rule, the catch starts out slow, then picks up quickly once the bulk of the run arrives."

  The run usually peaks in the mainstem Columbia in early to mid- April, and a few weeks later in the tributaries, Hymer said. But that doesn't mean time spent on the water now is time wasted. "Hey, this season is just getting started," Hymer said. "The weather's been pretty nice lately and people are shaking down their gear. Occasionally they're catching a nice fish as a bonus."

  As previously reported, the projected return of 88,400 upriver spring chinook to the Columbia River system is down significantly from last year's actual return of 106,900 fish. But returns to some specific areas are up. Drano Lake, for example, is expected to see a return of 12,500 spring chinook this year compared to 4,000 last year. The forecast also calls for the return of another 7,400 fish to the Wind River; a total of 3,800 returned there in 2005.

  But to Hymer, the Cowlitz River looks like the place to be when the action begins. "A lot of anglers have left the Cowlitz in recent years to fish the mainstem," he said. "But, with an expected return of 8,700 springers this year, the Cowlitz looks underutilized to me." By comparison, the Lewis River is expected to see a return of 4,400 fish and the Kalama River 2,100.

  Anglers planning to fish for spring chinook in tributaries that feed the Bonneville Pool should be aware of several new rules approved for the coming season. On the Wind River and Drano Lake, the season opens March 16. For the Klickitat and White Salmon rivers, the fishery begins April 1. On all those waters, anglers will be required to release wild spring chinook salmon, although the upper portion of the Wind River opens to retention of any chinook salmon May 1. In addition, fishing on the Klickitat River will be limited to three days per week - Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays - through May 31 with a bag limit of one hatchery chinook or steelhead per day.

  All of those changes are designed to conserve wild chinook salmon in the Columbia River basin, said Craig Burley, WDFW regional fish manager. "This year, for the first time, all age classes of hatchery chinook salmon returning to tributaries of the Bonneville Pool have been marked for identification," Burley said. "That will allow us to have a selective fishery that maximizes fishing opportunities for hatchery chinook, while conserving wild stocks."

  Meanwhile, steelhead fishing has been good on the Kalama River, said Chris Wagemann, WDFW fish biologist. "Most are bright fish," he said, noting that about 85 percent of those fish are wild fish, which must be released. Bank anglers casting for steelies have also had some luck on the Cowlitz in recent days, while those fishing for sturgeon in the Columbia have mostly been catching - and releasing - undersized fish.

  Still hungering for smelt? There's still a chance the run could show up on the Cowlitz River before the season ends March 31, Hymer said. "They've reappeared in the commercial catch on the Columbia River, but we still don't have reports of any significant catches on the Cowlitz," he said. "The next few weeks will tell the tale."

• Wildlife viewing: The sighting of a garganey at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge has sparked the interest of some birders. A garganey is a small dabbling duck rarely seen in Washington. Male garganey ducks have brown heads and breasts with a broad white crescent over the eye, while the females are often confused with the common teal and the blue-winged teal. One birder reporting to Tweeters birding website recently set out to find the garganey, but didn't have any luck. The birder did spot a tundra swan and sandhill cranes.

  At the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, east of the city of Washougal, a birder spotted an adult mute swan near the main pond. Mute swans are large white birds with a long S-curved neck, according to the Seattle Audubon Society. The birds are territorial and will aggressively defend their territories against swans and other species, including humans. While defending their area, the swans will display, hiss and attack if provoked. Mute swans are rare in Washington, but do populate a few areas of British Columbia.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: The March 1 fishing opener got off to a cold, slow start at the Tucannon River impoundments in Columbia County and at other fishing waters in the region. But the action is starting to heat up as temperatures rise. WDFW Tucannon Fish Hatchery manager Doug Maxey said all seven man-made lakes - Beaver, Big Four, Blue, Deer, Rainbow, Spring, and Watson - are finally stocked with rainbow trout and are accessible.

  WDFW district fish biologist Glen Mendel of Dayton reminds anglers that when fishing with bait, the first five trout caught must be kept, no matter what size. When fishing with artificial flies or lures, anglers can catch-and-release until they retain the five-trout limit. The reason for the difference, explains Mendel, is that about half the fish caught on bait die because they tend to swallow bait, and less than five percent of fish caught on artificial flies or lures die. "When bait fishermen sort their catch for size, it's a waste of hatchery time and money to raise those fish and stock them in the lakes," Mendel said.

  Mendel noted that when the new fishing regulations go into effect May 1, the Tucannon lakes and other year-round waters in southeast Washington will shift to a new rule that only two of the daily catch limit of five trout can be over 13 inches. Mendel says that should reduce the number of dead released fish and distribute the larger trout among more anglers. Travel to the Tucannon lakes has been better than expected, with only minimal traffic delays on the Tucannon River Road during the Wooten Wildlife Area helicopter logging operation.

  In Lincoln County, Coffeepot Lake opened March 1 with some ice, but a good number of anglers were out and doing fairly well. The ice is dwindling now and WDFW district fish biologist Chris Donley said that Coffeepot's rainbow trout are averaging 14 to 20 inches with the occasional 22-inch and better fish. Spokane County's Amber Lake opened for catch-and-release fishing on March 1, and despite some lingering ice, Donley reports anglers have been doing well on similarly sized trout. "Catch rates at both these lakes should only improve as the season advances," Donley said.

  Winter season lakes in the region - Fourth of July on the Lincoln-Adams county line, Hog Canyon in Spokane County, and Williams in Stevens County - should provide good rainbow fishing till the end of the season, March 31. Several year-round waters in the region have been stocked with hatchery trout, most notably Sprague Lake, which also has a good number of carryover rainbows from last year's stocking. "Now is the time to go after Sprague's rainbows," Donley said.

  It's not too early to start seeking panfish in other year-round waters, Donley noted, especially yellow perch in Bonnie, Eloika, and Long lakes. Largemouth bass can also be active on east and southeast facing shorelines of lakes like Rock, Silver, Eloika, Sprague, and Bonnie on the warmer days of March, he said.

  Water levels are plummeting on Lake Roosevelt, but shore anglers are doing well on rainbows. Kokanee catches, on the other hand, seem to be few and far between now. Anglers heading to Roosevelt should check the National Park Service Lake Roosevelt website for the latest information on water levels and boat ramp access.

  For fishers who want to explore the outdoors while indoors, the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council's annual Bighorn Outdoor Adventure Show runs March 16-19 at the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds. The show features hundreds of fishing, hunting, and outdoor recreation goods and services vendors, along with information from organizations and natural resource government agencies, including WDFW. See Bighorn Outdoor Adventure Show for details.

• Wildlife viewing: It's time to watch tundra swans on and near Calispell Lake in Pend Oreille County. WDFW district wildlife biologist Steve Zender of Chewelah said that according to past studies and counts during the month of March, up to 4,000 swans make a feeding and resting stop at Calispell Lake during their migration north. The area also hosts probably twice that many Canada geese, and hundreds of mallards, pintails, wigeons, redheads, scaups, and other ducks. "It's not just great viewing, it's great listening to all the sounds of these waterfowl," Zender said. The best spot is along Westside Calispell Road, reached from Highway 211 north from Highway 2. On the way, also check for waterfowl at Sacheen and Davis lakes. Loop around Calispell Lake following county roads through the Cusick Valley, which provides many opportunities to view waterfowl and other migrants.

  The River Road between Usk and Cusick provides a view of the Pend Oreille River and close-ups of many kinds of birds. A walkway with benches is provided along a portion of this road. Zender also noted that the Colville and Chewelah valleys will have birds migrating through, but numbers and viewing opportunities are more dependent on the extent of field flooding.

  WDFW district wildlife biologist Howard Ferguson of Spokane said bluebirds are looking for nesting sites in the Cheney area of southwest Spokane County. Influxes of evening grosbeaks, eating voraciously to stoke up for breeding and nesting, have been observed at backyard bird feeders. Small mammals like skunks and raccoons are also preparing to multiply soon, so homeowners are reminded to close crawl spaces, outbuildings, and other possibilities for nuisance nesting.

  For wildlife watchers who want to explore the outdoors while indoors, the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council's annual Bighorn Outdoor Adventure Show runs March 16 - 19 at the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds. The show features hundreds of vendors of outdoor recreation goods and services, along with information from organizations and natural resource government agencies. See Bighorn Outdoor Adventure Show for details.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: Columbia Basin lakes opened to fishing March 1, mostly ice-free but with cold air and water temperatures, said WDFW district fish biologist Jeff Korth of Moses Lake. Rainbow trout catch rates were very slow, Korth said. "But that's improving as everything warms up," he added. Martha, Quincy, and Burke lakes in Grant County are particularly worth a trip, he said, and Dusty and Lenore will also be good as the season continues.

  On opening day, the best catch rate was measured at Burke Lake, where anglers averaged just over three trout apiece at a rate of about one hour per fish. Burke Lake's rainbows were all 12-inch yearlings, with no carryovers from last year's hatchery stocking counted in the catch. Quincy Lake saw anglers averaging 2.4 fish per angler at about an hour per fish during the opener. Quincy's catch was mostly 10-inch yearlings with about five percent measuring 20- to 24-inches. Martha Lake's opener creel check showed an average of 1.5 fish per angler at just over half-a-fish per hour. Martha's fish were 12- to 13-inch yearlings with about ten percent in 14- to 15-inch carryovers. Upper Caliche Lake had very poor fingerling rainbow survival, Korth said, probably due to the trout fishery being overrun by perch and maybe bass.

  Most of the catch at Upper Caliche on the opener was in 16- to 19-inch carryovers, but anglers averaged less than half a fish apiece. Several selective gear rule lakes with daily catch limits of just one fish also opened March 1, and a few anglers who ventured out to those lakes were checked by Korth and other WDFW staff. Dusty Lake averaged about 4 to 5 fish caught and released per angler, with 2 to 3 fish caught per hour, mostly 14 to 16 inches, with some up to 22 inches. Lenice saw about three fish per angler at the same catch rate, with most fish in the 16- to 18-inch range and a few up to 21 inches. Lake Lenore, which is open for catch-and-release only at this time, had an average of about two 18- to 20-inch Lahontan cutthroat trout per angler, at a rate of about one fish per hour. "The fishing is only going to get better at these and many other Columbia Basin lakes," Korth said.

  Steelhead fishing is starting to pick up on both the Methow and Okanogan river systems in Okanogan County. WDFW district fish biologist Bob Jateff said fishing should only improve as the water temperature warms up and fish start to become more active. "We encourage anglers to retain hatchery adipose-clipped steelhead, since one of the reasons for this fishery is to remove hatchery fish," Jateff said. The season is scheduled to close March 31, but anglers should be aware that due to wild fish impacts, closures could come at any time. If early closures are needed, they will be posted on the WDFW website at Emergency Fishing Rules and at WDFW access points along the rivers.

  Due to colder than usual temperatures in February, Jateff also reports there are still ice fishing opportunities in Okanogan County. Davis Lake, near Winthrop, is producing 11- to 12-inch rainbow trout; Sidley Lake, near Oroville, is providing good fishing for rainbows up to 14 inches; and Bonaparte Lake, east of Tonasket, provides fishing through the ice for Eastern brook trout.

  Spectacle Lake, which opened March 1, was treated last fall to remove undesirable fish species and will not be re-stocked with trout until mid-April. So even though the lake is technically open, Jateff said there's nothing to catch until the trout go in. Spectacle is due to receive 30,000 catchable-size rainbows and 1,000 larger triploid trout. In May, it will also be planted with 150,000 fingerling rainbows, which should provide an excellent fishery in Spring 2007.

• Wildlife viewing: The annual spectacle of thousands of sandhill cranes stopping to feed and rest in the Columbia Basin before continuing their northward migration is beginning again. Birdwatchers are starting to see the big birds throughout the southern Basin, some recently reporting over 1,000 cranes in a cornfield at the north end of Scooteney Reservoir near the Franklin-Adams county line. The stopover congregation in Basin farm fields and the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge usually peaks around 15,000 cranes in late March and is over by mid to late April. The ninth annual Othello Sandhill Crane Festival is March 24-26, featuring at least 13 crane viewing tours by bus, boat, or bicycle. The tours are guided by expert birdwatchers and local farmers, offering the best way to not only observe but to learn about these unusual birds. Reservations are required and some tours are already filling up. Register at the website or call 866-726-3445. Additional tours after the festival will be conducted April 1 and April 8. The festival also includes speakers like U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service crane biologist Steve Bouffard on "Crane-ology," Joan Garland of the International Crane Foundation on whooping cranes, and WDFW watchable wildlife expert Chuck Gibilisco on crane viewing worldwide. Other festival talks, field trips, children's activities and booths also cover other wildlife and the geology and history of the Columbia Basin.

  Geese, ducks, shorebirds, and songbirds are growing in number and voice every day in the Columbia Basin's wetlands and farmlands. With the maze of rural roads throughout Adams and Grant counties, it's easy to take a car trip to view and listen to this spring migration. In fact, staying in a vehicle on the side of the road often works like a viewing blind, leaving birds undisturbed and visible. The Coulee Corridor map of the Great Washington State Birding Trail map series includes this area and is available free through the Columbia Basin Audubon Society.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: The Yakima River from Roza Dam to the base of Keechelus Dam reverted to selective gear rules March 1. That stretch of the river closed Feb. 28 to fishing for whitefish with bait, said WDFW fish biologist Jim Cummins. "March is generally a favorite time for many trout fly anglers on the Yakima," Cummins said. "Fishing should pick up as water temperatures rise. Flows in March are generally low unless rain on snow events in the higher elevations cause freshets."

  The Naches, Bumping and Tieton rivers remain open for whitefish through March 31, but are closed for trout and steelhead. Most rivers and streams remain closed until June 1.

  "All of these selective-gear waters will see a change on May 1 that anglers should be thinking about now as they gear up for spring and summer fishing," Cummins said. "All will require that anglers use knotless nets to reduce abrasion and scale loss and therefore increase survival of released fish." Cummins said most fly fishers already use knotless nets, but others will need to gear up.

  WDFW fish biologist Eric Anderson reports the first round of hatchery rainbow trout stocking in Yakima and Kittitas County lakes is complete and more anglers are starting to get out on those waters as the weather improves. Anglers can check the weekly stocking report for the latest information at Catchable Trout Plant Weekly Reports.

  "One lake that was reported to be stocked, Denmark Pond in Kittitas County near the community of Kittitas, will no longer be available for fishing as the access owners have closed it to public fishing due to development going on around the pond," Anderson noted. "So we have revised our list and taken Denmark Pond off the list. It is small, less than two acres, and the fish will be distributed into the other listed lakes and ponds in the area."

• Wildlife viewing: The Toppenish National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding area is full of the sights and sounds of spring. Hundreds of Canada geese, wigeon, mallards, pintails, green-winged teals and other waterfowl species are using the area now in their northward migrations. The area also has recently had sightings of neotropical migrants including Bohemian and cedar waxwings, yellow-rumped warblers, ruby-crowned kinglets, and western meadowlarks. One of the surest signs of the new season is the appearance of killdeer, and some of the first in the Toppenish area were spotted during last month's Great Backyard Bird Count. Now compiled tallies of that count show more than 65,000 American robins in the Moxee-Naches-Yakima area alone!

  The Yakima area count also yielded one of the first Anna's hummingbirds of the year, and a variety of waterfowl along the Yakima River canyon, including wood ducks, northern shovelers, canvasbacks, redheads, ring-necked ducks, buffleheads, common and Barrow's goldeneyes, common and hooded mergansers, and double-crested cormorants.