With Memorial Day weekend coming up soon, tens of thousands of Washingtonians are making plans to spend some time in the great outdoors.

Anglers have a variety of fishing options, including hatchery spring chinook salmon on the Columbia River, shrimp and halibut in saltwater areas and trout in lakes throughout the state. Hundreds of rivers open to trout fishing June 1.

Meanwhile, organizers of the 2007 Youth Outdoor Adventure Expo will offer young people and their families a chance to connect with nature and learn new outdoor skills at a two-day event May 18-19 at the Cowlitz County Expo Center, 1900 7th Ave. in Longview.

The expo will introduce young people and their families to a variety of outdoor skills, ranging from bird identification to catch-and-release fishing.

"Young people increasingly spend more time exploring the Internet than the outdoors," said Bonnie Long, public outreach manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). "That's why these events, which offer ways for children to experience their outdoor heritage, are so important. These youngsters will soon be the stewards of our lands and wildlife."

WDFW is sponsoring the event along with the Camp Fire USA Lower Columbia Council and the Go Play Outside Alliance of Washington. Together, they have arranged for more than 160 outdoor experts and educators to participate in the free, two-day event.

The general public is invited to attend Saturday, May 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The first day - Friday, May 18 - is reserved for students in grades 3-8 and their teachers. See the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/do/newreal/release.php?id=apr0507a for more information on the youth expo.

For more information on wildlife-watching, fishing and hunting opportunities now available, see the regional reports below:

North Puget Sound

• Fishing: Anglers have their pick of a number of spring-fishing opportunities throughout the region. On Puget Sound, halibut, rockfish and lingcod fisheries are under way, while out on the lakes, trout fishing continues.

  More trout will be added this month to some of the region's lakes, including Green Lake in King County, Mountain Lake in San Juan County, Pass Lake in Skagit County, Roesiger Lake in Snohomish County and Terrell Lake in Whatcom County.

  "Angler success has increased at several local lakes as water temperatures rise," said Kirt Hughes, regional fish program manager for WDFW. "Trout anglers should continue to do well over the next few weeks, especially after several of the region's lakes are stocked with some nice-size fish."

  Under statewide rules, anglers have a daily limit of five trout on most lakes. Released legal-sized trout, caught with bait, count toward the daily bag limit. Complete information on stocking schedules for rainbow, cutthroat and triploid trout is available on WDFW's website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/index.htm).

  Out on the saltwater, anglers are finding some lingcod. Catch counts at the Coronet Bay public ramp indicate 80 anglers hauled in 14 lingcod May 11, and 254 anglers checked 40 lings the following day. Elsewhere, 12 anglers at the Bellingham ramp brought home six lingcod May 13. During the hook-and-line season (May 1-June 15), there's a one-fish daily limit for lings, with a minimum size of 26 inches and a maximum size of 40 inches.

  Anglers also can drop a line for other bottomfish, such as halibut, rockfish and cabezon. The halibut season is open five days a week, Thursday through Monday, with a daily limit of one halibut and no minimum size limit. For rockfish, there is no minimum size and anglers must keep the first legal rockfish caught. Anglers fishing for cabezon have a daily limit of two fish, and there is no minimum size limit.

  Shrimp season started strong. So strong, in fact, that most of the region's marine areas have already reached their harvest quotas. Marine areas 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay), 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner) and 9 (Admiralty Inlet) are closed, while Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) closes today (May 16). However, shrimpers can still drop a pot in Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands), which remains open Wednesdays through Saturdays until the quota is reached. Details are available on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crabreg/.

  Before heading out, anglers should check the rules and regulations for freshwater and saltwater fisheries in WDFW's 2007/2008 Fishing in Washington pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm).

• Wildlife viewing: While visiting the North Creek Park in Mill Creek, a couple of birders spotted six female yellow-headed blackbirds. Yellow-heads are occasionally spotted in western Washington this time of year, but are mostly seen east of the Cascades. The birds, which have yellow-brown heads, are often found in flocks mixed with other blackbird species. "The birds may be visible from anywhere near the park entrance," the birders reported on Tweeters birding website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/).

  Elsewhere, birders at Marymoor Park in Redmond spotted numerous different species, including a couple of western wood-pewees, at least 30 warbling vireos, a dozen cedar waxwings, a few western tanagers and a red-breasted sapsucker.

  Birdwatchers have an opportunity to do some birding in the Edmonds area during the Puget Sound Bird Fest May 18-19. The festival is a celebration of birds and nature in and around downtown Edmonds, the Edmonds marsh and along the waterfront. The event features bird watching, guided walks, speakers, workshops and social activities. For more information visit the Puget Sound Bird Fest website at http://www.pugetsoundbirdfest.com/index.htm.

  Meanwhile, gray whale sightings have tapered off. There have only been a few reports of the large marine mammals - mostly in the Saratoga Passage area. Most of the gray whales are headed to the Arctic Ocean, where they spend the summer feeding, before heading back south to the coast of Mexico. Some gray whales stop short of migrating all the way to the Arctic and instead linger in the waters of the Pacific Northwest during the summer months.

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

• Fishing: Harvest quotas for shrimp and halibut are going fast in some areas, although there's still time to bring home limits of both species from waters still open to fishing. Meanwhile, freshwater anglers have a good chance of catching spring chinook salmon in several Olympic Peninsula rivers, trout in area lakes and also - starting June 1 - in dozens of rivers throughout the region.

  Today (May 16) is the fourth - and last - scheduled day of the Hood Canal shrimp season, although it appears shrimpers will get an additional day to fish the 60-mile-long fjord. "We don't expect to reach the available quota today, and may be able to announce a fifth day of fishing within a day or two," said Theresa Cain, WDFW shellfish biologist. She recommended that shrimpers check the WDFW Fishing Hotline (360-902-2500) or website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/) for an update on the fishery.

  Cain noted that calm weather and good fishing have brought out thousands of shrimpers during the past four days of shrimping on the canal. "We counted 1,407 boats on the water last Saturday, which was up from last year," Cain said.

  Four other marine areas -- 4, 5, 6 (excluding the Discovery Bay Shrimp District) and 13 - remain open for shrimp fishing on a daily basis. Marine Area 11 (Vashon Island to the Narrows Bridge) had a one-day shrimp season on May 5. All areas still open for spot shrimp will close Sept. 15, or when the quota is reached.

  Halibut fishers have also had to keep a sharp eye on area openings and closings in recent days.

  The fishery off Westport and Ocean Shores set a record pace, prompting the closure of the Marine Area 2 halibut season after just six days of fishing. More people on the water, great weather and larger fish all contributed to anglers reaching the quota allocated for the area, said Carol Henry, WDFW fish biologist. The Westport fishery, which opened May 1, ran five days a week.

  Meanwhile, halibut fishing in Marine Area 1 off Ilwaco is still holding steady seven days a week. "Anglers are generally catching their daily limit, with fish averaging 14 pounds," Henry said.

  Father north, halibut anglers fishing off La Push and Neah Bay (marine areas 3 and 4) were on the water in force for opening day on May 15. "The little boats were blown around a bit, but after the wind died down, the weather was pretty nice and the fishing for both halibut and lingcod picked up," Henry said.

  Halibut fishing in marine areas 3 and 4 will be open Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays until the May portion of the quota is reached. The fishery will then reopen on June 19 and 21 within certain boundaries. Coordinates are published in the 2007-08 Fishing in Washington pamphlet at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm. Henry reminds anglers that, starting May 21, recreational fishing for rockfish and lingcod in marine areas 3 and 4 is not allowed in waters deeper than 20 fathoms, except on days the halibut fishery is open. Coordinates can be found under Emergency Rule Updates at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm.

  On the Strait of Juan de Fuca, anglers fishing near Port Angeles have been averaging one halibut for every four rods. Halibut fishing opens May 24 in Marine Area 5 (Seiku) and runs five days a week - Thursday through Monday - through Aug. 3.

  Feeling competitive? Top prize in the 7th annual Port Angeles Halibut Derby on May 27-28 is $5,000. Ticket information is available at http://www.swainsinc.com or (360) 452-2357.

  River fishing for trout opens June 1 statewide, with plenty of angling options throughout the region. Anglers are advised to check the 2007-08 Fishing in Washington pamphlet at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm for regulations that apply to specific rivers.

  Meanwhile, WDFW continues to stock area lakes with rainbow and triploid trout, giving anglers a good chance to catch some nice fish in the weeks ahead. The best fishing occurs between opening day and the end of May, said Hal Michael, WDFW district fish biologist.

  "As the weather warms up, fish are feeding more and apt to bite," Michael said. "But when it gets too warm as summer comes on, they start to go deeper looking for cooler water. That's when you see fishing for warm-water species such as bass pick up."

  Michael added that kokanee stocked in 2005 for this year's season are also showing up in area lakes. "Kokanee fishing at Summit and American lakes has come on early and should be good for the next few weeks," he said.

  Michael reminds anglers that information on stocking schedules is available on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/weekly/.

  May 19 is Kids' Fishing Day at American Lake, where youngsters can try for a trout or two. American Lake, which has produced good numbers of rainbow and kokanee this spring, will be stocked with some good-sized trout so everyone is sure to get a catch. Pre-registration for the popular event is required. Call (253) 798-4176.

  On the Olympic Peninsula, spring chinook are returning to the Sol Duc hatchery and good numbers are anticipated through May and early June for anglers fishing the Quillayute and Sol Duc rivers, according to Mike Gross, WDFW fish biologist. Springer season also opens on the Hoh May 16, running Wednesdays through Sundays with a limit of one adult chinook per day.

  Gross recommends fishers check conditions before heading out. "The snow melt is causing the river to run pretty milky right now, making for poor visibility and difficult fishing." Gross reminds anglers fishing the Quillayute and Sol Duc to release all unmarked wild chinook.

• Wildlife viewing: Birders traveling to Grays Harbor County have been treated to sightings of an busily storing its cache in a dead tree trunk off the Elma Gate Road near Oakville. This red-crowned, black and white woodpecker, famous for its "Woody Woodpecker" call, is normally found only among select oak groves in Klickitat County, which is the extreme northern edge of their breeding range. To find the bird off I-5, go westbound on State Route 12 to milepost 36.5, turn left on Blockhouse Road and continue south about one mile to the Elma Gate Road. Several western tanagers and a western scrub jay were also sighted nearby. In the Brady/Satsop area, 230 whimbrels heading for the Alaska tundra were counted in a field off the Wenzel Slough road, while a red-necked phalarope was seen at the Hoquiam sewage ponds.

  On the Olympic Peninsula, birders participating in Clallam County's International Migratory Bird Day on May 12 reported seeing 104 species between Cape Flattery and Sekiu. At Cape Flattery, spotters found sooty and short-tailed shearwaters, northern fulmars, a herring gull, Caspian and common terns, Bonaparte's and California gulls, tufted puffins, a red-necked phalarope and a barred owl. Another migratory shorebird, the wandering tattler, was seen on the beach at Neah Bay as it rested on its flight from Central America to Alaska. Thirty-three bald eagles were observed feeding on fish heads, and birders counted more than 80 Wilson's warblers in the vicinity.

  This is the time of year for fledglings and newborns. Young juncos, pine siskins, sparrows, towhees and hummingbirds have been sighted recently throughout Puget Sound. Harbor seal pups are born from April to June in Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay, and spend several hours each day resting out of water on beaches or rocks.

  People who encounter these newborns and believe they are abandoned or stranded are advised to leave them alone. Seal pups especially are vulnerable to humans and other animals if approached as they rest before moving back to the water with their mothers. Visitors to local beaches are asked to give the animal plenty of room, keep pets away and report any distressed animal to the Marine Mammal Stranding Network at (206) 526-6733, ext. 1.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: Areas of the lower Columbia River open May 16 for spring chinook salmon, summer steelhead and shad, but anglers may think twice about moving to the big river from the tributaries. "Catch rates for spring chinook have been pretty darned good on the Lewis, Kalama and several other rivers for the past couple of weeks," said Joe Hymer, a WDFW fish biologist. "This is a good time to be out there."

  Some of the best action has been on the North Fork Lewis River, where boat anglers have been averaging better than one hatchery spring chinook for every two rods. In all, 166 boat anglers reported catching 83 adult springers and releasing another 16 in a weeklong creel check ending May 13. Bank anglers caught 10 spring chinook and release five more on the north fork that week.

  Next in line was the Kalama River, where 56 boat anglers averaged one springer for every three rods and bank anglers averaged one in five. Catch rates have been lower on the Cowlitz River, Hymer said.

  Farther east, anglers have been averaging one adult spring chinook for every four rods at Drano Lake and one in six on the Wind River, where the bag limit was raised to two springers or hatchery steelhead (or one of each). The upper river has been open to fishing since May 5. But fishing has generally been slow on the White Salmon River and the Klickitat River.

  "This year's spring chinook run has been a little late crossing Bonneville Dam," Hymer said. "Not as late as last year, but late enough to affect fisheries upriver."

  Even so, fishery managers from Washington and Oregon have sufficient confidence in this year's upriver run to reopen the spring chinook fishery in the lower Columbia River starting May 16. Through May 31, anglers can catch and keep six hatchery salmon - including two adult fish - from the Interstate 5 bridge downstream to the Tongue Point/Rocky Point line. Wild chinook and steelhead, as well as all chum and sockeye salmon, must be released.

  That fishery had been closed since April 16 while fishery managers watched the counts at Bonneville Dam to determine if the upriver run will reach the preseason forecast of 78,500 fish. "We're now fairly confident the run will be pretty close to that by the time the returns tail off in mid-June," said Cindy LeFleur, WDFW Columbia River policy coordinator. "The peak of the run is over, but there are still a lot of spring chinook available for harvest."

  Other options include summer-run steelhead and shad, which also opened for fishing May 16 in the lower Columbia. The hatchery steelhead fishery overlaps the area open to spring chinook fishing, from Interstate 5 bridge downstream to the Tongue Point/Rocky Point line. The daily limit is two marked hatchery fish.

  Shad fishing is open from Bonneville Dam to the mouth of the Columbia, with no bag limit and no minimum size. More than 17,000 shad were counted May 15 at Bonneville Dam. "The best time to hit them is when the counts start running to 20,000 to 50,000 per day," said Hymer, noting that information about catching and preparing shad is available on the WDFW website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/outreach/fishing/shad/shad.htm).

  Sturgeon opened to retention fishing May 12 downriver from the Wauna powerline crossing near Cathlamet and catch rates have been slowly improving in all areas. Bass, on the other hand, have practically been leaping into anglers' boats, especially in the John Day Pool. Sixteen boat anglers fishing there during the week ending May 13 reported catching a total of 232 bass and releasing 187 of them. Thirty-eight boat anglers fishing the same waters also reported catching 50 walleye and releasing 16.

  With dozens of rivers around the region set to open June 1 for trout fishing, anglers continue to pull rainbows, triploids and browns from lakes throughout the area. At Klineline Pond, bank anglers have been averaging over 1.5 trout per rod, mostly rainbows and browns. Mayfield Lake was stocked with 6,375 half-pound rainbows May 4, Sacajawea Lake was planted with 2,900 catchable-size rainbows May 7 and Fort Borst Park Pond got 3,000 catchables May 8.

  Kress Lake will be closed to the public May 18-20 for a boating-safety event, involving more than 600 children and adults. The lake will reopen to public fish at 6 p.m. May 20.

• Wildlife viewing: Young people, adults and families will have a chance to connect with nature and learn a variety of outdoor skills at the 2007 Youth Outdoor Adventure Expo May 18-19 at the Cowlitz County Expo Center, 1900 7th Ave., in Longview. The expo - which is free both days - is open to the general public Saturday, May 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Friday's event is reserved for students in grades 3-8 and their teachers.)

  Designed to introduce youngsters to outdoor activities, the expo will feature instruction and demonstrations by more than 160 outdoor experts and educators in outdoor skills. Activities will include fly tying, casting, catch-and-release fishing, firearm safety, outdoor survival, hunting, compass reading, boating, marine touch tanks and bird identification.

  "Young people increasingly spend more time exploring the Internet than the outdoors," said Bonnie Long, WDFW public outreach manager. "That's why these events, which offer ways for children to experience their outdoor heritage, are so important. These youngsters will soon be the stewards of our lands and wildlife." For more information on the event, call Jackie Jones at (360) 864-4259, or Bonnie Long at (360) 902-8308.

  The mighty sturgeon then takes center stage June 2-3 at the 11th annual Sturgeon Festival, hosted by WDFW and the City of Vancouver. The popular festival, which celebrates the Columbia River icon, runs from noon to 4 p.m. both days at the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 S.E. Columbia Way in Vancouver.

  The event includes entertaining and educational activities for all ages. Teens and adults can discuss environmental issues and career opportunities with staff from natural resource agencies and environmental organizations. They'll also have an opportunity to learn about sturgeon and salmon anatomy, and find out what sort of aquatic life inhabits the backwaters of the Columbia River.

  Environmental games and relays and interactive learning stations will also keep younger children entertained. Special events include Portland Audubon Society's Rap with Raptors, Oregon Zoo's Condor presentation, Mother Nature's Garden, Reptile Man, and Eartha the Clown.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: Hatchery spring chinook salmon fishing has been good since the special season opened May 9 in the Snake River, from Texas Rapids boat launch upstream to the Corps of Engineers boat launch (about a mile upstream of Little Goose Dam on the south bank). Glen Mendel, WDFW district fish biologist in Dayton, said catch rates initially were very good because of low water, "but stay tuned for how it goes."

  The special season, which is not listed in the fishing rules pamphlet, is slated to run through June 30. The daily catch limit is one adipose-fin-clipped chinook of at least 12 inches; possession limit is two daily catch limits. All chinook with the adipose fin intact, and all steelhead, must be immediately released unharmed. Anglers fishing that portion of the Snake River must use barbless hooks no larger than 5/8 inch from point of hook to shank.

  Mendel noted that this is the seventh consecutive special season for Snake River hatchery spring chinook salmon.

  Rainbow and cutthroat trout fishing in the central district's well-stocked and good fish-growing lakes remains excellent. Chris Donley, WDFW central district fish biologist in Spokane, said Lincoln County's Fishtrap Lake and southwest Spokane County's Badger, West Medical, and Williams lakes are all maintaining at least four-trout-per-angler catch averages. Anglers at Spokane County's Clear Lake should be reaping the benefits of extra catchable-size rainbows recently stocked in the lake.

  Two northeast district trout lakes that have been maintaining three-plus trout catch averages will shift to catch-and-release and selective gear rules on June 1: Starvation Lake, 10 miles southeast of Colville, and Rocky Lake, three-plus miles south of Colville.

  June 1 is also when many streams and rivers open to fishing, including the Spokane, San Poil, and Kettle arms of the Columbia or Lake Roosevelt. These fisheries open later than lakes to allow fish to spawn. See the regulations pamphlet for all details at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm.

• Hunting: Wild turkey and special permit black bear hunting continues through the end of the month throughout the region.

  Those eager to plan hunts this fall can now pick up a copy of the 2007-08 big game hunting rules pamphlet at license vendors and WDFW offices. The special deer, elk, moose, mountain goat, bighorn sheep and early fall turkey hunting permit application period is May 15-June 28.

• Wildlife viewing: Late May and early June is birthing time for deer, elk and moose. Woody Myers, WDFW wildlife research biologist, reminds wildlife enthusiasts to leave deer fawns and elk calves alone, even if the babies appear to be alone. Myers said that doe deer and cow elk often leave their young alone temporarily to avoid drawing predators by their own adult body scent.

  "The parent animals are nearby and may even be watching well-intentioned people remove what they mistake for abandoned or orphaned babies," he said. Such "adoptions" usually end up with the death of the young animal because most people don't know how to care for them, Myers said. "Some of our licensed wildlife rehabilitators end up with whole herds of whitetail fawns at this time," he said. "And not many actually make it successfully back in the wild." Myers said the best way to help wildlife families is to give them lots of space, and enjoy them from a distance with binoculars and scopes. Mother moose are notoriously ferocious protectors of their young, so it's also the best bet for safe wildlife viewing, he said.

  Black bears are out now foraging on new, green growth in south-facing mountain meadows. Sows could have new cubs in tow, so keep a respectable distance.

  Waterfowl families are also easily seen on waterways throughout the region. Goslings and ducklings are paddling after parent birds, which are busy keeping them safe until they can fly.

  Many songbirds are now paired up and nesting, or preparing to nest. Many bird enthusiasts maintain backyard feeders through the spring because this is a rigorous time for parent birds. But recent calls to WDFW about birds found dead at feeders are a good reminder that feeding at this time of year has a down side, too. WDFW Veterinarian Kristin Mansfield said the birds are most likely picking up the bacteria salmonella in bird fecal droppings at feeders.

  "Salmonellosis is probably the most common avian disease at bird feeders in Washington," she said. "It frequently afflicts the more colonial, flocking species like pine siskins, evening grosbeaks, and house finches, which concentrate at feeders and pass it around quickly. The first indication is often a very 'tame' bird on your feeder or around your house. The birds become very lethargic and are easy to approach and even pick up, but there is very little you can do to treat them." Mansfield advised stopping backyard feeding and letting the birds disperse to forage naturally. Bird-feeding enthusiasts could also reduce the number of feeders, use feeders that minimize the number of birds that can use them at one time (like tubes instead of platforms), and clean feeders daily with a one-to-10 chlorine bleach and warm water solution. Keeping feed clean and dry during this rainy time of year is also a good idea to avoid other kinds of bird diseases.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: "Now's the time to fish walleye in the big waters of the Columbia Basin," said Jeff Korth, WDFW district fish biologist in Moses Lake. "That includes Potholes Reservoir, Sprague, Banks, and Moses Lake. The fish are done spawning and are back on the feed. Mid-May to early June is always the best walleye fishing of the year here."

  Korth said this is also a good time to fish for bass, especially smallmouth. He said regulations were liberalized for smallmouth on Moses, Potholes, and Banks, with a 10-fish daily catch limit, but only one over 14 inches.

  Rainbow trout fishing at Blue and Park lakes in Grant County is very good, Korth said. Both lakes are maintaining the catch rate of about two trout per angler.

  Burke Lake, on the Quincy Wildlife Area southwest of the town of Quincy, is also still producing fair catch rates, Korth said. Burke is in its prime now, having been rehabilitated in 2005. Open since the first of March, it closes at the end of July.

• Hunting: Those eager to plan hunts this fall can now pick up a copy of the 2007-08 big game hunting rules pamphlet at license vendors and WDFW offices. The special deer, elk, moose, mountain goat, bighorn sheep and early fall turkey hunting permit application period is May 15-June 28.

• Wildlife viewing: The fifth annual Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest is May 18-20. This celebration of birdsong and the natural world includes walks and talks through habitats ranging from snow-capped mountains to sunny Ponderosa pine forests. Participants could see calliope hummingbirds, white-headed woodpeckers, harlequin ducks, osprey, western tanagers, MacGillivray's warblers, and other neotropical migratory songbirds birds that come to the area to breed and fledge. For more information, visit http://www.leavenworthspringbirdfest.com/.

  Many songbirds are now paired up and nesting, or preparing to nest. Many bird enthusiasts maintain backyard feeders through the spring because this is a rigorous time for parent birds. But recent calls to WDFW about birds found dead at feeders are a good reminder that feeding at this time of year has a down side, too. WDFW veterinarian Kristin Mansfield said the birds are most likely picking up the bacteria salmonella in bird fecal droppings at feeders.

  "Salmonellosis is probably the most common avian disease at bird feeders in Washington," she said. "It frequently afflicts the more colonial, flocking species like pine siskins, evening grosbeaks, and house finches, which concentrate at feeders and pass it around quickly. The first indication is often a very 'tame' bird on your feeder or around your house. The birds become very lethargic and are easy to approach and even pick up, but there is very little you can do to treat them." Mansfield advised stopping backyard feeding and letting the birds disperse to forage naturally. Bird-feeding enthusiasts could also reduce the number of feeders, use feeders that minimize the number of birds that can use them at one time (like tubes instead of platforms), and clean feeders daily with a one-to-10 chlorine bleach and warm water solution. Keeping feed clean and dry during this rainy time of year is also a good idea to avoid other kinds of bird diseases.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: Paul Hoffarth, WDFW fish biologist in Pasco, said the harvest picked up during the second week of the spring chinook salmon bank fishery on the Columbia River at Ringold. "I estimate 21 adult hatchery chinook and one jack were harvested," he said. "One wild chinook was caught and released. Total for the season is 23 adults, three jacks with four wild (non-clipped) chinook caught and released." Hoffarth noted the sampling is roughly 50 percent of the Ringold fishing effort.

  Walleye and bass fishing on the Columbia is also picking up. A recent creel check at the John Day Dam Pool, including fish released, showed boat anglers averaging 1.3 walleye and 14.5 bass per rod. Bank anglers were also catching bass.

  "There's good fishing in all the region's lowland trout lakes," said Eric Anderson, WDFW district fish biologist in Yakima. He reminds trout anglers to check the latest hatchery fish stocking on WDFW's southcentral region website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/reg/region3.htm.

  The stocking includes the first this year for Wenas Lake - about six miles north of Naches - which recently reopened for public access. Anderson said 4,500 catchable rainbows went into Wenas on May 11 and another 4,400, including 400 jumbos, will be added in early June. Anderson noted that efforts are under way to work out a long-term public access agreement with the Wenas Irrigation District this fall.

  Fishing at Clear Lake in upper Yakima County (off Highway 12 in the White Pass area) also has been hot. Anderson said Clear was recently stocked with 6,500 triploid (sterile) rainbow trout, ranging in size from 3/4 to 1.5 pounds. Clear was also stocked back in April with 8,500 catchable rainbow trout (1/3 pound each) and will receive another 10,000 catchable-sized rainbows before June 1.

• Hunting: Those eager to plan hunts this fall can now pick up a copy of the 2007-08 big game hunting rules pamphlet at license vendors and WDFW offices. The special deer, elk, moose, mountain goat, bighorn sheep and early fall turkey hunting permit application period is May 15-June 28.

• Wildlife viewing: WDFW Oak Creek Wildlife Area Manager John McGowan said there's a good opportunity for highway travelers with good binoculars or spotting scopes to view a cliffside golden eagle nest. McGowan said travelers on Highway 12 southwest of Naches, about one mile west of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area headquarters, can go to a wide gravel parking area on a sharp corner to see the nest. "Pull off between the power pole and the metal diversion screen facing the cliff to the south," he said. "Locate the group of dead trees on top of the ridge and look carefully under the largest tree to the left side. There is a small vertical yellow stripe on the rock face approximately 20 yards down the cliff. The nest is directly below this stripe at about five o'clock."

  Many songbirds are now paired up and nesting, or preparing to nest. Many bird enthusiasts maintain backyard feeders through the spring because this is a rigorous time for parent birds. But recent calls to WDFW about birds found dead at feeders are a good reminder that feeding at this time of year has a down side, too. WDFW veterinarian Kristin Mansfield said the birds are most likely picking up the bacteria salmonella in bird fecal droppings at feeders.

  "Salmonellosis is probably the most common avian disease at bird feeders in Washington," she said. "It frequently afflicts the more colonial, flocking species like pine siskins, evening grosbeaks, and house finches, which concentrate at feeders and pass it around quickly. The first indication is often a very 'tame' bird on your feeder or around your house. The birds become very lethargic and are easy to approach and even pick up, but there is very little you can do to treat them." Mansfield advised stopping backyard feeding and letting the birds disperse to forage naturally. Bird-feeding enthusiasts could also reduce the number of feeders, use feeders that minimize the number of birds that can use them at one time (like tubes instead of platforms), and clean feeders daily with a one-to-10 chlorine bleach and warm water solution. Keeping feed clean and dry during this rainy time of year is also a good idea to avoid other kinds of bird diseases.