February 17, 2009

OLYMPIA… In the presence of two of Washington’s iconic birds, a red-tailed hawk and great horned owl, Senators Mike Hewitt and Jerome Delvin, will unveil the fifth and newest route of Audubon Washington’s Great Washington State Birding Trail: the Sun and Sage Loop.  

The event will take place on Thursday, Feb. 19, from 12:45 – 1 p.m. on the Capitol campus in the Cherberg Building, Rooms A/B/C. 

“Birding trails are big business all across the country,” said Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, an avid bird photographer and sponsor of the 2006 legislation that helped develop and complete the trail. “The trails and their birds attract visitors to mostly rural locations, which spurs economic development and gives residents increased incentive to safeguard natural acres around their communities and regions.” 

Audubon Washington spokeswoman Hilary Hilscher explained the Birding Trails program, launched in 2002 with the opening of the Cascades Loop, “aims to match the state’s desire to promote watchable wildlife and tourism.” 

“If you aren’t a bird-watcher when you visit these trails, you will be when you leave,” said Delvin, R-Richland. “They are creative, eye-catching and a real pleasure to experience. Not only will they help boost our rural economies, they’ll shelter Washington’s majestic birds for future generations.”  

The Sun and Sage Loop connects areas of Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, Yakima, Klickitat, Benton and Walla Walla counties. It encompasses different habitats that will feature more than 200 of Washington’s 346 annually recorded bird species; the location also allows tourists to enjoy the beauty and fun of Washington wine country. 

“The trail is a varied landscape, an expansive show-and-tell of everything that’s unique about Washington,” said Christi Norman, Great Washington State Birding Trail director. “You’ll see sage hillside, wildflower meadow, leafy forest…wide valleys, intimate canyons and waterways…mountain passes and river lowlands…high-country plateaus…and the great dams on the Columbia River…a thousand opportunities to bird by foot, by bike and by boat.” 

The red-tailed hawk and great horned owl at the ceremony will come from Vashon Island’s Wolftown, a non-profit facility that rescues and rehabilitates nature’s wildlife and offers them for educational presentations. 

Guests at the unveiling will receive complimentary maps with information about habitat, bird species, access and seasonal features.  Like the maps for the other four loops, the Sun and Sage Loop map boasts the original artwork of notable Washington wildlife painter Ed Newbold. 

Two more routes, the Spokane Loop and Puget Sound Loop, will complete the self-guided State Birding Trail in 2010. 

Links:
Audubon Washington’s Great Washington State Birding Trail http://wa.audubon.org/birds_GreatWABirdingTrail.html Wolftown: http://www.wolftown.org/
Ed Newbold: http://www.ednewbold.com/

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For more information contact Rebecca Japhet
at (360) 786-7516 or japhet.rebecca@leg.wa.gov.