May 8, 2005 in Outdoors

Field Reports

The Spokesman-Review
 

sea kayaking

Symposiums

Two good opportunities to immerse in the sport of sea kayaking are being organized in the Puget Sound area:

“Puget Sound Sea Kayak Symposium, May 21-22 at Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, organized by Metro Parks. Includes workshops, presentations and on-water clinics and by Azimuth Expeditions and displays by more than 30 vendors. Info: www.metroparkstacoma.org.

“West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium, Sept. 9-11, at Fort Worden State Park near Port Townsend, organized by Trade Association of Paddle Sports. (Make accommodation reservations early since this is same weekend as the area’s Wooden Boat Festival.)

This is the granddaddy of sea kayak symposiums, with more than 30 manufactures presenting gear for demo, plus classes, on-water instruction, presentations and special events and races. Info: www.wcsks.org.

BIRDWATCHING

Kettle songbird festival

Cranes do not darken the sky and shorebirds do not cover the ground like snow in northeastern Washington this month.

But the third annual Kettle Valley Songbird Festival, May 20-22, is a pleasant, laid-back opportunity to spread your birdwatching wings in the Kettle River Valley migration corridor, where last year’s attendees saw 127 species, including rose-breasted grosbeak, black swift, black tern and black-chinned hummingbird.

Festival highlights based in Republic include:

May 20: “Birding in the Okanogan Highlands,” evening program by naturalist Andy Stepniewski.

May 21: Bird-count contest and field trips to different habitats.

“”Sharp-Tailed Grouse on the Colville Reservation,” afternoon program by Rose Gerlinger, tribal wildlife biologist.

“”Hiking Inland Northwest Bird Country,” afternoon program by Spokesman-Review Outdoors Editor Rich Landers, author of “100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest.”

“Boat tour, Roberta Lake.

May 22: Numerous field trips and maps for 10 self-guided tours, including an easy one to feeders at selected private homes.

Festival registration is $5 starting 5 p.m. May 20 at Republic Elementary School multipurpose room, 915 E. Highway 20 in Republic. Guided tour fees range $5-$20.

Info: www.ferrycounty.com/ kettlevalleysongbirdfestival or The Loose Blue Moose, (509) 775-0441.

Rich Landers

OUTDOORS TRAVEL

Almost across Africa

“Seven Weeks in Africa,” a free slide program, will be presented by Spokane Community College life sciences instructor Tammy Filliater at an SCC Brown Bag presentation, 11:30 a.m., Monday , in the Lair-Student Center.

Visit Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa to climb Kilimanjaro, tour the Serengeti and Masaii villages, trek to see mountain gorillas and lions.

Rich Landers

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