Wheel Life: Othello prepares for crane invasion

‘I haven’t heard any today,” says Lyle Stoltman of the Othello (Wash.) Conservation District, “but people have reported seeing them eating in local corn fields.”

“A huge flock came in Wednesday night,” says Marie Lotz, coordinator of the Othello Sandhill Crane Festival. “There are tons of them out there now.”

What’s expected over the next couple of weeks are upwards of 100,000 sandhill cranes, burrowing owls and other migrating species.

It is said that up to 90 percent of the estimated 25,000 cranes winging north along the Pacific Flyway will touch down in the Othello area. They will stage along the Columbia Basin before setting off for their breeding grounds in southeastern Alaska.

“We’re really excited they are finally here,” says Lotz.

The popular three-day Othello Sandhill Crane Festive begins Friday with guided field trips into the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding scablands.

“There are still crane-viewing tours open,” says Lotz, “but most of the specialty tours are full.”

One field trip with openings is “Biking for Cranes,” a 21/2 hour guided ride. “I understand they plan to bike around 20 miles,” says Lotz.

Hourly lectures begin at 10 a.m. next Saturday. No advance registration is needed for the more than 30 lectures. Topics include Scrub-steppe Birds, Deadwood and Wildlife in Eastern Washington, Raptors of the Pacific Northwest, Insects for Kids and Butterflies of the Basin.

Thanks to advance planning by folks in Othello, there are plenty of recreational vehicle camping sites available in the Sandhill Crane Festival area.

“We didn’t want people to have to park in the Wal-Mart lot,” says Lotz, “so we went to the county fair board and asked if they could help. They were able to get a grant and fixed up the grounds in time for the festival.”

Festival information

Admission, which includes all lectures, is $7, or $5 for those 65 and older. Children under 12 are admitted free with paid adult. Box lunches are $6.

Costs of viewing tours vary, call toll-free (866) 726-3445 to check what’s available or go to www.othellosandhillcranefestival.org.

Othello is about a two-hour drive southwest of Spokane – take I-90 to exit 220, take US 395 south to Highway 26 west. Follow Highway 26 to Othello. Turn right onto First Avenue. Follow First Avenue to Main Street to Seventh Avenue. Turn right on Seventh Avenue. Othello High School is on the right in the second block.

If you can’t make it down for the festival next weekend, there are early morning and late afternoon crane and burrowing owl viewing tours today, March 31 and April 7.

“These are also filling up fast,” says Lotz.

RV sites, services

“Adams County Fairgrounds, 820 Reynolds Road, Othello. From Highway 26, take Reynolds Road south.

“There are plenty of signs to the fairgrounds,” says Merritt Johnson, president of the fair board. “Just drive on in.”

For $10 a day, the fairgrounds offers a no-frills place to park with water and electricity. There are also restrooms and showers. No limit on length of stay. No dump station.

If you have questions, call Johnson at (509) 488-2471.

“76 Quik Stop fuel station, 1298 S. First Ave. (at Highway 26). Open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. On April 1, hours go to 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“We have diesel, gasoline and propane,” says manager Pennie Brady “Most important, we have a free RV dump site.”

“About eight miles north of Othello in Warden, Wash., is Sage Hills Golf Course and RV, 10400 Sage Hill Road S.E.

“We have full-hookups for $25, Monday through Thursday and $27 on Friday and Saturday,” says Shirley Ehlers. The best number to call is the pro shop at (509) 349-2603.

“Potholes State Park is 10 miles north of Othello. It is a 640-acre camping area with 6,000 feet of freshwater shoreline on Potholes Reservoir (also known as O’Sullivan Reservoir).

“There are 60 RV camp sites available on a first come-first served basis,” says Cathie Barnes, customer services specialist with Washington State Parks in Olympia.

Fee for a utility campsite (electrical hookup, water and sewer) is $26 a day. Dump station on location. There is a park ranger on site; call (509) 346-2759.

The park is 17 miles southwest of Moses Lake. From I-90 take exit 179 and follow signs to park.

For additional information go to the Washington State Parks Web site at www.parks.wa.gov or call (360) 902-8844 weekdays.

“MarDon Resort is on Potholes Reservoir about two miles from the park at 8198 Highway 262 S.E. There are almost 90 RV sites. Full hookups are $20 a night; $18 if you’re age 60 and over.

“Right now we have all kinds of RV sites,” says reservations clerk Katie Lang. “We even have tent sites for $15. But it’s still kind of cold for that.”

Make reservations by calling toll free (800) 416-2736 or go online to www.mardonresort.com.

Dump station reopens

Denzel Johnson, owner of Johnson RV, 5928 E. Boone Ave. in Spokane Valley, sent in an e-mail saying their dump station is open for the season.

The tanks are open only during business hours (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and there is a $5 charge to help defray costs.