In brief: Dishman Hills hikes celebrate 50 years of conservation
CONSERVATION – The Dishman Hills Conservancy is organizing free group hikes among other events to celebrate 50 years of the group’s efforts to preserve a cherished swath of natural area in Spokane Valley.
Participants on these hikes will learn about the hundreds of acres of wildlife habitat and room for exploring that’s been secured from development. Dishman Hills Conservancy areas are regularly used as natural classrooms by area schools.
The conservancy’s effort is ongoing to close the gaps between Dishman Hills Natural Area and the more recently acquired Spokane County Conservation Futures areas ranging from the Camp Caro (accessible by city bus near the car dealerships on Appleway Boulevard) to the Rocks of Sharon.
DHC members are working hard to raise money, negotiate, buy land or secure easements to protect more land and increase community access before land prices get beyond the nonprofit group’s reach.
Getting involved is as easy as making an online donation to the Connecting People to Nature project.
For fun and insight, join some of the group members on a hike.
Upcoming activities include:
Sunday – Glenrose Conservation Area hike, carpool to trailhead, 1-4p.m.
March 19 – Big Rock hike from Stevens Creek parking lot, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 9 – Annual Buttercup Hike, noon, from Camp Caro off Appleway Blvd.
April 15 – DHC 50th Year Celebration Dinner, 5:30 p.m., Barrister Winery
Sign up for the free hikes online at dishmanhills.org.
Info: Jeff Lambert, (509) 999-5100.
Big game trophy measuring
HUNTING – Big game trophy measuring and display has been a cornerstone of the Big Horn Outdoor Adventure Show for more than half a century and this year’s event on March 17-20 will be no exception.
Hunters – even some shed-antler hunters – can enter their trophies for awards and trophy measuring by certified Boone and Crockett and Pope and Young scorers assembling for the event at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center.
All species of North American Big Game recognized by the Boone and Crockett Club are eligible for awards from the sponsoring Inland Northwest Wildlife Council.
Shed antlers will be accepted from Rocky Mountain elk, white-tailed deer and mule deer for scoring, limited to two shed antlers (or one set) per family.
Deer antlers must have a minimum of four points of at least one inch in length.
Elk antlers must have a minimum of five points of at least one inch in length.
Enter trophies at the fairgrounds South Entrance on March 16-18 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on March 19 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Crane, swan festivals next week
Birds – Two events focused on spring migrations of large, crowd-pleasing birds are set for next week, one in Central Washington and the other in Pend Oreille County.
The 19th annual Othello Sandhill Crane Festival, the biggest birding event in the region, is set for March 18-20, marking the return of the cranes to the Columbia Basin National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding agricultural lands.
Highlights of the festival include tours to view cranes and other birds, as well as the distinctive Ice Age Floods geology. A series of lectures cover a wide range of bird and natural history topics and research and the festival is known for fun children’s programs.
Info: othellosandhillcranefestival.org, or call (866) 726-3445.
The Tundra Swan Festival on March 19, based out of Usk, Washington, includes a 10 a.m. bus tour to view congregated swans, followed by a lunch and presentation at the Kalispel Tribal Camas Wellness Center in Usk. Cost: $10 adults, $5 kids.
Program presenters include Gonzaga University professor Stephen Hayes speaking on wood ducks, and John Baumann, president of the Washington Butterfly Association.
A free shuttle to the event from Spokane leaves at 8 a.m. from the parking lot of the Walmart near the North Division Y. Reservations required.
Info and reservations: porta.us, or call (509) 589-1224.
Orienteering event on GU campus
NAVIGATION – The Eastern Washington Orienteering Club is holding an open event to challenge the map and compass skills of hikers and runners on Sunday on the Gonzaga University campus.
Registration and map distribution starts at 1 p.m. at the Jepson Building. The event will start at 1:30.
This event is good for novices, with all the stations confined to the GU campus.