March 22, 2019
Experience the beauty and wonder of wildlife, highlighted by the return of Sandhill cranes to the Channeled Scablands. This three-day community event features a variety of activities. Field trips take you to view cranes and thousands of geese and duck, burrowing owls (when they are around), and the other wildlife of Columbia NWR. Learn about songbirds, geology, local agriculture, and human projects that affect the natural world. All Saturday, experts present diverse and absorbing lectures on the area's natural and cultural heritage. An art contest, a live raptor presentation, and numerous children's activities are offered. The festival charges an admission fee that covers entrance to all lectures.
Othello Sandhill Crane Festival Site
In winter, elk follow millennia of instinct and leave the Cascades for the lowlands of the Columbia Basin. Hundreds of elk can frequently be seen foraging along Highway 240 in the flats of the Rattlesnake Unit. While the movements of wildlife are never certain, watching the elk is popular, and the elk are seen frequently enough that the FWS has installed a pullout along Highway 240 to ensure public safety. If you go out there, take binoculars and spotting scopes. Remember: The Rattlesnake Unit is closed, so stay on your side of the fence. Besides, you don’t want to approach the elk out of respect for their winter energy needs and your own safety.
Elk