Andy Stepniewski, author of Birds of Yakima County, drove over from Yakima to educate us on bird habitats, geography, and the native and non-native plants of Yakima County and nearby areas of central Washington, specifically the shrub-steppe habitats. Ellen Stepniewski was a valuable addition to the presentation and put out specimens of the grasses, sagebrushes (very aromatic!), and rabbitbrush so we will know them next time we cross the mountains. Who knew there were that many varieties of sagebrush in the shrub-steppe or that Washington has a state grass (Bluebunch wheatgrass)?

Andy introduced the index bird species for each sage/grass combination, along with each bird’s song, global distribution, and threats. Often the threats were to the plant life, which of course are passed on to the birds, squirrels, etc. Along with the several highly desirable LBJ’s such as the newly split Sagebrush Sparrow and the declining Grasshopper Sparrow, as well as Burrowing Owl and Sage Grouse, we were also educated on the prolific nasty cheatgrass, introduced inadvertantly, as well as the introduced Chukar, one of only a few birds who benefit from it.

Andy encouraged us all to visit the White Cliffs area of the Hanford Reach National Monument for its scenic beauty as well as habitat areas that have been preserved somewhat. The Yakima Firing Range was also singled out as a preserved area.

In case you didn’t know, Andy tells us that the local Meadowlarks sing, “I’m such a pretty blackbird.”

The question/answer period brought up Russian Olive, and Andy tells us there is a movement to pull it up, which he and we lament somewhat. Even though it’s introduced, it is providing habitat to a few desirable species that might not stay without it.

A very interesting topic was the destruction of habitat by feral horses, which have increased exponentially just in the past 10 years on the Yakama Nation’s lands to about 11,000, with a carrying capacity of just 10% of that. This is going to be news for some time to come, and some of the horses have started to starve already. The horse lovers’ lobby are fighting hard against preserving habitat and therefore birds.

Thanks, Andy and Ellen!

Click photos below to enlarge.