Watch for swooping swallows at Julia Butler Hansen refuge

Location: Off Highway 4 along the Columbia River northwest of Cathlamet, Wahkiakum County.

Habitat: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages this refuge named for a longtime congresswoman from the area. It includes 6,238 acres of Columbia River islands and sloughs with riparian cottonwood and alder, Sitka spruce, wetlands and meadows.

Best seasons for birding: Year-round.

Birds commonly seen: Spring brings swallows — violet-green, tree, northern rough-winged, cliff, barn and purple martin — along with Northern harriers in fields, wood ducks in sloughs, ospreys by river and turkey vultures in open spaces. Sharp-shinned hawks possible October to early April. December to March, bald eagles nest, greater scaups forage and tundra swans pull wapato. Peregrine falcons are present fall through winter.

Viewing: Watch swallow aerobatics from refuge office viewing platform. Pick up free flyer showing refuge auto tour. Drive, bicycle or walk 4.1-mile Steamboat Slough road through refuge. Wet meadows in first 0.7 mile attract yellow warblers and American goldfinches. At 2.3 miles, pole in field to north supports purple martin nest gourds. Warblers are common in roadside brush and trees, miles 2.9-3.8. November-April wetlands abound with Canada geese, American wigeons, green-winged teal, gadwalls and Northern pintails; and cinnamon teal in summer. At boundary of refuge, turn right (east) onto 2.4-mile, one-lane Brooks Slough Road to return to Highway 4 at Milepost 31.4.

Getting there: Take Highway 4 west from Interstate 5 at Kelso. From Highway 4 at Milepost 33.5, turn south onto Steamboat Slough Road. Drive 0.2 mile. Turn right into refuge office parking. Bonus: At refuge kiosk on Highway 4 at Milepost 31.8, view Roosevelt elk and deer in early evenings. Salmon migrate up Elochoman River in fall.

More birding: On Highway 4 at Milepost 29 (a quarter-mile west of refuge), Skamokawa Center offers kayak/canoe guided birding tours. 360-920-8300 or www.skamokawakayak.com.

Source: Audubon Washington, Great Washington State Birding Trail maps. To order maps (Cascade Loop, Coulee Corridor, Olympic Loop or Southwest Loop), go online to www.wa.audubon.org. Call toll-free, 866-922-4737, for more information.