Forecast: Moments of sunshine and mild temperatures accompanied by bursts of human optimism and spring fever.
Response: Toss binoculars in the vehicle and hang the bikes on the car rack for some quality time to the south.
Easy biking and birding are the main draws of Sauvie Island, 10 miles northwest of Portland, Ore., where the Willamette and Columbia rivers meet.
Bicyclists can park their cars in the lot at the island end of the bridge off Highway 30; check out the large map to get your bearings.
The most popular ride is a 12-mile loop through farmlands around the southern end. On a clear day (remember that optimism?) look for mounts Rainier, St. Helens, Hood and Adams.
The island, home to about 1,000 residents, is mostly farms and the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area on the north end.
The 12,000-acre refuge, purchased for waterfowl habitat, is managed by the Oregon Fish &Wildlife Department.
“It’s a phenomenal wintering area and migratory stopover,” refuge manager Mark Nebeker said.
In 1805, the members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition would have agreed, but for different reasons.
“They wouldn’t spend the night,” Nebeker said. “It was too noisy with ducks and geese and swans.”
This year waterfowl are a little slower to head north than usual, so there still may be considerable numbers on the island through March.
Sauvie Island is the only site in western Oregon that attracts sandhill cranes in large numbers: about 4,000 in the fall. Spring migrations include about 2,000 wintering cranes.
There are several bald eagle nests on the refuge and several more on private lands. One is about 120 feet up in an oak tree overlooking the Oak Island loop trail in Sauvie Island’s interior.
Oak Island hasn’t been an island since a levee and road were built to it. The beautiful oak grove in the middle is the only large concentration of white oaks on the refuge, and many are very large and old.
Boats and ships navigating the Columbia have looked to Sauvie Island for guidance since two red lanterns were placed at Warrior Rock in 1877. Later, a small lighthouse was built. A 3-mile trail from the end of Reeder Road leads to the lighthouse.
Scappoose Bay, adjacent to the northwest side of Sauvie, is a tidal estuary and a side channel of the Multnomah Channel.
It’s a popular bay for kayakers. There are no kayak rentals on the island, but Scappoose Bay Kayaking near Warren offers options for trips across Multnomah Channel to the refuge’s wetlands.
And if your optimism is unrewarded because the weekend is wet and chilly, there’s always May.
Columnist Sharon Wootton can be reached at 360-468-3964 or www.songandword.com.
IF YOU GO
Directions: South on I-5 across the Columbia River, Highway 30 west, exit to the Sauvie Island Bridge.
Sauvie Island Wildlife Area: Maps and day permits ($3.50) for the refuge and beaches available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at the Oregon Fish &Wildlife office, 18330 NW Sauvie Island Road; 503-621-3488.
The entire refuge is open to the public from May 1 to Sept. 30.
Information: Go to www.dfw.state.or.us, click on Viewing Resources, then Willamette Zone. Scroll down to Sauvie Island.
Scappoose Bay Kayaking: Rentals and tours to Sauvie Island; 877-272-3353, www.scappoosebay kayaking.com.
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