The Naturalist’s Paradise
Washington State, particularly the Tri-Cities region comprised of Pasco, Kennewick, Richland, and West Richland is one of the premiere sites for bird watching.
The Unspoiled Ecosystem of the Tri-Cities
Tri-Cities is right in the path of bird migrations as birds from Alaska and Canada fly towards more southerly regions to seek warmer weather. And because Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland of the Tri-Cities triumvirate have milder weather compared to all of Washington State, migratory birds often 
stay longer in the Tri-Cities, seeking rest and refuge from the northern cold.
Because of the inviting weather Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland are one of the best sites for bird watching. But the temperate climate is not the only thing that attracts these magnificent birds to the Tri-Cities of Washington State.
Tri-Cities is located alongside the Hanford Reach, the only remaining free stretch of the Columbia River. The pristine waters of Hanford Reach traverse a fifty-mile stretch of some of the most magnificent landscapes you will see in Washington State.
Beside this stretch of the unbridled river stands a protected wilderness of stark and breathtaking beauty of shrub steppes, sand dunes, rolling plateaus, and mountain ranges. Indeed, this magnificent landscape of the Tri-Cities presents a fitting backdrop for the equally magnificent wildlife that seeks its refuge and sustenance.
In this area of undisturbed wilderness, rare animals find shelter and food. Animals such as coyotes, eagles, deer, falcons, and hawks, are just some of the wildlife that flourishes in this nature sanctuary.
Bird Watcher’s Bliss
The birds that make this land their home, stay for so many reasons. And there are many different birds to see every day, all 365 days of the year, depending on the season. Most of these birds are transients, staying to breed or pass the colder winters up north, or just stopping for a while to rest, then migrating to someplace else, as Mother Nature intended them to.
Always these birds leave, but always they return. As certain as Washington state seasons come and go, they too make their way to their stopovers and destinations, guided by an inner compass that tells them exactly when to leave and where to go.
The perfect design of nature has allowed the land and the life of the Hanford Reach to survive for thousands of years. Both the wildlife and the wilderness have earned the right to keep their place, unbridled and undisturbed and protected at all costs.
Such is the legacy that the residents of Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland of the Tri-Cities have been entrusted to keep and preserve. Both the wildlife and the wilderness of the Hanford Reach must be looked after and protected from human encroachment and any other human activity that puts this ecosystem at risk.
It has already been done. Tri-Cities, while taking advantage of their glorious natural land features, have left enough room for the wilderness to remain wild and free. So it has been done, and may it always be.
Related Resources for Along the River's Path:
- Land of Three Rivers
- Kennewick's Rivers
- The Columbia River
- The Snake River
- River Recreation
- Port of Pasco
- Richland Steelhead Fishing
- Kennewick Water Follies
- Hydroplane Races
- Naturalist's Paradise