A wonderful festival occurs in Othello, a small town centered in the farming area of east central Washington state. In March thousands of gangly Grus canadensis, Sandhill Cranes, one of two crane species native to North America, arrive in the Othello area specifically on the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, reaffirming marriage vows or searching for the one and only mate of a lifetime.

Bird lovers describe them as tall, stately birds. They do march with measured footsteps like a fussy banker lifting pointy shoes around horse apples in a pasture. What is equally silly is the way the birds carry on in pairs when their hormones go over the moon. Their stick legs jerk up and down. Beaks point straight up as if verifying longitudinal readings.

Biologists tell me those actors are the males - females raise beaks only up to 45 degrees and coyly bring them down to horizontal, appearing embarrassed that they dared to get excited. But otherwise the birds all look alike, with heavy bodies, long legs, and long necks - for craning, I suppose.

Like 18th century dancers they bow and jump. Then they pretend to throw sticks - better than throwing their weight around, I guess. A pair might start the frolic but soon the whole crowd - just like humans - make it a community activity with gusto. Can't be left out, you know!

Such frolic at the 8th annual Crane festival is not only approved of, but fostered by, the town businesses and surrounding communities that support it with money, goods, and advertisements. Hundreds of volunteers make the Crane Festival an outstanding educational and entertaining environmental weekend for the thousands of visitors that come from around the state and nation. Experts give lectures throughout the day and others lead birding tours - sorry, crane tours (but guides do point out other feathered friends). Art exhibits and children's activities flourish, dominated by a silhouette of that Sandhill Crane, standing 5 feet tall, with a 5 inch bill and a wingspread of 6 feet. That IS impressive.

The event is over for this year. Go www Othello or just Google Othello and see what you missed. Put it on your calendar for next March.

Naomi Sherer