INTERPRETATION


THE GREAT WASHINGTON STATE BIRDING
TRAIL MAP -- COULEE CORRIDOR SCENIC BYWAY

Coulee Corridor sCeniC ByWay 

wASHINGTON


2 0 0 7  S C E N I C  B Y W A Y  A W A R D  W I N N E R  f o r 
I N T E R P R T A T I o N 

Long scenic byway corridors with diverse 
resources wrestle with ways to tie the route 
together. The Coulee Corridor National 
Scenic Byway found an innovative approach 
to connect resources while highlighting critical 
natural features: the basalt landscape and its 
internationally significant birding habitat. 
This partnership between the Coulee Corridor 
Consortium and Audubon Washington brings 
ornithological knowledge and birding experience 
together with tourism and community education. 
It is an impressive example of how a byway 
project can include a high degree of information 
integrity with volunteer implementation. 

PHOTO: The "Great Washinton Birding Trail Map".

LEADERSHIP HTROUGH VOLUNTEERISM

Of major importance to this excellent example is the fact 
that volunteers, coordinated by Audubon Washington, visited over 
100 sites to document detailed information on bird habitats and 
species, as well as access and amenities. Volunteers then wrote 
the text for each site, including driving directions. This new 
addition to the “Great Washington Birding Trail Map” provides 
visitors with complete and “tested” interpretive information. 

INNOVATION IN COMMUNITY EDUCATION 

The map project simultaneously served roles in interpretation 
and community education. The brochure has been distributed at 
several local birding festivals, byway events, Audubon meetings 
statewide, as well at locations along the byway, including the 
Columbia National Wildlife Refuge. Response to the map 
has been outstanding, including over 1,500 requests for the 
publication before it was printed. In addition, the National 
Audubon Society’s staff selected it as the most attractive 
birding trail map nationwide in 2004. 

INTEGRITY OF INTERPRETATION

The byway leaders noted the integrity and completeness of 
the interpretive information in their award application: “The 
Birding Trail Map is not just a brochure, but a comprehensive, 
systematic guide to 53 diverse sites that reflect the powerful Ice 
Age Floods story while bringing travelers to some of the best 
birding in the region.” 

MODEL FOR OUTDOOR TRAVELERS 

With this publication, Audubon Washington and the Coulee 
Corridor Scenic Byway have set a new standard and created a 
proven model for tourism efforts that aim to simultaneously 
meet the needs of the experienced outdoor traveler and the 
byway community. 
 
PHOTOS: Coulee Corridor National Scenic Byway (1) © 2002 
Sunny Walter, (2) © 2005 Teri J. pieper
 
 
MOTTO: Sharing Success and Honoring Excellence