OutdoorSignal
Waterfowl intelligence

McNary National Wildlife Refuge

Answers field/weather and mapped habitat context; it does not predict migration or bird presence.

81/100Good
Evidence completeness: 100/100. Derived conditions help with planning; official alerts, rules and local conditions always take priority.
THE DECISION

Today and tomorrow are broadly similar

The difference is only 5 points (81/100 today, 86/100 tomorrow), so there is no strong conditions-based reason to postpone solely for the forecast. The main forecast change is that peak rain probability falls from 26% to 6%, and the low changes from 62°F to 55°F.

Today81/100
Tomorrow86/100
ConfidenceMedium

Most important: Mapped wetland habitat: The surrounding area has a substantial mapped wetland footprint. That supports habitat context, but it does not prove birds are present today.

Temperature64°F
Wind2 mph
Rain chance1%
ForecastMostly Sunny
INTERPRETATION

What the numbers actually change

Good

Mapped wetland habitat

160,378 acres within 10 mi

The surrounding area has a substantial mapped wetland footprint. That supports habitat context, but it does not prove birds are present today.

Context

Wind / field setup

6 mph max

Very light wind may make some setups feel static, but this does not predict migration.

Official recreation record

Source: Recreation.gov / RIDB. Verify current reservation, closure and facility details on the official service.

 McNary National Wildlife Refuge is a welcomed respite for migratory birds, native plants and human visitors alike. Extending along the east bank of the Columbia River in southeastern Washington, from the confluence of the Snake River to the mouth of the Walla Walla River, and downstream into Oregon, McNary NWR is located in rural Burbank, but very close to the rapid development of the Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Pasco and Richland). In fact, the refuge meets the…

RIDB record3919
ReservableNo

Official directions: From Pasco To McNary Headquarters & The Hunter Check Station:Take I-182 East. When it turns to the south, it becomes State Route 12 towards Walla Walla.Cross the the Snake River Bridge.Just after the bridge take the right-hand exit for State Route 124 to Waitsburg/Burbank.Go 1.5 miles (including the cloverleaf itself) to Lake Road and turn…

Terrain context

Center elevation363 ft
Sampled low342 ft
Sampled high481 ft
Elevation range140 ft

Sampled terrain is planning context, not a survey or route assessment.

Wetland context

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory. Mapping is not a regulatory wetland determination or property-boundary survey.

160,378 mapped wetland acres were returned within the 10-mile query area.

WHAT THIS PAGE DOESN'T KNOW YET

Important gaps

  • Regional snow/freeze progression, crop/food context and live bird observations are not yet part of this score; do not treat it as a migration forecast.
Condition-aware gear

Gear justified by these conditions

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Waterproof field bag

The mapped wetland footprint makes waterproof storage more relevant than on a dry-land outing.

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