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The POWER program to feed game birds in the winter will soon end.

Lack of “manpower” is finally catching up to the longtime program by POWER (Promoters of Wildlife and Environmental Resources).

Carl Russell, longtime president of the organization, said that when the final sacks of feed are distributed, the program will end.

Some 59 small backyard feeders are scattered around the community along with 15 large feeders, and have been a food refuge for quail and other game birds for over 20 years, Russell stated.

Russell recently resigned as president of the organization after being in charge of both the winter game bird feeding program and the fish pen operation in Electric City.

Succeeding him are two people, Greg Anderson and Bob Meeker, who are working together as leaders of the group.

Originally, the local Bureau of Reclamation provided feed for the program; more recently, the BOR operation in Ephrata has provided the feed.

POWER uses about 10,000 pounds of feed during the winter, and one year it grew to 12,000 pounds.

“We don’t have enough help,” Russell stated. “The people that have been helping are getting older and are unable to do it anymore. We have needed an infusion of younger workers for some time.”

The POWER group has some feed at Russell’s barn, past 127 Sunset Drive. When that is gone, the game bird feeding program will end.