Subject: Re: Swaison's Hawk (historically)
Date: Jul 13 08:42:29 1994
From: Eugene Hunn - hunn at u.washington.edu


Michael,

I recall a very few believable reports for the west side during the past
20+ years, most clearly strays. Hunn's _Birding in Seattle and King
County_ lists three records: "two old late-winter reports" [which could
be spring strays] and one for 28 April 1975. See pg. 87.

Gene Hunn.

On Tue, 12 Jul 1994, Michael Smith wrote:

>
> I was surprised to read in Jewett the following about Swainson's Hawks:
>
> "Breeds north to Bellingham, Barron (Whatcom Co.), ... west to Lake
> Washington, and Westport."
>
> He does mention that they are rare in western Washington, which was my
> general understanding. Does anybody know if Swainson's Hawk distribution
> was wider-ranging prior to 1953 than it is today? Or is this a case of
> attributing a large breeding range to a few specimens (which may never
> have been breeding).
>
> When I bring up the BBA data on my computer, it shows no records at all
> on the W-side.
>
>
> Mike Smith
> University of Washington
> whimbrel at u.washington.edu
>