Rob,

I think it has to do with the biogeographic fact that we are at or near
the northern end of most West coast migratory paths. The breeding ranges
of most species that pass through W. Washington is somewhere in s or c
British Columbia or se or sc Alaska. So I believe it is our fate never
to enjoy a Pt. Reyes, Pt. Pelee, or High Island experience.

Gene Hunn.

On Thu, 12 May 1994, Rob Thorn wrote:

> I've been periodically checking the outer part of Point Defiance Park in Tacoma
> for two Springs now, waiting for a migrant bonanza that has never fully
> appeared. This morning, after an overcast, dreary night in mid-May, should
> have
> been perfect for a big fallout. The totals (40 spp. in 2 hours, of which
> about half were neotropical migrants) were OK but hardly impressive. It
> seems clear that Point Defiance, for all its geographical appropriateness,
> is not the
> nirvana of Northwest migrant traps. What is? I've spent much of
> the last 8 Springs and Falls looking for an elusive coastal migrant trap in
> western Washington. Where other people see islands and points, I see
> potential
> migrant traps. But nothing has proven reliable. What are other peoples'
> experiences here: are there good traps hidden out there ( and if so, where
> are they), or are we wasting our time looking? Will we never have a
> Northwest version of Pt. Reyes?
> Rob Thorn, Tacoma/Seattle (rthorn at ups.edu)
>
>