On Tue, 29 Aug 1995, Dennis Paulson wrote:
> Just think of now neat it would be if there were a Sage Thrasher
> Subcommittee in each of these groups, committed to learning about this
> species in the state or province or county (right now the respective
> wildlife departments do this sort of thing, but only with "special-concern"
> species, and they are always understaffed). Or a group devoted to pipits
> (not Red-throated, but the common species) or flickers. There's so much to
> learn, so little time before the Earth becomes paved....

A wonderful idea, Dennis. Now how does it happen?

For my part, I am eager to publish Species Subcommittee reports in
WOSNews. I have also attempted, in fits and starts, to compile Scrub
Jay records, but have a difficult enough time handling Olympia's
population, to say nothing of the remainder of the state.

Taking on ALL of Washington's birds is okay for a few devoted
birders/ornithologists, but many people must have their particular
favorites. An individual or small group to summarize all Snowy Owl
occurrences in Washington would have a relatively simple task ahead. But
even birds of limited representation require hours and hours of
exhaustive research (I think of the 4 pages of Snowy Plover records in the
state recovery plan), and something is bound to be missing at the end of
it. Who could tackle Western Bluebird or House Finch?

My guess is that there would be a few capable and interested people ready
to do this kind of research (the preparers of a revised Birds of
Washington, for example). Most others might not even know how to go about
the daunting task. How does one summarize BBS, BBA, CBC, American Birds,
Washington Field Notes, WDFW observation cards, and birders' journals?

Again I offer an outlet: WOSNews. Shall I devote an upcoming issue to
helping independent investigators, as individuals or teams, take part in
this one-species-at-a-time approach to knowledge acquisition?

Scott Richardson
Olympia