Jim,

No official position has been taken by the WOS committee. However, it is
the case that the Mute Swan pair in Union Bay has reared young
successfully annually since about 1980 when they were first released
there. As many as six birds, including birds of the year, can often be
seen together there. In recent years sightings of free flying Mute Swans
mixed with other species have increased throughout Washington, e.g.,
McNary last winter, Grays Harbor likewise, a pair on Lake Kacheelus at
Snoqualmie Pass, birds mixed with the Fir Island flocks, etc. In my
opinion there are "countable" populations in Washington now by ABA
standards. Whether they pose a real threat to native waterfowl (or
humans, for that matter) is a matter of concern, but in my opinion not
proved, since a population of 200+ free ranging Mute Swans has existed on
the Saanich Peninsula north of Victoria, VI, for 50 years or more with no
evidence of which I'm aware of such depredations. Birds straying from the
VI population have been considered "countable" since the 1970s, at least,
though it is always a question how one determines the origin of birds
seen, for example, at Pt. Angeles, in the San Juan Islands, or about
Skagit, Bellingham, and Padilla Bays. In the final analysis it probably
doesn't matter a hell of a lot whether you count them or not, though the
dynamics of these introduced populations is well worth tracking.

Gene Hunn.

On Sun, 7 Jan 1996, Jim P. Flynn wrote:

> Hello Tweets,
>
> I'm wondering if anyone can tell me whether Mute Swans
> are considered "listable" birds in any part of Washington. The
> last issue of WOS's WASHINGTON BIRDS has it on the state list but
> I'm wondering if only birds in N.W. WA are considered listable as
> they are more likely to be wanderers from southern B.C.'s repro-
> ducing population and birds in other areas (specifically King and
> Pierce Counties) are considered more likely to be local escapes
> or releases.
> One of the problems in listing is not knowing whose rules
> to play by, or even what the rules are. Rules from the American
> Birding Association or even the official ABA list don't seem to
> make it into the magazine often and Washington Birder's County
> lists include a few birds which weren't on the WA Bird Records
> Committee's latest list (i.e. Cordilleran Flycatcher which is
> on Wa. Birders Whitman Co. list).
> Any thoughts on how other listers have solved these
> personal dilemmas when making up their own state or county lists
> would be appreciated.
> Thanks,
> Jim Flynn
> Renton, WA
>