My imput on the current warbler thread,

Based on about 20 years of banding, BBS routes, collecting records,
birding, etc. in the Intermountain West, my impression on the breeding status of
Wilson's Warber is that it is an uncommon/local breeder in hydric
Aspen/Alder/Willow habitats of over about 4000', possible being more common
further north. I have specifics from Idaho (The Latilong Database); from
Washington my personal data base shows just 45 records, all early June records
are probably migrants. The only possible breeder from the east side is a
record from Alder/Willow along the upper Tucannon River on 30 July 1994. From
the Douglas Creek MAPS banding station data, Wilson's Warbler is the latest
migrant in early June (latest is June 4) and the first migrant to reappear in
early August (earliest is August 5); indicating some high elevation breeding
(e.g. avalanche chutes) individuals and some lower/closer breeding individuals.
I do have several late May/early June records of singing males in suitable
habitat in Chelan and Okanogan Counties, but these may be late migrants.

Orange-crowned Warbers are, in my experience also, local breeders in the
Intermountain west; but more common than Wilson's Warblers. On brushy hillsides
in Idaho they can be quite common breeders. My personal Washington data base
shows 44 records, with late June/July singing males from Chelan, Spokane,
Pend Oreille, and Asotin Counties. I always hear one or two on the Lake
Chelan BBS route each year, along lower Mud Creek (generally run in late June).
Some puzzling data from the Douglas Creek MAPS station shows several adult OCWA
from June and July, none in breeding condition.

There is, of course, much more to be learned about the distribution/ecology of
these two species (as well as most others) in our state. At what scale should
systematic biogeographical analysis be done? I would argue that western states
should use Latilongs for such analysis. Many western states have had Latilong
publications available for over a decade. These efforts are not only useful for
wildlife managers, birders, and the like; but they get birders out looking for
new Latilong records (including breeding records) in "their" areas. Other
advantages (as well as disadvantages) of using Latilongs for biogeographical
analyses can be found in any of the state Latilong studies (including mine).
I could go on-and-on with this, but instead I'll sign-off with a phrase
relating to another recent thread.

omne vivum ex ovo,
Dan




Dan Stephens (509) 662-7443
Dept. of Biology fax: (509) 664-2538
Wenatchee Valley College e-mail: dstephen at ctc.edu
1300 Fifth Street
Wenatchee, WA 98801