According to the Gap Analysis Breeding Bird Atlas (Smith and Mattocks,
1997, if I survive the editing process), Western Meadowlarks have been
declining for some time in western Washington (they reference Sharpe 1993,
Olympic Peninsula Birds, unpublished manuscript).

The decline is probably due to loss of west side prairies to development
and encroaching forest. Initial conversion of prairies to agriculture
shortly after European settlement probably did not bother the Meadowlarks
too much, but Intel factories and landscaped yards are less to their liking.

Kelly Cassidy


On Tue, 18 Feb 1997, Kelly McAllister wrote:

> Tweets,
>
> I just heard that a rather *marked decline* of meadowlarks has been noticed
> in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. I don't know how numerous they were in
> this region prior to this decline, but I am curious if anyone has noticed
> anything similar in western
> Washington or elsewhere (even eastern Washington where I presume they remain