At 07:40 PM 2/18/97 +0000, Kelly wrote:

>I just heard that a rather *marked decline* of meadowlarks has been noticed
>in the Willamette Valley of Oregon..

I can't say with regard to Washington, but I believe (no official figures
here, based on observation alone) there has been a decline in California.
Growing up, we were surrounded by fields and, hence, meadowlarks. However,
the area I grew up in (San Jose) is now one big computer company and no
fields. Hence, no meadowlarks. The ones I saw the other day were the first
I'd seen in many years (including our time in Eugene). Hopefully, it's not
so much a decline as a move to "greener pastures" (sorry - couldn't resist)
in less populated areas.

Peggi
Ben & Peggi Rodgers
Aptos, CA (near Santa Cruz)
USA
woodduck at cruzio.com

"A bird does not sing because it has an answer,
It sings because it has a song"