The Washington Ornithological Society has just published a new edition of
its "Field Card of Washington Birds," reflecting revisions of the state
check list from March 1993, when the previous edition was published,
through July 1997.

The revisions result both from decisions of the Washington Bird Records
Committee concerning the occurrence of species in the state, and of the
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) for matters of taxonomy and
nomenclature.

The new card lists a total of 452 species. Its predecessor included 439.
New to this edition are Cook's Petrel, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron,
California Condor, Pacific Golden-Plover (split), Jack Snipe, Iceland Gull,
Ross's Gull, Long-billed Murrelet (split), Ruby-throated Hummingbird,
Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Brown Thrasher, Phainopepla,
Baltimore Oriole (split), and Hoary Redpoll. Removed are Mute Swan and
Scaled Quail. The review status of several species has changed as well.

This card takes into account substantial revisions in the rank and sequence
of families, genera, and species published in the latest supplement to the
AOU Check-list (Auk, July 1997). There are several splits and name changes
as well, resulting from AOU decisions published in the three supplements
that have appeared since the previous edition of the "Field Card" came out.

Kevin Aanerud and the members of the Washington Bird Records Committee are
responsible for the careful compilation and review that made this revised
edition possible. Fred Bird contributed a great new design. The "card" is
now a 12-page stapled booklet, pocket-sized (6.6" high by 3.5" wide) and
printed on heavy stock. Each page has a single column of species names,
with six columns for checking them off. Front and back covers present
information about the birds and the check-list, and about WOS.

Price is $1.00 if purchased directly from WOS. The card should be
available in due course from select retail outlets as well.