Nancy Taylor wrote:
> >I would like to find more information on arrival and departure dates.
> >The reference reading list in Wahl and Paulson refers to journals such
> >as _American Birds_ and _Western Birds_, and gives the addresses to
> >subscribe. Would either of these journals be appropriate for this info?

...and Michael Price wrote (did he ever!) about record-keeping methods that
could lead to one's own database on arrivals and departures. But if you're
after immediate bird-movement-info gratification, you would do well to seek
compilations prepared by others.

For Washington, the best source of information on arrivals, departures, and
occurrences is _WOSNews_, the newsletter of the Washington Ornithological
Society. Russell Rogers combs lots of sources to prepare reports that cover 2
months at a time. Rarities certainly draw attention, but RR has been careful to
include other reports, too. Spring summaries might include report dates for
Violet-green Swallows from various locales, for example, allowing the reader to
get a good idea about what to expect when.

The bi-monthly newsletter devotes about 3 of its 12 pages to "Washington Field
Notes." After collecting a year of newsletters, a year-ful of reports can be at
your fingertips.

To answer Nancy's specific questions about American Birds and Western Birds...

American Birds is no longer. It shifted back to its (original?) name _National
Audubon Society Field Notes_, which soon will be taken over by the American
Birding Association (except for the CBC issue, which NAS will continue to
publish). In whatever form it takes under ABA, it will be a useful reference,
but space limitations severely limit what goes in. You won't find swallow dates
in there, under normal circumstances.

Western Birds is the journal of the Western Field Ornithologists and publishes
scientific articles but not bird records (except supreme rarities).

Wahl and Paulson didn't slight WOSNews/Washington Ornithological Society when
compiling that list of references; the organization came into being after their
book was published.

Membership in WOS is $20 annually ($25 for families) and includes several other
benefits. The nonprofit's address is: Washington Ornithological Society, PO Box
31783, Seattle WA 98103.

--
Scott Richardson, WOSNews Editor
northeast Seattle
salix at halcyon.com