Dear Tweets,

In light of the great success I had in generating more
info on grays jays, I'm going to try for something a bit more
challenging.

The WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH is now a rare and very
local resident in western Washington, apparently confined to
a very few oak woodland sites. There has been a significant
decline in the population in Pierce Co over the last 10 years
(8 occupied sites to one) and I know of no records in
Thurston Co since about 1980. The westside birds have
been considered a different subspecies (slender-billed) than
the eastside. I have tried to collect information on the
species over the last few years, and the only definite sites
that I know of where they are regularly now seen are Flett in
Lakewood, Pierce Co., and Ridgefield Refuge, Clark Co. I
have visited many oak woodlands in western Washington
over the last few years without any other luck (though looking
for WBNU was not my primary task in visiting the sites).

I suspect that there may be more birds in Clark Co than just
at Ridgefield (can Vancouver/Portland area birders enlighten
us northerners?), and I wonder whether there could be a very
few scattered between there and Pierce Co., i.e. in Cowlitz,
Lewis, or Thurston Cos. Any signs of changes in population
in Clark Co. or Portland area?

So, this is a call for reliable sightings of WHITE-BREASTED
NUTHATCH anywhere in western Washington over the last
20 years, except Ridgefield NWR and Flett, which we are
already aware of. Date, specific location, activity, and
habitat (i.e was it in Oregon white oak? urban/suburban or
undeveloped?) would be helpful if you've got it. I have
American Birds records already.

Also, there is a vague historical reference to the species near
treeline in the Cascades, but I've never seen one there and
haven't heard of others. Any tweeters ever seen them in the
subalpine anywhere in the state? Again location, date etc.

Are Oregon birders hooked up to this list? Or should I be
sending this to another list there also?

Thank you for your help,

Chris Chappell
chris.chappell at wadnr.gov
Olympia, WA