In a message dated 98-01-26 15:15:59 EST, Renee Robinette writes:

<<
That is our (Robinette & Ha) paper in the Dec. Wilson Bulletin on crows.
We are the ones banding at Meadowdale Park (not on campus). Anyway,
regarding the species dispute.....

We initially called them "Pacific Northwest Crows - American, Northwestern
or American-Northwestern Hybrids", but the reviewers jumped on us and said
we had to stick to the AOU checklist and range maps. So....we of course
stuck to their comments for now. However, we are taking blood samples and
measurements from our population. We are primarily interested in kinship,
hence the DNA samples, but intend to pursue the species debate on a DNA
level as funds and time permit. We have not yet analyzed the measurement
data, but off the top of my head I recall that they are a bit big for
Northwestern Crows, but the bill measurements were more Northwestern than
American. We will keep you posted, but we tend to believe that we are not
looking at separate species.

Cheers,
Renee L. Robinette & James C. Ha
University of Washington
Animal Behavior Program
>>
I am so glad someone is addressing the problem. Please keep the list
posted as there are many who are most interested.
I know that measurement figures are known from 'pure' populations. Are
there DNA studies for 'pure' populations?

Bob Norton
Joyce, WA
norton360 at aol.com