Tweeters,

Jerry Tangran says:

>As to Clallam County on May 9, these may be the usual BREEDING birds.
>The song of the Wilson's Warbler also makes it one of the more
>conspicuous warblers.

I appreciate your thoughts. Yes, Wilson's are easily discernible by
song, but I think our Clallam Co. counters are equally in tune with the
songs of some of the other species, such as Orange-crowned and
Yellowthroat.

Other warblers clearly present a problem, and our data are certainly
biased by observer's knowledge of songs, particularly considering we had
85 people in the field. But your point is well taken. A Townsend's
singing 100 feet high in a Douglas Fir is much more likely to be missed
(or ignored?) than a Wilson's singing at eye level in a blackberry patch.

For comparison, here are our Clallam Co. May count data for 1997 and 1998
for all warblers:

1997: Orange-crowned = 157
(May 10) Yellow = 14
Yellow-rumped = 57
Blk-thrted Gray = 64
Townsend's = 20
MacGillivray's = 32
Yellowthroat = 58
Wilson's = 201

1998: Orange-crowned = 154
(May 9) Yellow = 13
Yellow-rumped = 27
Blk-thrted Gray = 76
Townsend's = 26
MacGillivray's = 39
Yellowthroat = 63
Wilson's = 214

Amazingly similar, aren't they?

Bob Boekelheide
Sequim