Dear Tweeters,

I agree with Bob's comments that people should be keeping
track of these records. I am currently compiling all sightings
and info on the species in western Washington and would
appreciate as detailed of info as you have on all sightings
(date, specific location, number of birds, observer). This is a
now rare bird on the westside that has declined considerably
over the last century. Also please let me know if you get
repeat observations in the same location.

Thanks for anything you can send my way.

Chris Chappell
1514 Central St NE
Olympia, Wa 98506
chris.chappell at wadnr.gov

>>> <bboek at olympus.net> 05/17/98 08:07pm >>>
Tweeters,

Confirming the possibility of a White-breasted Nuthatch
mini-invasion, we
have heard of three sightings this month (May, 1998) in
Clallam County,
where this species is extremely rare, and, as far as we
know, has been
seen only once before during this century (in December,
1977).

A "White Nut" was reported at about 4000 feet along the road
to Hurricane
Ridge on May 9, 1998, another at Hurricane Ridge itself a
week earlier,
and one at Sequim Bay State Park a few days later. We, of
course,
questioned these sightings, suggesting to the observers that,
in fact,
they were ones who were nuts, and that they were probably
seeing "Red
Nuts." The observers (all experienced) are adamant that
they saw White
Nuts. White Nuts were apparently never seen by E.A.
Kitchen, a local
ornithologist in the Port Angeles area during the 1930s and
1940s, as
discussed in his book "Birds of the Olympic Peninsula."

So perhaps all of us in western Washington should be on the
lookout for
White-breasted Nuthatches.

Bob Boekelheide
Sequim

>
>On Sun, 17 May 1998, Joanne Schmitt wrote:
>
>> I just saw a White-breasted Nuthatch at my finch feeder!
I didn't even
>> know we have them around here. I have seen many in
the east, especially
>> Mass., but never one here. Does anyone know how
common they are in the
>> Pacific Northwest? Am I freaking out over a common
bird?
>
>They're common in some local areas, particulary in Oregon,
east slope
>of the Cascades perhaps. Maybe I am the only Tweeter
who
>does not know where you live Joanne. White-breasted
Nuthatches have
>declined to perilously low numbers in the Puget lowlands.
Here,
>virtually any sighting would be very noteworthy. Chris
Chappell
>has informed me that there is one location in the Puget
lowlands
>where they can still be seen each breeding season.