Tweeters,

Saturday, May 13th, Olympic Peninsula Audubon is holding its annual
Clallam County Big Day/Birdathon as part of our International Migratory
Bird Day celebration. Everyone is invited to come birding in Clallam
County on May 13th, to help us see as wide a variety of species and
individuals as possible.

Last year over 120 participants recorded 193 species in a 24 hour period,
what we think might be the largest number of species ever seen in one
county in Washington in one day. We were particularly lucky last year,
with many excellent birders, a superb offshore boat provided by Olympic
Coast National Marine Sancuary, and early arrivals of many neo-tropical
migrants. This year looks similarly early, so we are optimistic about
our count if everything falls into place.

To participate, just come birding anywhere in Clallam County on May 13th,
from Diamond Point on the east to La Push and Cape Flattery on the west.
Some areas that particularly need better coverage include 1) the Sol Duc
River Valley from Lake Crescent to Forks, 2) anywhere in the far-western
part of the county, 3) mountain habitats above 2000 feet, and 4) all the
estuaries between Port Angeles and Neah Bay. But all help is needed, no
matter where you go.

If you're interested, please contact me (Bob Boekelheide) by email or at
360-681-4867. I can send you an official tally sheet. Or if you'd like,
just keep a tally of the birds you see (and the areas where you see them)
and send that back to me by email or letter. I can give you some
suggestions on locations to help us count a variety of habitats. If you
just want to go birding wherever you'd like, please do so and send me
your tally when you're finished.

We've learned a phenomenal amount about bird distribution and abundance
in Clallam County through these counts, so we want to keep this tradition
alive. The range of habitats in Clallam County is remarkably diverse,
from alpine to pelagic, from rainforest to dry prairies, so with lots of
help we can learn even more (and who knows, maybe break 200 species
someday!).

Thanks,

Bob Boekelheide
Sequim
bboek at olympus.net

> EIGHTH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL MIGRATORY BIRD DAY
>
>
>With the onset of spring comes the annual migration of millions of birds
>from winter habitat in southern climes to breeding grounds and summer
>habitat across the United States and Canada. To celebrate this crucial
>migration journey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will join dozens of
>other state and federal agencies, conservation organizations and thousands
>of individuals in the U.S., Mexico and Canada in observing the 8th annual
>International Migratory Bird Day on May 13.
>
>International Migratory Bird Day, observed with hundreds of festivals, bird
>walks and educational presentations across the country, is designed not
>only to celebrate migratory birds and their importance in the natural
>world, but also to help people understand how birds contribute to the
>quality of everyone's lives.