Hey Clarice,

White-breasted Nuthatches are on the verge of extirpation in western Washington.
The only place that I know that the "slender-billed" race still nest with any
regularity is Ridgefield NWR. If the nuthatch is relocated, or if it nest, please
let us know.

Thanks,

Russell

"mail to:jbroadus at seanet.com" wrote:

> Yesterday, a staff person at the Rhododendron species Botanical Garden in
> Federal Way, (at the Weyerhauser headquarters) asked me what was the
> bird they saw there that looked like a red breasted nuthatch, but was white.
> I said white breasted nuthatch, but that it was "rare' down here on the west
> side, in relatively urban areas.
> this is a 22 acre garden, with surrounding conifers, but there has been a
> trememdous amount of development thisyear. they have cut down most of
> the surrounding forest to build new office parks.
> After checking Birds in Washington book, where it is listed as unusual in
> parks and gardens, I am hoping fellow tweetsters will refresh my memory
> about the status of white breated nuthatch in the lowlands of Western
> Washington. Are they "unusual" or "rare" or something else? Is this
> unusual enough that I would put it on the hotline for out of town birders, for
> instance?
> Clarice Clark
> Puyallup, WA. 98371
> mailto:jbroadus at seanet.com