Tweeters,

Below are details of our recently completed Yakima County Migration Count,
held as part of the Yakima Valley Audubon Society Birdathon, an annual
fundraiser for the chapter.

YAKIMA VALLEY AUDUBON SOCIETY BIRDATHON
13 MAY 2000

Results from 11 teams who birded Yakima County 13 May for the Yakima Valley
Audubon Society Birdathon are in. A total of 178 species plus one form with
16,833 individual birds were tallied. Cliff Swallow were again the most
numerous species (3351), second were Red-winged Blackbirds (1189), third,
unfortunately was European Starling (750), though Mallard was not far behind
with 675. Bank Swallow deserves "Honorable Mention." with 605. Though most
migrants were present in small numbers, others seemed absent. In the missed
category were Veery, Swainson's and Hermit Thrush, and Gray Catbird. Due to
the unsettled and breezy weather prior to the count (normal?) some of the
long-distance Neotropical migrants migrants appeared to be were delayed on
their return.

Below are highlights from the eleven teams, which contributed to this
successful count. The attached spreadsheet shows results in detail.

1- The Wenas Creek region led by Debie Brown, assisted by Ron Brown saw 100
species. They found many migrants in riparian areas such as Hardy Canyon and
the Wenas Campground. Their most exciting find was a Ferruginous Hawk, a
species virtually gone from Yakima County. Equally memorable were
displaying Wild Turkeys upstream from Wenas Lake. They noted seven species
of flycatchers, including an impressive 10 Grays, a species that invaded
Washington only 30 years ago, but now fairly common in "managed" very open
Ponderosa Pine forests. They also tallied 102 Western Bluebirds, clearly
reflecting the success of Yakima Audubon and others nest-box programs.
Evidently the conifer seed crop remains poor; Red Crossbill was not noted.

2- The main White Pass route was birded by Jay Desgrosellier and Don
Chesbro. Jay, a graduate student in Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University in
Tennessee, returned to Yakima especially (well, maybe) for this count. They
counted 101 species. The number and diversity of migrants in lush riparian
areas was a real highlight, as in the Wenas. Cold and snow kept many birds
in the lower part of the mountains; Leech and Dog Lakes were still
thoroughly frozen and White Pass was quite wintry with deep snow! Hence,
several mountain species such as Winter Wren were missed. Owling, always an
iffy proposition in May, was a big disappointment, despite a midnight start.
Only one Western Screech-Owl was heard in a three-hour effort! A pair of
Spotted Owls were seen later in the daytime with the help of Ken Bevis. The
species total on this route sans owls is truly impressive. Good job Jay and
Don.

3- Gaylord Mink birded the Byron Ponds and Satus Wildlife Area of the Lower
Valley. He found 62 species. Most impressive were 210 American White
Pelicans and 75 Double-crested Cormorants. He found the only Brown Creeper
on the count, a bird that is more likely in the Cascades at this season.

4- The Ahtanum Valley was led by Joyce Lucas, with Arlene Fay and Jennie
Hodge also participating. They found 52 species. I find their total of 200
Evening Grosbeaks really exciting. This colorful finch is locally abundant
in our region on its migration in May. The Ahtanum Mission area seems to be
is especially attractive to this species, perhaps due to the variety and
size of large deciduous trees (lots of ashes?).

5- Eastern Toppenish NWR and Satus Creek was birded by Phil Bartley from the
Tri Cities (first to spot Ross's Gull in Washington a few years back) and
Bruce Eder. This team takes 1st-place honors with 104 species! Highlights
included three American Bittern, one of three teams noting this declining
species, clear evidence the extensive wetland restoration efforts at the
refuge and nearby tribal lands along Toppenish Creek are paying off big
time. Eight species of shorebirds were observed on this route, a good total
for this date in May away from the coast. They also spotted two Ash-throated
Flycatchers, a "southern" species most common in Washington along the
Columbia River in Klickitat County; Satus Creek is the best spot locally for
this species. They also had one Black-crowned Night-Heron (Denny and David
also had one); these fine birds are clearly less numerous than 10-15 years
ago in the Lower Yakima Valley.

6- "Southeastern" Yakima County areas such as the Grandview Sewage Lagoons
and the eastern Moxee Valley was birded by Denny Granstrand and David
Hartwig. They counted 85 species. Highlights included 14 species of
waterfowl, the highest of any team on the Birdathon. They also had the only
Long-eared and Short-eared Owls on the count. Their most unique sighting was
of six Bushtits along Dry Creek south of Toppenish Ridge. The Satus Creek
drainage is the main stronghold in eastern Washington of this mainly
Westside species.

7- Western Toppenish NWR west to Fort Simcoe was covered by Gunter
Hadersberger, Richard Peterson, and Kerry Turley. They spotted 80 species.
Two Black-throated Gray Warblers, a Westside species that creeps east
through the Columbia River Gorge and perhaps north along the eastern slopes
of the Cascades in very small numbers was their "best" bird. They also had
the high number of Turkey Vultures (19) of any team; the eastern foothills
of the Cascades attract the greatest density of this species in our area.

8- Uplands on the Yakima Training Center were birded by Andy Stepniewski and
Bill Drenguis. Wind was a definite hindrance out in the open shrub-steppe on
this count. Only 61 species were noted, a very meager total for an all-day
effort here. Sage Grouse was the best find, giving the Birdathon an "Eight
Chicken Day." High numbers of shrub-steppe birds were counted: 21 Sage
Thrashers, 39 Brewer's Sparrows and 30 Vesper Sparrows being notable.

8A-Priest Rapids Lake was covered by Craig and Judy Corder from Umatilla,
OR. They spent the day along the shores of this easternmost and most unique
(birdwise) part of the county, noting eight species not seen elsewhere on
the Birdathon: Common Loon, Horned, Eared, Western and Clark's Grebes,
Glaucous-winged Gull, Caspian and Forster's Terns. Especially memorable for
them was sighting 10 Lazuli Buntings in one tree at the base of Umtanum
Ridge - exquisite birds in a beautiful setting! Craig and Judy had 55
species total.

9- The Nile and Chinook Pass area by Larry and Doris Robinson also had 55
species. The Robinsons have the luxury of a wonderful "Certified" Wildlife
Yard with lush and varied plantings and feeders attracting numerous
hummingbirds and seed-eating birds. They had both Calliope and Rufous
Hummingbirds and numerous Pine Siskins (67). A determined search of their
Ponderosa Pine covered slopes behind their place turned up a White-headed
Woodpecker; "I knew one was there if I waited long enough" said Larry.

10- Ken Bevis also helped with the White Pass route, especially with Spotted
Owl. He was charged with seeking out scarce or difficult to locate
woodpeckers such as Black-backed and Pileated. Luck was not with him; Ken,
an avid fisher knows well that luck is part of the game, even in the right
place, birds don't always comply.

11- Urban Yakima was covered by Kay Marsh and urban Selah by Ken Taylor. Kay
was especially happy with spotting a beautiful Yellow Warbler. Ken has had
one to two Great Egrets visiting his ponds in Selah, a rare, but evidently
increasing species in this area.

A big "Thank You" to all who participated on another great census of Yakima
County birds. It reveals again just how diverse the county is during this
period in spring and breeding season.

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA
Steppie at nwinfo.net