Andrew Emlen & Audrey Petterson wrote:
>
> Hi Mike,
>
> Here's a brief summary of the Wahkiakum Count that you may pass on via
> Tweeters or OBOL if you wish. Again, many thanks for your help.
> -Andrew
>
> The Wahkiakum Count, straddling the Columbia river halfway between
> Longview and Astoria, took place on December 28. The rain that fell
> through much of the night quit a little before sunrise, giving way to
> a day that was mostly sunny with a light southeast wind and
> temperatures around 50?. The nice weather contributed to the highest
> species total of the four years that this count has been running.
> Though not quite all the data is in from our 12 observers, the
> preliminary total is 110 species. The two most unusual additions to
> the count were both frequenting the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge
> headquarters building - a BLACK PHOEBE that has been there daily since
> October, and a BARN SWALLOW that passes regularly on its foraging trip
> down the slough. Other species new to the count were GREAT EGRET,
> THAYER'S GULL and BAND-TAILED PIGEON. HORNED LARKS were once again
> wintering on White's Island (upstream of Puget Island), along with two
> MOURNING DOVES.
> Despite a few misses, most notably Purple Finch and Red Crossbill, in
> general we had good luck finding species we don't find every year such
> as RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, WOOD DUCK, WESSTERN SANDPIPER,
> BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER,
> CEDAR WAXWING, GGRAY JAY, AMERICAN PIPIT, HUTTON'S VIREO,
> ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, SWAMP SPARROW and WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.
> GREATER SCAUP remains the most abundant bird in the circle with over
> 5500 tallied. Though waterfowl numbers seem a little low this year,
> more thorough coverage of the islands of the Lewis & Clark Refuge kept
> that from being reflected much in the count numbers. 280 TUNDRA SWANS
> were counted, with many hundreds more feeding just outside the circle
> near Karlson Island.
> Many thanks to all those who helped with the count this year!
> -Andrew Emlen
> aspace at pacifier.com

--
Mike Patterson When I despair, I remember
Astoria, OR that all through history
celata at pacifier.com the way of truth and love have always won.
There have been tyrants, and murderers,
and for a time they can seem invincible,
but in the end they always fall.
Think of it...always.
- Mahatma Gandhi

http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/bird.html