Hi Tweeters,

Doug asked about Western Meadowlarks in Puget Sound. As a breeder, they
should be considered rare and local. They are known to breed in only a
few locations. They have probably experienced a great decline in there
breeding population over the past century, but documenting the decline
is difficult. In the non-breeding season, western Washington gets an
influx of meadowlarks from somewhere. The origin of these nonbreeding
birds is a mystery. The range of the Western Meadowlark does not extend
to far to the north in BC, and according to Campbell, et al. (Birds of
BC), they experience the same increase in non-breeding birds in western
BC as we do. So, my guess would be the Western Meadowlarks do a lateral
migration from the east side of the mountains to the west side, but that
is only a guess.

In western Washington they can be found in winter in any place that has
a relatively large amount of open space. I have seen them in bare plowed
fields as well as overgrown fields with tall grass on up to young hybrid
poplar plantations. Knowing the amount of open space that is on
Banbridge Island, I would say it would only be a matter of time be
before you recorded one there.

Russell

Dougnpip at aol.com wrote:

> Tweets,
> Yesterday, while birding Ft Flagler SP, I jumped a
> Western Meadowlark. Checking my records at home last night, I noticed this
> bird was the first one for me in Jefferson County. I have recorded 28 in
> Clallam, 6 in Island and 2 in Kitsap Counties over the past 8 years. All
> this made me realize how they must vary widely here from county to county. I
> have none for King or Mason but I have not birded these areas consistantly.
> Here on Bainbridge Is, none in my records so I assume it is a rarity for us
> here?
> Good birding,
> Doug Watkins
> dougnpip at aol.com
> Bainbridge Is Wa
>
>
>


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Russell Rogers
6637 Glenwood Drive SW
Olympia WA 98512
(360) 709-9870
mailto:rrogers122 at attbi.com
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Russell Rogers
Fish and Wildlife Biologist
Point Whitney Shellfish Laboratory
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
1000 Point Whitney Road
Brinnon WA 98320
(360) 586-1498 ex 221
mailto:rogerrer at dfw.wa.gov
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