Seattle Audubon Launches Online Guide to the
Birds of Washington

SEATTLE-Nov. 4, 2002-The Seattle Audubon Society today launched BirdWeb
(www.birdweb.org), the only comprehensive online resource guide to the birds
of Washington state. This easy-to-use reference tool will help residents and
prospective visitors alike learn more about the birds of Washington, from
the coast to the Idaho border.

"I applaud Seattle Audubon's innovative leadership in developing BirdWeb,"
said Kenn Kaufman, author of Lives of North American Birds, The Peterson
Guide to Advanced Birding and Birds of North America. "This is a terrific
resource: accurate, comprehensive, compiled by experts, and based on the
very latest information. It should accomplish great things in getting the
public more involved with birds and with their conservation."

BirdWeb is an all-inclusive database of the some 350 species of birds that
occur regularly in Washington, plus notes on more than 100 species of
rarities. For each bird species, users will find color photographs, range
maps, and information about the bird's habitat, behavior, diet, breeding,
distribution and conservation status. Access to BirdWeb is free and
available to anyone with an Internet connection.

According to the 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and
Wildlife-Associated Recreation, 49 percent of Washington residents
participated in wildlife watching activities (primarily bird watching) from
their homes and at destinations throughout the state. An additional 286,000
non-residents traveled to Washington to observe wildlife in 2001.
Collectively, these groups contributed approximately $980 million to the
state's economy. BirdWeb aims to connect these bird watchers with the
information they need to enjoy, understand and protect Washington's birds
and the habitats they depend on for survival.

"One third of Washington's birds (116 species) are listed as species of
special concern, and Seattle Audubon is working to protect them," said Emily
Sprong, BirdWeb project lead. "We believe BirdWeb is an important tool for
fostering an appreciation of our state's birds that will ultimately lead to
increased citizen involvement in bird conservation and environmental
education."

About the Seattle Audubon Society
Founded in 1916, Seattle Audubon Society is Seattle's oldest conservation
organization. Seattle Audubon's mission is to protect birds and the natural
environment by involving volunteers and the community in education,
advocacy, preservation, science and enjoyment. With a membership of 5,500
and more than 700 volunteers, Seattle Audubon is one of the largest chapters
of the National Audubon Society. Seattle Audubon is an independent, 501 (c)
3 nonprofit organization. For more information, please visit
www.seattleaudubon.org





Lauren Braden
Advocate for Wildlife Habitat
Seattle Audubon Society
8050 35th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98115
206-523-8243 x14
laurenb at seattleaudubon.org