Subject: Vashon CBC
Date: Jan 14 06:07:17 2003
From: Linda Barnes/Ed Swan - swanbarn at concentric.net


Sue Trevathan, the compiler for the Vashon count, asked me to forward on some
news from our count.

We had the biggest year yet for the count in its five year history with 115
species and higher overall totals, though those are still being added up. We
had great weather and 17 parties with 41 participants all of which made a big
difference. Some of the highlights include 2 Mountain Quail at the Port
Orchard airport site that is within the count circle but off-island, 19
Trumpeter Swans, 1, W. Scrub Jay, 3 White-throated Sparrows and a Barn Owl.
The island dipper was missed but another was found in the Kitsap Co. portion
of the circle.

The Barn Owl and two Great Horned Owls were found by separate individuals and
one owling party found an additional 6 Great Horns, a Barred and a Northern
Saw-whet. Altogether, the eight Great Horns were found on the south part of
the island, most within a little over a mile from each other but all heard
within the space of about an hour as we moved along. From non-count sightings,
we know there are also a great many Barred Owls for the area which makes us
wonder if the saw-whet count seems low partially because of the other owls.

The Anna's Hummingbird count may exceed 30 birds for the islands as well. They
are well established and pretty evenly spread throughout Vashon and Maury
Islands now.

Sue Trevathn may be reached for more details at Sue Trevathan
[suetrev at attglobal.net].

Ed Swan
Vashon Island
(206) 463-7976
swanbarn at concentric.net