Hello All,
It was with great interest that I read Gene Hunns impressions of the Western Type Flycatchers that breed in and around the northern Blue Mountains while on his short visit to the area.
My observations of Western Flycatchers (what we still call them) in the Blue Mountains is one of intrigue as this species is capable of producing both songs and calls of whatever race it chooses. We have observed dozens of birds along the Coppei Creek, Mill Creek, Upper Dry Creek and Walla Walla River drainages that will give perfect Pacific-slope songs and then calls during the morning hours and as the day progresses mixed notes appear and Cordilleran type calls can be heard. We have stood and watched numerous individual Western type birds give both calls interchangeably. The up slur or down slur of a single note in one or two individuals hardly makes for definitive creation of a new species. I would urge anyone to come camp in the Northern Blue Mountains and sample the Western type flycatchers in as many drainages as they can cover in at least two weeks of field work. I believe that the results would paint a picture that is no where near as black and white as some currently believe.
In closing I will say that I have the utmost respect for Gene and his knowledge of Washington's birds. Gene is sharp and knows his birds. I have learned many valuable lessons and pointers about the birds of Washington from Gene and consider him a friend and a very positive force in the ornithological community. Normally I would never question his conclusions, but in this case my years of field work in the Blue Mountains have caused me to reach a completely different conclusion. After listening and reading about how and why the Western Flycatcher was split and after numerous repeated encounters with this bird in the Blue Mountains, things just do not add up. The Blue Mountains seem to be where the Cordilleran Flycatcher as a species breaks down and folks can call it a zone of what ever they wish, the facts on the ground strongly point to one species which is highly variable in plumage and vocalizations across a large range.
Later Mike

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Mike & MerryLynn Denny
323 Scenic View Drive
College Place, WA 99324
509.529.0080 (h)

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BIRDING, YOU HAVEN'T LIVED!
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