Thank you Ken for this most interesting information.
I misread the list about the White-breasted Nuthatch. I thought it said common in King County.
How would one subscribe to the Washington Birder Newsletter?
Nancy Lander
----- Original Message -----
From: Washington Birder
To: Nancy
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2005 1:03 PM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Updated WA County checklist available on line


Nancy and Tweeters,

Thanks you Nancy for your questions. It appears that we should clarify some things about the abundance codes referred to in the Updated Washington County checklist that Matt Bartels has made available through the WOS website.

Matt used County Checklists developed by the Washington Birder newsletter as the basis for his color-coded checklist. It took about 9 years to develop abundance coded checklists for all 39 counties in the state of Washington. Washington Birder (Ken and Laurie Knittle) are continuing to update and refine those county checklists on a continual basis through species documentation in a column called "County Firsts" and by having active birders review the county checklists for accuracy of species seen and abundance codes specified. Each issue of the newsletter includes a thoroughly reviewed and updated checklist for a county in Washington. Washington Birder provides Matt Bartels with updated information every 3 months, which he translates onto his checklist.

In regards to the specific questions Nancy has, it seems like we should begin with an explanation of the abundance codes that Washington Birder uses:

Each County Checklist was developed individually by birders that actively birded the county. Each species on a county checklist has an abundance code that refers to a single county only. The code refers to a species, not a single sighting of a species. The codes we use are as follows:

1 = Common
(This species is easy to see in the county, at the proper time of the year, in appropriate habitat)

2 = Uncommon
(This species is not always seen on every birding trip, but is seen frequently seen at the proper time of the year, in appropriate habitat)

3 = Harder to find, usually seen annually
(This species can be more difficult to find in the county, but are generally seen every year by someone, at the proper time of the year, and in the appropriate habitat. This abundance classification also includes species that are rare in the county , but that have small localized populations that are semi-isolated. An specific example of a local, semi-isolated species would be in Walla Walla County: the Yellow-breasted Chat, which can be found every summer along Coppei Creek, in eastern Walla Walla County. It is rare anywhere else in Walla Walla County.)

4 = Rare, 5+ records
(This species has been documented more than 5 times in the county. It is not seen every year. A specific example in King County: a Snowy Owl. A single Snowy Owl may be seen by many observers, but only counts as 1 recorded sighting of the species.)

5 = Less than 5 records
(This species has been documented less than 5 times in the county. It is not seen every year. A specific example in Thurston County: the Redwing. The current recorded sighting (being seen by many,many observers) is the only documented sighting of this species in the county and also in the state.)

(ext) = Extirpated
(This species was once documented in the county, but is no longer present in the county. An example: Greater Sage-Grouse in Lincoln County, where they once bred, but can no longer be found.)

(hyp) = Hypothetical
(This is a species reported in the county, and is generally thought to be a reliable sighting, but lacks adequate documentation to verify sighting.

(int) = Introduced
(A species that is know to have been artificially introduced into a county. Many Gallinaceous species are bred and released for hunting purposes. Also species can be "escapees" who pair up and begin breeding in the wild.)



To answer the questions Nancy has:

Wood Ducks, in King County: Birders who last reviewed the King County Checklist for Washington Birder newsletter concluded that Wood Ducks were best represented by an abundance code of (2) Uncommon. This code refers to the entire county of King County. While the species may be common in Seattle, it is uncommon to the entire county. When the King County checklist is reviewed and revised the next time, any species abundance codes that need to be changed to more accurately reflect the current abundance status of a species will be changed - This is why we continually update the checklists and ARE ALWAYS BEGGING BIRDERS TO SEND US THEIR SIGHTINGS AND COMMENTS DIRECTLY, as this is one of the main ways we keep newly documented species on checklists up to date. (We also read Tweeters, Inland NW Birders, BirdYak, WhatcomBirds, and OBOL, plus subscribe to WOS publications, and American Birds, and Ken tries to bird every county every year. By being in each county, at a variety of times, he is more able to make seasonal and abundance observations.)

By the way, WAHKIAKUM COUNTY Checklist is being updated right now. If you bird Wahkiakum County, please send us your input. If you need us to send you a current Wahkiakum County Checklist, please write us at: washingtonbirder at hotmail.com . Email us a mailing address and we will send you a couple of checklists and you can mark up one and return it to us with and new species documentation and abundance code comments.

Rufous Hummingbird, in King County. It is more likely that a visiting birder to King County will observe a Rufous Hummingbird(1) before finding an Anna's Hummingbird(2). Anna's Hummingbirds are found more in residential areas, closer to salt water (Puget Sound) and therefore are more common in areas like Seattle, but the residential-salt water area in King County is only a portion of the entire county. Rufous Hummingbirds are found countywide, therefore, Common in proper time and habitat in King County.

Rock Wren, Discovery Park, King County: This species is rare in the King County and the Puget Sound area. This species does have more than 5 records, therefore it is classified as (4) Rare, 5+ records and is a species that would be worthy of a note to Tweeters when it is observed!

White-breasted Nuthatch, King County: This species is also (4) Rare, 5+ records. A chance to enhance "finding" this species in King County is difficult. It is rare and if someone sees it and they share their sighting on Tweeters, you may have a chance by chasing it. Always chase SOONER, than later!

Redwing, Thurston County: Washington Birder (and Matt) have already added the Redwing to our Washington State Checklist, it is species #485, and it is also now on the Thurston County Checklist as (5) Less than 5 records. It is a new state bird and also a new Thurston County bird. Thanks Gene Revelas, for finding this wonderful bird and also sharing the sighting on Tweeters!




If anyone has any additional questions about the abundance codes on the lists,
has additional questions about any species on the checklists,
has seen a species or knows about of species sightings that we do not have listed on a County Checklist,
has comments about abundance codes, or has any comments, or suggestions regarding the county checklists,
would like information about Washington Birder newsletter subscriptions
or any of the birding materials for Washington State that we have developed, such as the County Checklists,
please do not hesitate to contact us: washingtonbirder at hotmail.com .

We hope this helps to clarify that the 39 County Checklists that Matt Bartels used to make the Washington State county-by-county excel-based checklist, contain species abundance codes that was developed by Washington Birder newsletter and that we have given you a more clear explanation of abundance code meanings as we use them,

Ken and Laurie Knittle

Ken Knittle
Washington Birder newsletter
2604 NE 80th Street
Vancouver, WA 98665
mailto:washingtonbirder at hotmail.com