Subject: [Tweeters] Yardbirdrace update
Date: May 19 15:27:52 2006
From: Ed Newbold - ednewbold1 at yahoo.com


Hi all,

With the end of the year approaching at an alarming and ever-quickening pace, it?s only natural to start thinking about
.who?s setting new records in the YardBirdRace!

One that looks so sure you can?t even get odds in Vegas is JIM DANZENBAKER, who tore past the Clark Co. residential record in very early May with 68 species including SOLITARY SANDPIPER, GREEN HERON, LEAST SANDPIPER & BARN OWL.

In Island Co., KATHY & MERVYN FLOYD have 66 sp. Including GREAT HORNED OWL. With no previous records from any island, the Floyds are likely to cruise, as is CHRIS RHOADS on Key Peninsula with 58 by the first of the month including, gosh I hate to call this a highlight bird, PINE SISKIN.

Jefferson Co is the locale of high YardBirdRace counts again with CAROLYN EAGAN at 74 by 5/4 and DIANE MULHOLLAND at 72 by 5/8. KAREN JONES of PORT LUDLOW had 48 by 4/30 with HUTTON?S VIREO, RED CROSSBILL & CALIFORNIA QUAIL.

The Kirkland race may be one they?re watching in Vegas, with MICHAEL HOBBS of Marymoor fame reporting a TURKEY VULTURE and two-time Kirkland winner GRACE OLIVER hauling in GREAT HORNED OWL, PURPLE FINCH & MEW GULL.

Last year GUY MCWETHY won KingCo residential with 71, which was good for 1/3 of the record. This year McWethy had already cruised to 59 as of 5/9 including BARN & GREAT HORNED OWL. This is a category to watch.

MAURA CALLAHAN & DAVID BACH , w/ 20 by 4/17 including 4 woodpeckers and a NORTHERN PYGMY OWL look good to set a new record in Snoqualmie.

Tied and in imminent danger of falling is the record of 39 for the Seattle community of Lakewood. CATHERIN ALEXANDER has six months to get one more species to add to her list which includes Am. Kestrel & Rough-winged Swallow. RACHEL LAWSON is in the same position in lower Queen Anne, where 25 is the reigning record. The way things are going, a Frigatebird is likely to sail over that area before the new year.

Also most likely toast is the Wallingford neighborhood record of 31, thanks to the efforts of MATT DUFORT who has ticked off WESTERN WOOD PEWEE & EVENING GROSBEAK.

Nor is the Seattle overall record of 62 at all safe. SHARON BAKER made it to 60 before leaving for vacation just as the migration moved into gear. But she?s back and racing.

Also two species away from tying a record is DAWN BAILEY of Eatonville with 54 by early May including WILLOW FLYCATCHER, & AMY COLE of Madrona was only 3 out by early May, with 42 including OLIVE SIDED FLYCATCHER, TOWNSEND?S WARBLER & TREE SWALLOW.

CONNIE BICKERTON on Bainbridge Island; & BRET WOLFE of the University District of Seattle with 31 by early April including HERMIT THRUSH are racing in previously un-raced territory and are likely to set records.

LIZ & TAYLER BROOK of Brier are within 6 species of tying in Brier and for the Snoco R record. Tayler reports CASPIAN TERN, WESTERN TANAGER & BROWN CREEPER.

In Bellevue, CHRISTY ANDERSON had 42 by the 14th, raising the spector of a possible new record there. ANDERSON has YELLOW & TOWNSEND?S WARBLERS & WESTERN WOOD PEWEE.

GARY BLETSCH of Hamilton, last years overall winner in the acreage yard type with 95, is characteristically blazing along. Bletsch had 63 as of May 18 including TOWNSEND?S SOLITAIRE & WILSON?S SNIPE.

PAUL RANDAL is working never-raced territory: Snohomish, and reports HAIRY WOODPECKER & CALIFORNIA QUAIL among 34 sp.

CATHY CONOLLY of Magnolia, host of a HOODED ORIOLE last year, is 13 off from her own record of 05 with a VAUX?S SWIFT. Can we get even odds on that? Meanwhile, BOBBY & CURT PEARSON, with a PURPLE FINCH, need a mere 12 to tie in Hillman City. Let?s hope for a birdy summer.


Entries are VERY welcome all year. Entering will likely help organizations like WASHINGTON BIRDER & AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY . To see the up-to-date leaderboard including many deserving racers that I failed to mention, prizes, and rules, go to

http://www.ednewbold.com/yardbird.htm

Also, the YardBirdRace records have been fully updated. To see the record in your town, city, county, neighborhood or yard type or if there is one, go to

http://www.ednewbold.com/yardbird.htm

And scroll almost all the way down to near the very bottom of the page.

Thanks everybody.

ednewbold1 at yahoo.com residential Beacon Hill where the first of the dull race Orange-crowned Warblers took 3 baths today in popular, 8ft. long Butyl Creek. (Or was it three birds taking one bath?)
.





---------------------------------
Blab-away for as little as 1?/min. Make PC-to-Phone Calls using Yahoo! Messenger with Voice.