Mountain Bluebirds are very uncommon at Marymoor. We've only had them 6 out
of the last 15 years. The most sightings in one year was three. This year,
Mountain Bluebirds were seen from last Thursday through at least Sunday.
Way cool.

Today marks the 15th anniversary of my weekly surveys at Marymoor. I just
noticed, in reviewing the bluebird sightings, that my first Mountain
Bluebirds at the park were on the day that started the weekly program -
April 14, 1994. Before then, I'd only birded Marymoor on an occasional
basis, mostly in the spring. In April of 1994, I decided, on a bit of a
lark, to go every week all year long, just to see what I could see.

I've got to think that finding Mountain Bluebirds, on that April day fifteen
years ago, probably played a large role in the decision to come back every
week thereafter.

Over these last 15 years, I've personally been on 753 trips (mostly not
counting other visits, such as Christmas Bird Counts). I have data from
exactly 800 visits total since April 14, 1994.

I'd like to give a big thanks (I cannot express how much) to my friend,
Brian Bell, who has done over 450 trips with me and about 60 without me
(covering for me while I was on vacation). Brian has been my real birding
mentor over these years.

Matt Bartels has done about 225 trips, all in the last 7 years. It is
always a good day when I get to bird with Matt.

Many other people have joined me for hundreds of trips - I'll mention a few,
even at the risk that I'll forget somebody:

For years it was just Brian and myself, until MaryFrances Mathis showed up
one day. She kept coming back almost every week for several more years, and
that led to the opening up of my trips to a broader group of people.

I must also thank Ollie Oliver, who is a regular visitor, and who has
provided a multitude of photos for the blog and gallery pages on my website.

Other regulars include Hugh Jennings, Stan Wood, Scott Ramos, and Mark & Lee
Crawford. Dozens of others have come out over the years, some for months at
a stretch, others somewhat infrequently over the course of many years.
There have been visitors from several other states and even a few foreign
countries.

Many other people have contributed sightings from their own visits to
Marymoor, all of which have helped me to document the occurrence of birds at
the park.

Ironically, I'll miss this week's Marymoor trip, as I'll be in Kittitas
County helping my wife with a botany survey. But Brian and Matt will cover
for me as the 16th year begins.

== Michael Hobbs
== Kirkland, WA
== http://www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
== http://www.marymoor.org/BirdBlog.htm
== birdmarymoor at verizon.net