Greetings All


The Am Black Duck is still on the web-list, but per my notes we voted to remove it from the state list, though there may be some effort to obtain details from pre-Everett Sewage Pond introduction dates. If nothing arises to that regard, it will be removed I believe. If retained, it would be because of the existence of an acceptable black duck record not apparently related to that introduction, or the apparent small free-flying population currently present in s. King County.


As for Sky Lark.... that species occurred here as a vagrant from the introduced population on Vancouver Island. Since that population remains viable, the species remains on the WA list. If that population were to vanish, then the presence of Sky Lark on the WA state list will be reviewed.


And... as to Mute Swan... this species is such an amazingly common escapee (I saw several when I lived in CA, far away from any established population), very long-lived, and so mobile that it is virtually impossible to say if any here are from the Vancouver Island population or local (or even not so local, as escaped birds can wander a great distance) escapees. After all, if a Black Swan (clearly not wild) can occur in Port Angeles, why would a Mute Swan there be deemed necessarily wild? In any case, Mute Swan records have popped up all around the state, at all seasons, not inducing one to joyously jump to conclusion that they are wanderers from Vancouver Island, though some Mutes might indeed be from there... and of course, some of the birds around Victoria and Vancouver may not be from the "established population", but might be local escapees. Mute Swan is a mess, admittedly. I am tempted to count the 6 wary immatures that I saw on Lake Stevens one cold winter day, birds present for just one day... but I am not doing so at this time.. In any case, one's list is personal... the BRCs decision is not meant to dictate one's personal decisions.


Cheerio
Steve Mlodinow