Thev way it looks to me, from an armchair birder perspective, is that the average person cannot go off the trails in National Parks without risking harrassment from park rangers or etc. The rarities; whether mammal, avian or rare flowers; are off limits. (Of course I don't want anybody else but me going off the trails - heh heh).

Phil Hotlen
Bellingham, WA
---------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Loitz" <steveloitz at gmail.com>
To: "TWEETERS" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Monday, January 3, 2011 1:24:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] N Cascades N Pk listing question






> So, here's the question, for that handful of birders who actually post their totals for this park. Do you count the recreation area(s) or not?<

This is my first post after lurking for a bit.

I am not a list keeper, so my answer is no. But I have spent much time in the NCNP, including extensive off-trail travel in subalpine and alpine zones, sometimes on high routes that see little human traffic, e.g., 1 party every 5 years or more. A small group of people visit the NCNP's deep wilderness and, AFAIK, that group includes few birders. So it's no surprise that I have not found a good resource cataloging birds of the North Cascades (or the Central Cascades or the Olympics). If someone knows of one, please advise.

The NCNP boundaries are well-marked on the map, and are very distinct from the National Recreation Areas. OTOH, from a habitat perspective, the NCNP boundaries are wholly arbitrary so I don't see any point in compiling such a list. IMV, it would make more sense to catalog species by wilderness areas.. (NCNP includes several wilderness areas, or parts thereof, including, e.g., Steven Mather WA, Noisy-Diobsud WA, parts of Glacier Peak WA areas, parts of the Pasayten WA).

I have not made any kind of record of my bird sightings on my high routes in the Cascades and Olympics. Perhaps I should start doing that. Heck, I'll make that my new year's resolution : )


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