Hi Tweeters & INWBers -

We've finished up another year in the county year list project. The
combined results are now posted online at :
http://www.wabirder.com/bartel.html .

This is the 5th year we've worked on this project, with someone
keeping track of the sightings in each of the 39 counties in WA.
While individual county listing is fun, the idea behind this project
is to try to keep track of the 'community' list: all the birds seen
by anyone, rather than just those seen by one person. The result is
something of a picture of the birds of Washington for 2010.

We are underway with the 2011 lists, but haven't yet sorted out all
the compilers and details -- expect another message on that front in
a week or so.

A few summary details on the 2010 year:

387 species were tallied this year, 2 fewer species than in 2009. Our
highest recorded total was 2007 when 400 species were recorded.
Species totals for both Eastern & Western Washington were up a little
from last year. Overall, I think you can draw few conclusions from
any apparent 'trends' at such an abstract level -- too much is
condensed in the simple yes/no question of whether a species was seen
state-wide. I find it more interesting to learn which species are
seen everywhere or nowhere:

67 species were reported in all 39 counties last year -- down several
species from last year. At the other end of the spectrum, 33 species
were reported in only one county.
Eurasian Collared-Doves were seen in 36 of the 39 counties -- the
march continues. Acorn Woodpecker, seen in just one county in 2009,
was reported in 9 counties in 2010.
Can you sort out which: Three shorebird species were seen in all 39
counties? Which 5 warblers? 4 sparrows?

At the county level the top counts this year went to the following
counties: Clallam [280], Okanogan [271], Walla Walla [257], Yakima
[255], King [254]. In all 29 counties reported over 200 species this
year -- given the improved coverage, it really is getting possible to
imagine 200 species being recorded in every one of the state's 39
counties eventually.

Another way of ranking counties is to look at which counties reported
observations of the greatest percentage of their known county list --
13 counties found over 75% of their total historical list - Okanogan
topped the list (87%), but next up were Stevens (82.5%), Douglas
(81.8%0, Yakima (79.7%), Pend Oreille (78.5%), and Columbia (78.2%)
-- All 39 counties reported over 50% of their total list present in
2010.


Thanks to all the compilers who keep track of their county patches,
and thanks to all the contributors who send their sightings in to the
compilers.

Here's hoping 2011 continues with more surprises --

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA