Hi Tweeters & Inland-NW-Birders -

An updated version of the 2014 county year list project is up at Washington Birder. We've received updates from all the counties with details through the end of August. County compilers, especially for the under-birded counties, would appreciate receiving reports of any birds seen in their counties.

As has been the case for pretty much the entire year, we still are running a behind last year's pace overall. Mostly, though, our totals this year are very similar to last year's : This year after 2/3 of the year done, we've tallied 373 species [vs 382 last year]; Eastern WA has tallied 307 [down from 316 species last year], and Western WA has tallied 337 species [vs 343 in 2013]

26 counties are over 200 for the year. 14 counties are doing better this year than they were last year at this point, and 24 counties are within 10 species +/- of last year's tally. So while the overall numbers are lower, the specifics aren't too massive. Only one county is more than 25 species lower than their total last year [Ferry, off by 54 species] and only one county is more than 25 species higher than their total last year [Pend Oreille, up by 51 species].

Looking at what was seen last year that is missing this year - it really is all rare birds - all but three of the birds seen by this time in 2013 but not yet this year are on the WBRC review list for species rare enough to merit review -- the other three are Bar-tailed Godwit, Parakeet Auklet & Horned Puffin -- all of which are also rarities in the state.

If you'd like to take a look at where things stand, the list and many other interesting files are at the Washington Birder website:

http://www.wabirder.com/


A direct link to the 2014 county yearlist & the list of county compilers:

http://www.wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html


Thanks to all the compilers and all those pitching in to sketch a picture of another year's birds in WA.


Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA
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