Subject: [Tweeters] Washington county year list project 2015 summary & 2016
Date: Feb 6 06:03:30 2016
From: Matt Bartels - mattxyz at earthlink.net


Hi again Tweeters and INWBers -

Here?s the year-end report [a little delayed] for the 2015 iteration of the county year list project. Results posted here:
http://wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html <http://wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html>

We've wrapped another year of compiling county year-lists to build a state-wide snapshot. For ten years we've recruited compilers from every county to keep track of sightings. While individual county listing is fun, the idea behind this project is to compile a 'community' list: all the birds seen by anyone, rather than just those seen by one person. The result is one perspective on the birds of Washington for 2015.

Some results for 2015:
401 species were reported statewide - that?s a little above the average for the past nine years [395.2], and only one species lower than the 2012 record high of 402.

323 species reported in Eastern Washington, a bit below the 323 average for the region.
Western Washington again came in above average, with 376 species seen for the record high, and well above the nine year average of 363.6

32 counties had totals at or above 200 species ? a sign of how diverse every county can be.

Record high totals were recorded in Asotin [220], Cowlitz [207], Jefferson [235], Mason [200 - tied w/ 2014], Pierce [249], and San Juan [207].

26 counties were above average when compared to 2007-2015 totals.

27 counties came in within 10 species [+/-] of their nine year county average - a continuing sign that coverage and sightings are generally pretty stable.

76 species were seen in all 39 counties, 157 species were found in 30 or more counties.At the other end of the spectrum, 30 species were reported this year in only one county.

Looking at the birds missed, we really didn?t have any huge gaps - I?d say the most surprising misses were Emperor Goose, & Scripps?s Murrelet - not exactly ?common? birds in the first place.

In addition to the regular info at the link [http://wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html <http://wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html>] , I've included a simple sheet that compiles the annual county totals for each county from 2007-2015 -- if you'd like to see how any county has trended over the years, this is the sheet to study.

2016 compiling is underway, and I encourage you to look up the compiler for counties you bird in and send along unusual sightings -- most compilers are checking eBird reports already, but eBird still misses a good bit and we appreciate the help making sure we hear about these sightings. You can find a list of the compilers at the above link

Thanks to all the compilers who track each county, and here's to a fun and surprising 2016. If you notice anything not noted on the 2015 list, let us know and make a resolution to report your sightings to the compiler this year .

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA