Hi again Tweeters and INWBers -

Here?s the year-end report for the 2016 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 eleven 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 2016.

Some results for 2016:
394 species were reported statewide. That?s a little below the ten-year average [395.1], and seven lower than last year.
321 species in Eastern Washington. Four below the average [324.9] and two lower than last year?s total.
364 species for Western Washington. That?s right on the aveage [363.6] but 8 lower than last year?s total for the region.

Record high totals were reported for Clallam [302], Lewis [200], San Juan [207, tied w/ 2015], Snohomish [255], Ferry [194], and Franklin [216, tied w/ 2012].
Of note: Clallam County?s year total is the highest ever recorded in WA for a single year. As far as I know, no county other than Clallam has even ever cracked 280 for a county year-list total.

Compared to last year, 19 counties came in with lower totals, while 16 had higher totals and 4 reported the same result in both years.

24 counties had totals higher than their 10-year average. 30 counties were within 10 species [+/-] of their average, a sign of overall stability and probably consistent coverage.

Another way to look at year-list effort is to compare a county?s year list with the overall total for that county?s list. Seven counties found over 75% of their total county list this year:
Clallam [78.4%], Yakima [77.7%], Okanogan [75.6%], Klickitat [75.5%], Cowlitz [75.3%], Stevens [75.1%], and Walla Walla [75.0%].

Species:
78 species were seen in all 39 counties, 161 were seen in 30 or more counties. At the other end of the spectrum, 29 species were reported in only one county this year.

There really were no totally surprising misses this year - maybe fewer surprises overall, but we got all the ?regulars,? it would seem.


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 2007-2016-- if you'd like to see how any county has trended over the years, this is the sheet to study.

2017 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

One more request: If you?ve read this far, and if you do any birding in Klickitat County [or would like motivation to do so this year] ? I?m looking for a compiler for Klickitat and would love to hear from you!

Thanks to all the compilers who track each county, and here's to a fun and surprising 2017. If you notice anything not noted on the 2016 list, let us know and make a resolution to report your sightings to the compiler this year .

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA