Hi Tweeters & Inland-NW-Birders -

An updated version of the 2017 county year list project is up at Washington Birder. I?m a bit late getting this up, but we?ve received updates from most [but not all] counties with details through the end of February. County compilers, especially for the underbirded counties, would appreciate receiving reports of any birds seen in their counties.

As of the end of February 242 species had been reported across the state, 219 species in western WA and 191 in eastern WA.
The state total [242] is 17 lower than the end-feb totals in 2016, and also the lowest total we?ve had at this point for at least the last 6 years.
The Western WA total [219] was eleven below the total from last year.
The Eastern WA total [at 191] this year was seven lower than last year, but pretty close to the 2012-2015 totals [which all ranged from 188-193].

Overall, it looks like it was a slow start to the year ? that said, a big difference might be something as simple as the lack of a Jan or Feb pelagic [about a dozen species seen on the March 23 pelagic will be new for the year list in the next update] ? overall, though , it has felt a bit slow?.

I?m looking forward to seeing how things shape up as our spring migrants come back/through.

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/ <http://www.wabirder.com/>


A direct link to the 2017 county yearlist & the list of county compilers:
http://wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html <http://wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html>

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


Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA