Hi Tweeters & INWBers -

Here's the year-end report for the 2021 round of the county year-list project. Full results posted here:
http://wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html <http://wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html>


This was the 15th year we've recruited compilers from every county to keep track of sightings. The idea behind the project is to get behind the fun of individual county listing to compile a 'community' list -; rather than just birds seen by a single individual, we attempt to pull together birds seen by anyone over the course of the year. It provides one perspective on the birds of Washington in 2021.


Some results for 2021:
Overall, I'm mostly surprised by how 'normal' the results look despite this year's disruptions.
391 species were reported statewide. That's just a little below average [394.3], and two lower than 2020's total.
329 species for Eastern Washington. That's six above last year, and five higher than our average [323.7]
364 species for Western Washington. That's five below last year, and one lower than the overall average [365.0].


Record high totals were reported for ten counties. Records highs were tallied for: Benton [245], Chelan [252], King [298], Klickitat [254], Lewis [214], Pacific [252], Pierce [256], San Juan [223], Snohomish [264], and Walla Walla [269]

23 Counties came in with totals higher than last year, 16 came in lower.
31 counties had totals higher than their 2007-2021 average.

Species:
81 species were seen in all 39 counties, 173 were seen in 30 or more counties. That's consistent with recent years, a sign of the 250-260 species that make up the relatively 'stable abundant' portion of the state list, maybe? At the other end of the spectrum, 27 species were reported in only one county this year.
The only species missed in 2021 that are not a Washington Bird Records Committee review-list species were Elegant Tern, Murphy's Petrel, Mottled Petrel, and Northern Hawk Owl. About 33 species on the WBRC review-list were also reported this year.

In addition to the year list 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 2007-2021 -- if you'd like to see how any county has trended over the years, this is the sheet to study.

2022 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 2022. If you notice anything not noted on the 2021 list, let us know and make a resolution to report your sightings to the compiler this year .

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA