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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Marcus – Not to take anything away from my friend the esteemed Michael Hobbs but in the interest of accuracy, I believe I was the first non-Pierce resident to become a member in 2021. Happy Holidays, Tom
Mansfield in Seattle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Tweeters <tweeters-bounces@mailman11.u.washington.edu>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Marcus Roening via Tweeters<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, December 23, 2024 5:50 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> tweeters@u.washington.edu<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Tweeters] Congratulations to The 253 Club new inductees for 2024 in Pierce County<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Hi Tweets,<br>
<br>
Congratulations to our newest members of the 253 Club, here in Pierce County - Area Code 253. By achieving this lofty milestone, all 253 new members are entitled to a Celebratory beverage of their choice from yours truly! (And I still believe I have a couple
of outstanding beverages to provide :<i>-))</i></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Linnaea Wright had been waiting for just the right bird to be her #253. While she could have chased
down a Black Phoebe in the Orting valley, she waited until number 253 came to her! A Red-shouldered Hawk flew over her house on July 14, 2024 and was the magical bird. One heck of a yard bird.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Michael Hobbs went from 251 species to #253 with a double tick of Whimbrel and Long-billed Curlew
at the mouth of the Puyallup River on October 14, 2024. He also has the distinction of being the first person not residing in Pierce County to achieve #253 in Pierce County.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><br>
Our newest Metro city park, Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park had 3 new birds in 2024, for a Hot Spot total of 226 species. New species added were Manx Shearwater, Acorn Woodpecker and a juvenile Little Gull. This park near Point Ruston has a sweeping
view to Des Moines to the Northeast, Commencement Bay to the East and Dalco Passage to the Northwest. The number of sightings of uncommon waterbirds and migrants has increased considerably and you can usually find a couple people there most mornings during
migration. This is now the #1 eBird Hotspot in Pierce County with 226 species seen in just 5 years, thanks to the keen eyes of Charlie Wright and Will Brooks leading the way. Sadly for birders, the 5 Mile Drive that went around the tip of Point Defiance has
been closed to cars due to severe erosion of the bluffs. It is still a wonderful place to bike and walk, but without car access, it is a bit too far to haul a scope out to the Point on a regular basis.<br>
<br>
And for completeness, here's the current list of 253 Club members as divined by a combination of eBird and WA Birder records. Any additions welcome.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><2007 Patrick Sullivan</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">2011 Charlie Wright</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">2014 Bruce LaBar</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">2016 Marcus Roening</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">2017 Michael Charest, Ed Pullen</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">2021 Heather Ballash, Tom Mansfield, Wayne Sladek, Heather Voboril, Peter Wimberger</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">2022 Will Brooks</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">2023 Bryan Hansen, Craig Miller, Scott Saunders</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">2024 Michael Hobbs, Linnaea Wright</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Good birding to all in the New Year!</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Marcus Roening Tacoma WA - Pierce County Area Code 253!<o:p></o:p></p>
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