SENATE RESOLUTION

                             8731

By Senators Jacobsen, Oke, Fraser, Roach and Rasmussen                                    

     WHEREAS, Birders seek to protect wildlife habitat and promote the enjoyment of all species of birds; and

     WHEREAS, Biodiversity and conservation of the natural world are of the upmost importance to birders; and

     WHEREAS,  Conservation efforts encompass protection and restoration of local watersheds, as well as promote the study of natural science, migratory bird patterns and amphibious wildlife in our ecosystem; and

     WHEREAS, Fremont resident, Marv Breece, has been an avid birder for the past twenty-five years; and

     WHEREAS, Marv Breece estimated that in 2001, he drove 25,000 miles to get to  marshes, saltwater beaches, mountain peaks, dark forests and sagebrush deserts to observe birds, an example of  his relentless devotion to the sport; and

     WHEREAS, Big Year is the name of a competition in which a birder tries to identify as many species of birds as possible in one calendar year in a given geographical area; and

     WHEREAS, On December 31, 2001,  Breece set a birding record for the Big Year competition in Washington, spotting three hundred and fifty-nine species of birds; and

     WHEREAS, The previous record was thought to be in the low three forty=s; and

     WHEREAS, In the Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge in Wahkiakum County, he spotted the last bird on his list, a Black Phoebe, a rare visitor of our state;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate do hereby recognize Marv Breece=s commitment toward the conservation and preservation of birds and their surrounding ecosystem; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Marv Breece.

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8731,

adopted by the Senate February 6, 2002.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate