I can remember watching Sootys from the South Jetty of the Columbia River.
They were stretched south to nearly Tillamook Head about 30 km to the south.
If you go find yourself a high vantage point, say Cape Disappointment Lighthouse
and watch the horizon you'll find the shearwaters going in the opposite
direction. They are making a large circle. The Anchovie are running in the
river. 500,000 birds is probably a pretty accurate figure on a good day,
though.


>
> On Saturday 8/20/94 at Longbeach, WA, during 3 hours of observation (from 2
> PM to 5 PM), I watched Sooty Shearwaters fly by southbound at a steady rate
> of about 400 per minute (24,000 per hour!). There were probably many more
> farther offshore. They were flying about 400 to 500 yards offshore and
> were undaunted by the onshore Annual Kite Festival. If this rate continued
> day and night, it would add up to 576,000 birds per day!
>
> Bart Duell
> duellb at ccmail.ohsu.edu
>
>
>

--
******************************** In the midst of the word he was trying to say
* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR * In the midst of his laughter and glee,
* mpatters at ednet1.osl.or.gov * He had softly and suddenly vanished away---
******************************** For the Snark *was* a Boojum, you see. L