A successful trip to the Oregon side of McNary Dam.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by rockets being fired near the fish ladder to
frighten the gulls away from an area frequented by fingerling salmon. After
more than an hour of searching up and down the Oregon side of the river the
fireworks show ended and we were able to find the gull feeding near the ends of
two or three large tubes that dump water and small fish into the river about
100 feet out from the new fish ladder facility. This area can be seen from the
fish ladder's cat walk area. The bird would spend about 30 seconds gliding and
fishing around this outlet and then spend several minutes farther out near the
spillways located mid dam. After about 15 minutes the gull flew down river to a
*small* rocky island/bar.
The small rocky island lies close to(about75ft) the south shore about 3/4 mile
down stream from the dam. Several dozens of gulls loaf here. Check all visible
sides of the island. The gull was seen loafing on the west (downstream) side
of this island.

We last saw it at 3:55pm at the fish ladder.


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Scott Ray
Yakima, WA