For years, I have dreamed of sevoting some serious birding time to the
San Juan Islands. Now I find myself in the enviable position of
assisting in the coordination of a 5 day (4 night) cruise trhough the
Islands with the primary goal of looking a birds (and during probably one
of the most interesting weeks of the year at that!). I am postin this
for two reasons:

First, blatant advertising. Hopefully I will be forgiven any
transgression here since my only payment is my own participation. I am
not a tour guide (all of the trips I have led previously have been for
classes through educational institutions) but rather a scientist and
teacher, and view myself with respect to this trip, primarily as a
participant and secondarily as a "leader/coordinator". By announcing
this on Tweeters and OBOL, it is my hope to attract a few other
intermediate to advanced Nortwest birders in order that my second reason
for this posting can be accomplished. For the rest of the advertisement
(small group size, superb accommodations, extremely reasonable price,
etc.) please contact me directly at: pollock at reed.edu

Second, it is my intention to take extensive field notes (hopefully with
the assistance of other participants), not only on species but also
habitat use, nesting, interaction between species, environmental
conditions, and so forth. Most observations will be made from deck
(outside sanctuary buffer zones so they will focus on the open salt
water, rocky shoreline, and some mudflat environments. Two island side
trips are planned, one to Sucia (I am a geologist and couldn't pass up
this opportunity to sneak some geological education in as well), the
other on San Juan Island. Following the trip, I will post a summary on
Tweeters and send a detailed report to anyone who is interested. More
importantly for this post, I would very much appreciate communication in
advance from anyone working (or who has worked) in the area and might be
willing to share a little of their knowledge in exchange for any
information we may accumulate. Again, please contact me directly.

Michael Pollock
4004 S.E. 51st Ave.
Portland, OR 97206
(503)774-6134
e-mail address: pollock at reed.edu