>Yes, but did the oystercatchers suffer from the oil or, more likely, the
>cleanup activity? In any case, there are a lot of oystercatchers at our
>sites this year.
>**************************************************************
>NOAA Hazmat 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA (206)526-6317
>**************************************************************

Not knowing a thing about it, I'll still venture a suggestion. Perhaps the
mortality was a response to the lack of invertebrates to eat? I could
easily imagine this to be a major effect of the spill, to be felt for some
time.

And what do you mean by "there are a lot of oystercatchers at our sites
this year"?

Dennis Paulson, Director phone 206-756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 206-756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416