Subject: 04-24-97 early evening at Des Moines, WA, Marina
Date: Apr 25 13:10:57 1997
From: Maureen Ellis - me2 at u.washington.edu


It stays light late enough that I can often take a few minutes after
bus-commute from UW to quick-monitor the fishing pier, Beach Park, and
proximate areas. In the past 3 weeks, we have had a growing community of
Canada geese here; yes, I know, common and everywhere, but not here much
in the past 3 years, til now. The was a baby-bunch of 5 very recently
hatched goslings.....(we usually have just the one or more hatches of
Mallard-lings each season amongst our resident waterfowl).....
that were attracting a small crowd of oohing/aahing humans as the parent
geese tried to coax the babies into the water. Cute, no matter how
common! Other people watching mentioned that wharf rats seemed to be the
main predator threat to water fowl-lings at the Marina. Maybe, but there
are Raccoons, Bald eagles, Sharp-shinned hawks, River otters (will they
eat birds, too?), and big fish with big teeth (like Ling cod) here that
would probably grab one quick. Canada geese parents can be fierce in
defending their young, more so than the Mallard hens (I don't recall any
duck species where the males provide parental care; anyone know.....there
are so many common things yet to learn!)

Just beyond the fishing pier and stretching as far south as nearly to
Salty's Restaurant was a thinly spaced raft of alternate-plumed
Boneparte's gulls (up to 250 of them); there was little evidence of
foraging; though, they were all in the same "current" (quite high tide at
6:30PM). They appeared to be slowly swimming, resting and socializing,
preparing to head to the breeding grounds.....inland somewhere north of
here? Does anyone know where this species may breed close to our area?

There is a single remaining Double-crested cormorant still in basic
plumage, and there was a foraging Pelagic cormorant near the fishing pier
in full alternate plumage with dull reddish "gular" and white flank patch
(the first time I've had the chance to study this plumage this close,
really sleek and beautiful birds.)

Was not able to detect any further nesting, beyond the single nest known,
by the Barn swallows under the wharf at the double-hoist public launch
area....tide just too high; will check again this weekend. Is the
observation that Barn swallows are in a sudden population decline
nation-wide or the western coastal birds or? I don't recall where I read
about this decline, but it seemed to be linked to the general neotropical
problems in the wintering areas (on this basis ALL neotropical migrants
are at risk!)
More later and have a weekend,
Maureen Ellis me2 at u.washington.edu Univ of WA and Des Moines, WA