Hi Folks,
We are going to attempt our third and final try to get to Heceta Bank and
the deepwater beyond during the Spring/early Summer season, 1997. Previous
attempts April 19 and May 4 were thwarted by rough seas. We're hoping that
seas will be more amenable on our chosen date: Saturday, JUNE 14. If
successful, this will be the first chartered birding trip to spend more than
about an hour at Heceta Bank in spring, and the first to begin exploring the
deepwater west of the Bank. Heceta Bank itself is about 5 miles E-W and 15
miles N-S, and located about 30 miles off Florence, OR.

DETAILS
Date: Saturday, June 14, 1997
When: 6am-6pm (but please arrive 1/2-hr early)
Where: Depoe Bay, Oregon, Joan-E Charters (south side of bridge at Depoe Bay)
How: Let me (Matt) know that you are signing up and send your check ($100,
written to The Bird Guide) to The Bird Guide, 311 Park Street, Banks, OR
97106.

Note: Currently we are required by the charter to confirm reservations two
weeks prior to the pelagic date (in this case May 31st). Please register by
May 30th if you desire to go on the trip so we can KNOW that we have enough
people to make the trip feasible financially.

What: The primary goals for this trip are (1) to explore the deepwater west
of Heceta Bank, where we expect to see Leach's and Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels,
and hope to perhaps glimpse a species of Pterodroma petrel. In June,
Murphy's Petrel and Cook's Petrel are possible. Research vessels continue to
report Murphy's Petrel and occasionally even Solander's Petrel from Oregon's
deepwater this May (also Horned Puffin). However, reality is that we will be
in deepwater for only a couple hours. We will want to make the best use of
our time in deepwater. Our second goal (2) is to check out several areas of
Heceta Bank for other species of seabirds and marine mammals. This will be
accomplished on the way out to and the way back from deepwater. Likely
species include Black-footed Albatross, Pink-footed Shearwater, Sooty
Shearwater, and others. Possible species include Laysan Albatross and
Flesh-footed Shearwater.

Heceta Bank has consistently been reported by researchers and fishermen
(not many birding vessels have gotten out there) to be an area of
concentration for seabirds. We're looking forward to seeing what we can see.
While we will be traveling rapidly to reach Heceta Bank, we cross over
Stonewall Bank which also often has a higher number of seabirds than other
locations.

If you have Web access, please check out The Bird Guide's informative
summaries of observations on past trips, preparation for pelagic trips, and a
monthly checklist at:
http://www.teleport.com/~guide

Call a friend and bring them with you!
Thanks.

Matt Hunter
2670 SW Pickford St. #77
Corvallis, OR 97333
541-752-4604
stpetrel at aol.com