Tweeters,

Dave Beaudette found a number of Pacific Loons along the Columbia this past
week. Patrick Sullivan found these or other birds, also. I would like to
know if these loons were on slackwater (in reservoirs) along the river, or
in "flowing" stretches. I realize even slackwater reservoirs have some
current, but is considerably slower than in free-flowing stretches of the
river. I ask this is because I seem to chance upon Pacific Loons more
frequently on flowing waters than not. I have never seen data to support
this observation for eastern Washington other than my own, so wish to raise
this question and raise awareness that Pacifics might favor a particular
type of river conditions.

It is well-known that Pacific Loons are strongly attracted to tidal rips in
Puget Sound and Strait of Georgia waters. It might be shown this species
favors the interior equivalent of a tidal rip while on the Columbia.

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato Wa
steppie at nwinfo.net