When I lived on Orcas my office was on the water in Eastsound. We would
mark the beginning of the summer tourist season when the first occurrence
was observed in the season of an excited individual in something from J
Crew running up and down the street trying to get help for a seagull
"choking to death" on a starfish. Island native Roger Perdue, whose gas
station was demolished shortly after he died in his 90's some years ago,
used to say "Ah, don't worry...that's just like us eatin' pizza!" Probably
about the same food value, too.

Went flying in an open-cockpit biplane today as part of a reporting
assignment and saw what sure looked like a Golden Eagle, just east of
Blaine, soaring about about 1,200 feet. I still doubt my own ID, but the
color was right, also head size, shape, etc. Is this possible? I saw many
in Montana earlier in the month, but not very often here.

Jack Kintner kintner at nas.com Blaine, WA

At 04:16 PM 5/26/01 -0700, you wrote:
>Doug and Tweets -
>
>This parallels what I have seen several times with Glaucous-winged Gulls
>at a number of locations including Ocean Shores, the Fauntelor ferry
>dock and elsewhere.
>
>The first time I saw one with a starfish stuffed in its mouth it was
>looking very uncomfortable and my first reaction was that it was a
>goner. It had two arms down its gullet and over time got the whole
>critter down. As I watched it seemed like the gull would "relax" and
>become motionless. After a few minutes the starfish would also "relax"
>and the gull would quickly gulp and get it further down. Soon two arms
>were left out and then the whole thing was gone with a humongous bulge
>in the gull's neck. Each time since the scenario has been the same - it
>seems to be standard procedure. Agree - the gull stands in one place for
>a long time afterward.
>
>Brian H. Bell
>Woodinville WA
>bellasoc at isomedia.com
>www.peregrinenorthwest.com