Tweeters,

With all the talk about Ancient Murrelets (I was pleased to see 30+ on Tuesday at Dash Point),
I've started thinking about an ongoing analysis of potential future conditions along the west
shoreline of Budd Inlet in Olympia. Among the land uses being discussed is a trail, something
that can be walked, jogged, biked... with views of the bay.

The declines in scoters, scaup, goldeneyes, and grebes has been so severe over the last decade
that the opportunities to view these birds at West Bay are much reduced and who can say if
numbers will rebound.

There's a strong desire (in some segments) to consider the needs of marine birds as plans
for the waterfront move forward. I'd like to hear about observations of marine birds from
public access areas along the marine shorelines of the Pacific Northwest, particularly as
they might relate to habitat alienation or, conversely, apparent habituation.

I expect I will hear a bit about the ills of dogs off-leash but that's fair game as well.

Kelly McAllister
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Olympia, Washington
Reply to: mcallkrm at dfw.wa.gov