----- Original Message -----
From: Ruth and/or Patrick Sullivan
To: Brad Waggoner
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2006 1:30 PM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Re: Bird patterns in Puget Sound


Hello Brad and others who this may concern,

To continue on the topic of declining seabird/waterbird numbers in Puget Sound we wish to add our personal sightings and feedback from the southern Puget Sound region. We have noticed a great decline in overall numbers of waterbirds specifically alcids from a few familiar southern Puget Sound areas including the Dash Point area and the Nisqually Reach at Luhr Beach. Early this fall we noticed this occurrence,which remained through the season and occurs currently. We later saw a story on the local news about a study that was conducted from a least 3 areas within Puget Sound specifically included of the rapid decline in Herring(bait fish)numbers. The studies found out that not only there was a decline in numbers of this fish,but that the fish had a disease amongst the groups of fish. We were later told by a friend that this disease was widespread,but mainly within the southern Puget Sound population of Herring and that thee were 2 distinct areas where the Herring persist. One of these areas was off Harstene Island in Mason Co. We now and recently saw the Tweeters posting of similar information so it is good other birders are aware of this situation.

We expected that this decline in Herring and the result of the fish having a disease could greatly impact waterbird number,as well as many other animals such as whales that consume the fish. During a rewarding boat cruise on the 23rd of October,2005 we encountered fairly good numbers of many species of marine waterbirds,including 4 species of alcids but much of these numbers were very limited to specific areas. The boat cruise traveled along portions of the Nisqually Reach,as well as Drayton Passage and other areas near Anderson Island and we did notice a large lack of many waterbirds between Anderson and Ketron Island. We do not believe birds that were absent from these areas will return anytime soon and will have jus moved somewhere else where feeding is better. Other waterbird species such as scoters and other waterfowl appear to be also affected by limited numbers of Herring and are in selected areas. These numbers seem fairly stable in and around Luhr Beach,as we have observed recently but it is very possible they could also be consuming shellfish too. On a specific species account we noticed record numbers of Eared Grebes during the Olympia boat cruise,which were all concentrated along the Nisqually Reach just west of Luhr Beach. Good numbers of Eared Grebes were also noted during the Tacoma CBC in and around Anderson Island.

Obviously,there seems to be a great contrast between southern and northern Puget Sound waterbird numbers and not to forget Central Puget Sound either. We somehow suspect the birds are there but are where the food is. Upon helping out on the Sequim-Dungeness CBC we personally observed over 200 Ancient Murrelets streaming low over the water coming from the direction of Dungeness Spit then continuing east in groups of 5-15 birds. It is apparent that good numbers of Ancient Murrelets still persist in this region and nearby areas,as well as other areas of northern Puget Sound.


Sincerely,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA



----- Original Message -----
From: "Brad Waggoner" <wagtail at sounddsl.com>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 6:59 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Re: Bird patterns in Puget Sound


> Hi Tweets,
>
> In comparison to last year, I do believe that bird numbers in the Central
> Puget Sound are down this year. I would like to believe it is just a normal
> cyclical thing, but?????
>
> In August I took a few salmon fishing trips to an area just off of the
> ferry docks at Vashon Island. Schools of herring were much less plentiful
> than in previous years. I also found this to be the case out in the Straits
> of Juan de Fuca in July. Salmon Fishermen are always looking at either the
> depth finder or the water surface for bait-fish activity. It just wasn't
> happening this year. I guess I feel that this translates into what we are
> seeing this year when it comes to bird numbers in the Sound. Less food means
> less birds. Any biologists out there studying the waters of Puget Sound that
> perhaps could shed some additional information on this subject?
>
> Alcids have been kind of the "indicator" birds when I have thought about the
> low bird numbers this year. However, additionally I noticed much less jaeger
> and tern activity this year. In fact, I only had one Parasitc Jaeger off of
> the shores of Bainbridge Island this past Fall and it was a fly-by. Normally
> a few can be seen harassing terns in our waters during the season. There
> just didn't seem to be gulls and terns working bait-fish schools. Even the
> productive waters of Point no Point had fewer terns and jaegers this Fall.
> In 2004 my high count for Parasitic Jaegers was 20 compared to just 4 this
> past Fall.
>
> Monday I took my boat out to see if I could find some lingering Red
> Phalaropes. No such luck for me. Maybe for the phalaropes this is a good
> thing as that strong southeast wind may have pushed them back out to where
> they belong. Anyway, I had a few Common Murres, one Rhinoceros Auklet, a
> couple Brant, and 20 or so Mew Gulls. There wasn't much going-on!
>
>
>
> Brad Waggoner
> Bainbridge Island, WA
> mailto:wagtail at sounddsl.com
>
>
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