Here is a Department of Ecology news release about the environmental clean-up
they've been doing at the site of the shipwrecked S.S. Catala at Ocean
Shores. It sounds like this area has been more protected from and monitored
for contaminants than most, for the last year or so.

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2007news/2007-175.html

Given the unseasonably high winds, heavy seas and heavy rain that occurred on
the coast over the last few days, I would suspect that is the main cause of
the deaths/beachings.

Andrea Grad
Shoreline/Tokeland
agrad at helsell.com
_______________________________

From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Virginia R,
Gumm
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 12:44 PM
To: andiwoolley at yahoo.com; Julia Parrish; Tweeters; Dave Nysewander
Subject: [Tweeters] grebe and/or loon "beached" at Ocean Shores


Andi,

Could you please e-mail me the image of the young grebe or loon beached at
Ocean Shores? It could be netted and taken to rehab as these species "beach"
themselves for many reasons, such as; emaciation, exhaustion, inability to
maintain posture in water, and this symptom could be due to lead ingestion or
other toxic contaminants, lack of prey, illness, fishing line entrapment,
injuries, etc.

Did any of these birds have bands?

Possibly, someone could look this area over soon to see if other
waterbirds/loons may be "beached" and could possibly be rehabed. Is this
area a possible contaminant site that needs to be evaluated? We have a great
concern in regards to the loons, mostly juveniles in that area at this time
of year.

Ginger Gumm and Daniel Poleschook, Jr.
509-939-9699
Loon Lake Loon Association