Subject: [Tweeters] Rhino Auklet rafts
Date: Feb 27 21:13:15 2009
From: cgluckman at aol.com - cgluckman at aol.com


I walked on the Port Townsend to Keystone ferry this afternoon to see what Alcids I could photograph and ran into something that maybe someone out in Tweeter's land can explain. In mid channel I counted 7 or 8 close packed rafts of 30-50 Rhinoceros Auklets, many in breeding plumage, separated by a few hundred yards. Probably the same birds that Bob Whitney reported feeding off Pt. Wilson a few days ago. I've seen a few over the winter, mostly singles, but nothing like this. I presume it has something to do with upcoming breeding but haven't found anything in the literature (admittedly?only a short look) that mentions it. Any comments?


David Gluckman
811 22nd St.
Pt. Townsend, WA 98368
360 379-0360