2024 Breeding Season
Week 13: 08/25/2024 - 08/31/2024
Hello dedicated Guillemoteers!
In talking to many of you over the last week, it's clear that the season is winding down quickly, as it tends to do. We have a handful of colonies that are still active and looking to survey into September, but many have either closed down or are in their two week period with no activity. And so, this is not farewell, but it will be the last official Weekly Update of the 2024 PIGU Breeding season. I promise though, if I hear any interesting stories or have any important information to share over the next month, I will pass those along!!
This time in the season always gives me mixed feelings. I'm sad to see our PIGU go farther from shore, but I also find myself reflecting on our season and feeling thankful for our connection to each other, to the birds, and to this place. We truly are a team and your dedication and effort do not go unnoticed. It's not always easy to get out every week in the early morning, but we do it time and again because we know how important it is to continue monitoring this special bird. I've done three presentations to outside groups so far this season, and I have to say, when I've talked about our volunteers and our amazing network, I've felt so much pride. I recognize how much we are able to do by banding together like this, and it really is an incredible thing! I hope you feel this way too!
I had a request last week to give some side by side comparisons of adult non-breeding birds and juvenile birds, just to give an idea what to look for. I should preemptively say that I'm not even close to an expert, but I do know that we can generally tell juveniles from adults by looking for a distinct, white wing patch in adults. In juveniles, the wing patch takes on a more "barred" appearance. Even this can be tricky though, as molting adult PGs often look mottled, with their wing patches rough and worn, and it really can be hard to tell one from the other! So this is a fun guessing game for me. :)
In the following pic, I would call both PGs adults in non-breeding (aka basic) plumage. The one on left looks a bit darker and it may still be in a transitional stage. There are technical terms for all of these stages, but it gets complicated, so I'll keep it simple! (When the next Cornell Birds of the World PIGU species account update finally comes out, there will be some wonderful descriptions of the different plumage stages, so stay tuned for that!)
In talking to many of you over the last week, it's clear that the season is winding down quickly, as it tends to do. We have a handful of colonies that are still active and looking to survey into September, but many have either closed down or are in their two week period with no activity. And so, this is not farewell, but it will be the last official Weekly Update of the 2024 PIGU Breeding season. I promise though, if I hear any interesting stories or have any important information to share over the next month, I will pass those along!!
This time in the season always gives me mixed feelings. I'm sad to see our PIGU go farther from shore, but I also find myself reflecting on our season and feeling thankful for our connection to each other, to the birds, and to this place. We truly are a team and your dedication and effort do not go unnoticed. It's not always easy to get out every week in the early morning, but we do it time and again because we know how important it is to continue monitoring this special bird. I've done three presentations to outside groups so far this season, and I have to say, when I've talked about our volunteers and our amazing network, I've felt so much pride. I recognize how much we are able to do by banding together like this, and it really is an incredible thing! I hope you feel this way too!
I had a request last week to give some side by side comparisons of adult non-breeding birds and juvenile birds, just to give an idea what to look for. I should preemptively say that I'm not even close to an expert, but I do know that we can generally tell juveniles from adults by looking for a distinct, white wing patch in adults. In juveniles, the wing patch takes on a more "barred" appearance. Even this can be tricky though, as molting adult PGs often look mottled, with their wing patches rough and worn, and it really can be hard to tell one from the other! So this is a fun guessing game for me. :)
In the following pic, I would call both PGs adults in non-breeding (aka basic) plumage. The one on left looks a bit darker and it may still be in a transitional stage. There are technical terms for all of these stages, but it gets complicated, so I'll keep it simple! (When the next Cornell Birds of the World PIGU species account update finally comes out, there will be some wonderful descriptions of the different plumage stages, so stay tuned for that!)
In the next photo, I would say the PG on the left is a juvenile and the one on the right is likely an adult, based on the juvie's non distinct wing patch. From what I can tell, the right hand bird has distinct wing patches, but I could be wrong.
Looking at the bird below, my guess would be another transitional adult, going into basic plumage (nearly there!)
I would guess this one is a juvenile based on the dark forehead and barred wing patch.
This group is a little tougher, but I believe it to be a mix of adult and "juvenile", or at least, immature PIGU. This was taken later in the winter, so the juveniles no longer look as much like fledglings. The one in the middle, and just to the right of it, particularly strike me as a younger birds because of the non-distinct wing patches. It would really help if they would all flap their wings at once! :D
If you have your own guesses, please do let me know! Monitoring PIGU is a journey of learning, and there really is something new to learn every day!
One last thing...Our End of Season Celebration will be held on Wednesday, October 2nd, at 7:00pm via Zoom. You should be receiving the link from your regional coordinator, but if you can't find it or didn't receive one, just shoot me a message ([email protected]) and I can send it to you. I am excited for our slideshow, data presentation, and guest speaker, and of course, I look forward to seeing you all!
One last thing...Our End of Season Celebration will be held on Wednesday, October 2nd, at 7:00pm via Zoom. You should be receiving the link from your regional coordinator, but if you can't find it or didn't receive one, just shoot me a message ([email protected]) and I can send it to you. I am excited for our slideshow, data presentation, and guest speaker, and of course, I look forward to seeing you all!
As always, have a wonderful week! If you have any questions as we close out the season, don't hesitate to reach out!
Take care,
Shannon
P.S. All photos by me this week. :)
Take care,
Shannon
P.S. All photos by me this week. :)
Week 12: 08/18/2024 - 08/24/2024
How about these lightning storms to kick off Week 12?? Exciting times! There have also been a few other exciting things happening this week--for one, fledglings abound! I'm hearing more and more reports of our sweet little ones, flapping, diving, and floating around. Some have been spotted congregating just offshore of our colonies and some right up in the shallows amongst adult birds--the latter being very recently fledged, I suspect.
Maria Ruth texted to let me know that one of her Edgewater Beach team members, Susan Morgan, actually watched a chick fledge from its burrow! They've been staking out the colony in the evenings and Susan was finally rewarded. This happened at 9:04pm last Sunday--so that fits with what studies have told us about PIGU fledging in the evening, around dusk. I'm hoping to get some pics to share in the coming week.
Here's a freshie I spotted yesterday, happily exploring its new marine habitat at Amsterdam Bay. It was diving and paddling around like it already knew just what to do! I have to say, my heart swelled with pride. I could see another chick just inside our last active burrow. I imagine it will be joining its "cousin" out on the water soon!
How about these lightning storms to kick off Week 12?? Exciting times! There have also been a few other exciting things happening this week--for one, fledglings abound! I'm hearing more and more reports of our sweet little ones, flapping, diving, and floating around. Some have been spotted congregating just offshore of our colonies and some right up in the shallows amongst adult birds--the latter being very recently fledged, I suspect.
Maria Ruth texted to let me know that one of her Edgewater Beach team members, Susan Morgan, actually watched a chick fledge from its burrow! They've been staking out the colony in the evenings and Susan was finally rewarded. This happened at 9:04pm last Sunday--so that fits with what studies have told us about PIGU fledging in the evening, around dusk. I'm hoping to get some pics to share in the coming week.
Here's a freshie I spotted yesterday, happily exploring its new marine habitat at Amsterdam Bay. It was diving and paddling around like it already knew just what to do! I have to say, my heart swelled with pride. I could see another chick just inside our last active burrow. I imagine it will be joining its "cousin" out on the water soon!
Lac Pope found three juveniles hanging out about 100 yards offshore from Fort Casey (Whidbey Island), head dipping and diving. Here are two of that dapper crew:
I also had a wildlife photographer from the public reach out to me. Lourdes Venard came across my weekly updates on our website and saw my call for fledgling photos. She's been enjoying capturing snaps of PIGU throughout the summer and sent me this juvenile she spotted at Monroe Landing on Whidbey Island. Thank you, Lourdes--what a cutie!!
And in other exciting news, while a large group of photogs and birders were up at Fort Worden to see the wayward Red-footed Booby, another rarity was spotted--an all black PIGU!! This caused quite a stir early on in the week. It was presumed that this may be an all black PIGU subspecies, typically from the Kuril Islands of Russia, called Snowi. East Jefferson photog and surveyor, Hillary Smith, was able to snap some pics of this guy, and the photos were distributed to the experts. According to plumage expert, Peter Pyle, this bird is likely a melanistic local PIGU, rather than a Snowi, but there may not really be any way to tell. It's still super interesting and a fun find, nonetheless! It turns out, Peter has seen reports of another black PIGU near the Canadian border last fall. Karin Ertl also saw one at Point No Point two weeks ago, which could be the same bird!
How cool is that?! I'm always amazed at how much there is still to learn. Here is the ebird report, if you would like to see more photos: https://ebird.org/checklist/S191240167.
Has anyone else spotted PIGU with unique plumage? I've seen some with unusual wing patches, but nothing quite like this. I think this guy needs a special name--let me know if you think of something fun. :)
I don't really have much business this week! I'm working on a flyer for our End of Season Celebration. It's not quite ready yet, so I'll send that out later in the week for you to pass on to surveyors.
Edit to add: Safety always comes first. If lightning and thunderstorms do occur at the time you've planned your survey, you may always postpone your survey by a day or two. Do not go out on the beach or water if conditions are not safe or you do not feel comfortable in any particular situation.
Have a great week, all!
Shannon
Has anyone else spotted PIGU with unique plumage? I've seen some with unusual wing patches, but nothing quite like this. I think this guy needs a special name--let me know if you think of something fun. :)
I don't really have much business this week! I'm working on a flyer for our End of Season Celebration. It's not quite ready yet, so I'll send that out later in the week for you to pass on to surveyors.
Edit to add: Safety always comes first. If lightning and thunderstorms do occur at the time you've planned your survey, you may always postpone your survey by a day or two. Do not go out on the beach or water if conditions are not safe or you do not feel comfortable in any particular situation.
Have a great week, all!
Shannon
Week 11: 08/11/2024 - 08/17/2024
At this point in the season, it often feels as if time has both flown by and started to run long--especially as burrow activity begins to slow. Does anyone else feel this too? Looking at the data, I can see that indeed, we have put in many hours--over 3147 in fact. Wow, seeing our collective effort quantified in numbers like this leaves me awestruck and beaming with appreciation at what we've accomplished thus far, working together. And we're not done yet!!
At our SSGN meeting last week, we learned that many, if not most, colonies are still going strong. Some of you even talked of new burrows becoming active in the last week or two. It appears that several colonies may once again run into the first week or two of September. With that being said, thank you to everyone for putting in these hours and showing up every week to see this season through! In the end, this will help us get the best picture we can of what is happening at PIGU colonies throughout the Salish Sea!
Don't be surprised if over the next few weeks your PIGU begin to look different. Their feathers may start to take on a lighter tint, more of a brown than black, and the edges may look worn. This is because they will molt into their "basic" plumage soon, which is their non-breeding plumage. In a few more weeks, they'll take on an even more mottled appearance, and before we know it, they will be mostly white and sooty, with black accents. I noticed that the PIGU at my colony were noticeably lighter last week, even as they were still delivering prey to burrows. This isn't the best pic--it was taken Saturday in early morning low light and cropped, but hopefully you'll see what I mean. Changes are coming soon!
At this point in the season, it often feels as if time has both flown by and started to run long--especially as burrow activity begins to slow. Does anyone else feel this too? Looking at the data, I can see that indeed, we have put in many hours--over 3147 in fact. Wow, seeing our collective effort quantified in numbers like this leaves me awestruck and beaming with appreciation at what we've accomplished thus far, working together. And we're not done yet!!
At our SSGN meeting last week, we learned that many, if not most, colonies are still going strong. Some of you even talked of new burrows becoming active in the last week or two. It appears that several colonies may once again run into the first week or two of September. With that being said, thank you to everyone for putting in these hours and showing up every week to see this season through! In the end, this will help us get the best picture we can of what is happening at PIGU colonies throughout the Salish Sea!
Don't be surprised if over the next few weeks your PIGU begin to look different. Their feathers may start to take on a lighter tint, more of a brown than black, and the edges may look worn. This is because they will molt into their "basic" plumage soon, which is their non-breeding plumage. In a few more weeks, they'll take on an even more mottled appearance, and before we know it, they will be mostly white and sooty, with black accents. I noticed that the PIGU at my colony were noticeably lighter last week, even as they were still delivering prey to burrows. This isn't the best pic--it was taken Saturday in early morning low light and cropped, but hopefully you'll see what I mean. Changes are coming soon!
We've had two more bird mortality findings on the beach on Whidbey Island last week. They were not PIGU this time, but a gull and a crow. One appeared to be a predation event. Surveyors collected the crow that they suspected may have had a virus, and following Katie Haman's instructions, they double bagged it, put it on ice, and contacted Katie. While this was an understandably sad and disturbing experience for those involved, they also felt better in knowing what to do and how to proceed, while protecting themselves. It makes Katie's guidance to us feel even more timely. Unfortunately, Katie was not able to take the bird (it was too far decayed), but she was able to pass along that they've had many reports of crows suspected to have reovirus. So, if you do come across a dead crow or other bird, please make sure to wear gloves and handle with care. Also, it's good to remind surveyors to do beach checks following their surveys, if they have time, particularly directly under the burrows. Two of the dead chicks reported this season were found during these post survey checks.
So, let's leave this on a happy note--or maybe more like a tickled note...Hillary Smith relayed a story to me about a PIGU at her colony that her team likes to call "Nervous Nelly". NN will often sit nervously and hold a fish for the entire survey hour. It also makes many attempts to deliver, only to abort time and again, once even dropping the fish. Fortunately, Nelly has a mate that gets the job done. The last time Hillary went out to observe her colony, Nelly was holding a snake prickleback, and eventually, another PIGU stole the fish and ate it! At least it didn't go to waste. Perhaps this is a first time PIGU parent who is still getting the hang of things? If only we knew! :)
So, let's leave this on a happy note--or maybe more like a tickled note...Hillary Smith relayed a story to me about a PIGU at her colony that her team likes to call "Nervous Nelly". NN will often sit nervously and hold a fish for the entire survey hour. It also makes many attempts to deliver, only to abort time and again, once even dropping the fish. Fortunately, Nelly has a mate that gets the job done. The last time Hillary went out to observe her colony, Nelly was holding a snake prickleback, and eventually, another PIGU stole the fish and ate it! At least it didn't go to waste. Perhaps this is a first time PIGU parent who is still getting the hang of things? If only we knew! :)
And did you know that PIGU will eat crabs? Yep, got to get a little crunchy snack from time to time. :)
I hope you all are well! You know what to do if you have a fun or interesting story to tell...send it my way!
Take care,
Shannon
Take care,
Shannon
Week 10: 08/04/2024 - 08/10/2024
Week 10--how is this possible? As usual, I am taken aback by how quickly we reach our slow down point. There's always this rush of a feeling as we start the season and reconnect with our PIGU and then another one as we see the first fish deliveries start rolling in. That these little chicks can grow and be seaworthy within 35-42 days is quite amazing!
I'll be curious to hear how many colonies will close down after this week. Have there been any more fledgling sightings? I actually saw a fledgling/juvenile yesterday evening fishing at the mouth of Henderson Inlet. It made me happy to see that little one bobbing and diving and doing its thing (too bad I didn't have my camera handy!).
We've had some unfortunate news from the Whidbey Island Double Bluff colony this last week. Two deceased chicks were found at different times down on the beach--one by the survey team as they were checking at the base of the bluffs, and one by COASST volunteers who came across what appeared to be a predation event. It is heartbreaking to hear such news, and especially for the team that has been cheering on the parents as they've tended their young. As hard as it is, we learn a lesson about the way of nature and how tough it is to survive out there, even with the best care. Seeing the way the survey team responded, I was reminded of the things that connect us to each other and to the PIGU--our love of the birds and the sea, and our dedication to being good stewards of both. I was also buoyed last night, watching that fledgling--this is all part of the cycle and it will continue.
The timing of finding the chicks was interesting as well. Just last Thursday, WDFW Wildlife Veterinarian, Katie Haman, met with us to talk about Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and what to do if we come across deceased or sick birds. This presentation came to be because a PIGU chick and sick PIGU were found (in different regions) earlier in the season--and the question was asked, what should we do? I don't know what it means that we've lost three chicks and one adult in one season, but again, we know these things happen. That fact that we're there out on the beach and being observant means that we have an opportunity to help solve some of these mysteries. If you missed Katie's presentation, you can find it on our website, here: http://www.pigeonguillemot.org/dead-or-sick-birds-on-the-beach.html
I will keep the update short this week--I'll admit, like some of our colonies already, it was a bit of a quiet one! Thank you all for so diligently supporting your surveyors and colony leads throughout the season! I hope to see many of you in the Zoom Wednesday afternoon!
Here are some pics from Amsterdam Bay last week (by me!):
Week 10--how is this possible? As usual, I am taken aback by how quickly we reach our slow down point. There's always this rush of a feeling as we start the season and reconnect with our PIGU and then another one as we see the first fish deliveries start rolling in. That these little chicks can grow and be seaworthy within 35-42 days is quite amazing!
I'll be curious to hear how many colonies will close down after this week. Have there been any more fledgling sightings? I actually saw a fledgling/juvenile yesterday evening fishing at the mouth of Henderson Inlet. It made me happy to see that little one bobbing and diving and doing its thing (too bad I didn't have my camera handy!).
We've had some unfortunate news from the Whidbey Island Double Bluff colony this last week. Two deceased chicks were found at different times down on the beach--one by the survey team as they were checking at the base of the bluffs, and one by COASST volunteers who came across what appeared to be a predation event. It is heartbreaking to hear such news, and especially for the team that has been cheering on the parents as they've tended their young. As hard as it is, we learn a lesson about the way of nature and how tough it is to survive out there, even with the best care. Seeing the way the survey team responded, I was reminded of the things that connect us to each other and to the PIGU--our love of the birds and the sea, and our dedication to being good stewards of both. I was also buoyed last night, watching that fledgling--this is all part of the cycle and it will continue.
The timing of finding the chicks was interesting as well. Just last Thursday, WDFW Wildlife Veterinarian, Katie Haman, met with us to talk about Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and what to do if we come across deceased or sick birds. This presentation came to be because a PIGU chick and sick PIGU were found (in different regions) earlier in the season--and the question was asked, what should we do? I don't know what it means that we've lost three chicks and one adult in one season, but again, we know these things happen. That fact that we're there out on the beach and being observant means that we have an opportunity to help solve some of these mysteries. If you missed Katie's presentation, you can find it on our website, here: http://www.pigeonguillemot.org/dead-or-sick-birds-on-the-beach.html
I will keep the update short this week--I'll admit, like some of our colonies already, it was a bit of a quiet one! Thank you all for so diligently supporting your surveyors and colony leads throughout the season! I hope to see many of you in the Zoom Wednesday afternoon!
Here are some pics from Amsterdam Bay last week (by me!):
Still diligently feeding gunnels!
Any fish down here?
Resident summer non-breeding PIGU
Take care and enjoy these last few weeks with your PGs before they float away for the "winter"!
Shannon
Shannon
Week 9: 07/28/2024 - 08/03/2024
Hello SGGN!
In Week 9, we bid farewell to July and say hello to August. This next month will see most colonies close down for the season, and in fact for some, weeks 9 and 10 will be the last two of surveying. So let's start off the update with a few words about closing down colonies.
According to our protocol, we need to survey for a minimum of 10 weeks. We say minimum because you may close down after 10 weeks only if you've observed two consecutive weeks of no activity at your colony. If in week 9 you still observe evidence of breeding activities, continue surveying until you have those 2 weeks of no activity behind you. This means if you see any of the following, keep on keeping on!
Speaking of chicks in burrows, Lac Pope spied a chick who appeared to be building up confidence to take its leap into the world! You can imagine I gave out a squee when I saw these incredible photos. These are from the Rolling Hills Colony on Whidbey Island. Thank you for sharing, Lac!
Hello SGGN!
In Week 9, we bid farewell to July and say hello to August. This next month will see most colonies close down for the season, and in fact for some, weeks 9 and 10 will be the last two of surveying. So let's start off the update with a few words about closing down colonies.
According to our protocol, we need to survey for a minimum of 10 weeks. We say minimum because you may close down after 10 weeks only if you've observed two consecutive weeks of no activity at your colony. If in week 9 you still observe evidence of breeding activities, continue surveying until you have those 2 weeks of no activity behind you. This means if you see any of the following, keep on keeping on!
- Burrow visits of any kind or ledge sitting
- Groups of PIGU still congregating and socializing in front of the bluff
- PIGU on the water holding fish (even if they don't deliver)
- Visual confirmation of chick(s) in the burrow
Speaking of chicks in burrows, Lac Pope spied a chick who appeared to be building up confidence to take its leap into the world! You can imagine I gave out a squee when I saw these incredible photos. These are from the Rolling Hills Colony on Whidbey Island. Thank you for sharing, Lac!
If you're hoping to catch a chick fledge, know that they usually do so in the evening under the cover of dusk or dark. In a study done on Alcatraz, by Victoria Seher, cameras were used to observe all breeding activity, including chicks fledging! It was found that 73% of chicks fledged in the evening, sometime between 8:00-10:00pm. The remaining chicks fledged in the very early morning. At the time of fledging, none of the parent PIGU were present. In fact, in most cases the parents returned in the morning with prey to find the burrows empty.
PIGU chicks can swim and catch fish for themselves as soon as they're safe on the water. They can't fly, however, and tend to drift and swim with the tides and currents for the first 2-3 weeks. There have been very few reports of PIGU chicks begging from adults on the water, but most of the time they seem to simply float away from the colony shortly after leaving the burrow.
Here is the bibliography reference to the Alcatraz study, in case you'd like to read more. By using cameras, Ms. Seher was able to collect some amazingly detailed data that we aren't able to gather from down on the beach!
PIGU chicks can swim and catch fish for themselves as soon as they're safe on the water. They can't fly, however, and tend to drift and swim with the tides and currents for the first 2-3 weeks. There have been very few reports of PIGU chicks begging from adults on the water, but most of the time they seem to simply float away from the colony shortly after leaving the burrow.
Here is the bibliography reference to the Alcatraz study, in case you'd like to read more. By using cameras, Ms. Seher was able to collect some amazingly detailed data that we aren't able to gather from down on the beach!
- Sehrer, V. (2016). Breeding Ecology of Pigeon Guillemots (Cepphus Columba) on Alcatraz Island, California (pp. 1–72). https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/downloads/41687k16j
She also caught some of the cool color variations we sometimes see in gunnels destined for the mouths of chicks--red and green!
And just a reminder, if you haven't already, don't forget to send me your colony team selfies and videos! Our season is winding down, and I'd love to have as many colonies submit photos as possible, before everything wraps up.
That's it for now! Here's to a wonderful week ahead!
Shannon
That's it for now! Here's to a wonderful week ahead!
Shannon
Week 8: 07/21/2024 - 07/27/2024
Happy Sunday, all!
As we enter week 8, I find myself wondering whether we might see any fledglings drifting along with the tides and currents this week? I decided to look back to last season, and found it was indeed this same survey week that the first fledglings were spotted. It's amazing to think some PIGU may have successfully completed a full reproductive cycle already, having carefully tended eggs for four weeks, and dutifully fed their offspring for five to six!
How will you know if you see a fledgling?
Fledgling or juvenile PIGU have been described as having darker upper parts, especially on the face and crown. Their bodies show mottling and they have indistinct wing patches. Their overall color appears more brown than black, with white chin and underparts.
In our experience, fledglings are a bit elusive, so many surveyors may not see them at all. But around this time, most adult PIGU are still in breeding plumage, so if one is spotted that fits the description above, there's a good chance it's a fledgling. As adult PIGU start to molt into their non-breeding plumage, it may become trickier to tell the two apart, but the indistinct wing patch is a good tell for a juvenile or immature PIGU.
Here are some photos of chicks/fledglings from years past:
Happy Sunday, all!
As we enter week 8, I find myself wondering whether we might see any fledglings drifting along with the tides and currents this week? I decided to look back to last season, and found it was indeed this same survey week that the first fledglings were spotted. It's amazing to think some PIGU may have successfully completed a full reproductive cycle already, having carefully tended eggs for four weeks, and dutifully fed their offspring for five to six!
How will you know if you see a fledgling?
Fledgling or juvenile PIGU have been described as having darker upper parts, especially on the face and crown. Their bodies show mottling and they have indistinct wing patches. Their overall color appears more brown than black, with white chin and underparts.
In our experience, fledglings are a bit elusive, so many surveyors may not see them at all. But around this time, most adult PIGU are still in breeding plumage, so if one is spotted that fits the description above, there's a good chance it's a fledgling. As adult PIGU start to molt into their non-breeding plumage, it may become trickier to tell the two apart, but the indistinct wing patch is a good tell for a juvenile or immature PIGU.
Here are some photos of chicks/fledglings from years past:
PIGU Chick in a burrow, by Hillary Smith
Presumed fledgling, by Shannon Boldt (heavily cropped)
Chick in a burrow, by Govinda Holtby
If anyone suspects they've captured a fledgling in a photo, please send it along! It would be wonderful to have some pics of this year's young to share.
Considering that chicks may be fledging soon, folks might expect to see a few different behaviors from their PIGU. Some may be feeding away, with prey getting seemingly larger (do you ever find yourself asking, "the chick is going to eat THAT??"). One might also witness crazy bluff interactions, with many PIGU flying at the bluff repeatedly, doing "touch and gos", making brief no prey visits, and generally causing your head to spin! If chicks have fledged however, it's also possible that there will be a very dramatic and sudden drop in activity at the colony altogether.
If you still haven't observed any prey deliveries to this point, don't give up! I know it can be hard to sit at a sleepy colony for 10 weeks, but thank you for sticking it out. You just never know when a late burrow will become active, and if you stop short, you might miss it! I myself once surveyed a colony that had no burrow visits until week 10, when we saw our first prey to burrow--and we ended up continuing to see deliveries through Week 13!! It can happen. :)
End of Season Planning - Photo and Video Call
I am starting preparations for our End of Season Event and would love to receive as many colony team selfies as I can. Please send me a selfie of your team with your colony in the background. I welcome video selfies and fun PIGU photos too! Let's see how many colonies and regions we can represent at the EoS Celebration!
Site Visits
Week 7 was an adventurous one for me! I was fortunate to travel north to make two regional site visits. The first was to the Portage Colony on lovely Vashon Island, where I met with Regional Lead, Taylor Umetsu, of the Vashon Nature Center. Two days later I headed up to beautiful Bainbridge Island to tour the Rolling Bay colony with my host, surveyor Demi Allen, and fellow surveyor and photog, Sue Larkin. It was fun to experience both colonies and their landscapes (and views!!) and see how each is unique. At Rolling Bay, it was as if the PIGU were on cue--one flew right over our heads to deliver a gunnel to a new burrow. A chick's gotta eat! Huge thanks to Taylor, Demi, and Sue for taking the time out to show me around and introduce me to their colonies!!
Considering that chicks may be fledging soon, folks might expect to see a few different behaviors from their PIGU. Some may be feeding away, with prey getting seemingly larger (do you ever find yourself asking, "the chick is going to eat THAT??"). One might also witness crazy bluff interactions, with many PIGU flying at the bluff repeatedly, doing "touch and gos", making brief no prey visits, and generally causing your head to spin! If chicks have fledged however, it's also possible that there will be a very dramatic and sudden drop in activity at the colony altogether.
If you still haven't observed any prey deliveries to this point, don't give up! I know it can be hard to sit at a sleepy colony for 10 weeks, but thank you for sticking it out. You just never know when a late burrow will become active, and if you stop short, you might miss it! I myself once surveyed a colony that had no burrow visits until week 10, when we saw our first prey to burrow--and we ended up continuing to see deliveries through Week 13!! It can happen. :)
End of Season Planning - Photo and Video Call
I am starting preparations for our End of Season Event and would love to receive as many colony team selfies as I can. Please send me a selfie of your team with your colony in the background. I welcome video selfies and fun PIGU photos too! Let's see how many colonies and regions we can represent at the EoS Celebration!
Site Visits
Week 7 was an adventurous one for me! I was fortunate to travel north to make two regional site visits. The first was to the Portage Colony on lovely Vashon Island, where I met with Regional Lead, Taylor Umetsu, of the Vashon Nature Center. Two days later I headed up to beautiful Bainbridge Island to tour the Rolling Bay colony with my host, surveyor Demi Allen, and fellow surveyor and photog, Sue Larkin. It was fun to experience both colonies and their landscapes (and views!!) and see how each is unique. At Rolling Bay, it was as if the PIGU were on cue--one flew right over our heads to deliver a gunnel to a new burrow. A chick's gotta eat! Huge thanks to Taylor, Demi, and Sue for taking the time out to show me around and introduce me to their colonies!!
Portage Colony on Vashon Island
Rolling Bay Bluff on Bainbridge Island
I have lots of pics and a couple of videos that were shared with me last week...
It may have been too foggy for Lac Pope to take photos at Hastie Lake, but his granddaughter came through with her vibrant rendition of a PIGU. I think an eye for birds must run in the family!
It may have been too foggy for Lac Pope to take photos at Hastie Lake, but his granddaughter came through with her vibrant rendition of a PIGU. I think an eye for birds must run in the family!
Here's a peek at the Fort Casey North survey team and their PIGU (Whidbey Island)! These photos were taken by Hillary Smith while she was tagging along with them last week.
A PIGU at Edgewater Beach in the South Sound got vocal following a prey delivery! According to surveyors, this is normal behavior for the pair at burrow B6. I wish we knew what exactly they're saying! Video by Melinda Wood.
Finally, what we all dream of experiencing on a survey...an orca sighting! This was filmed following a survey at Sandy Point on Anderson Island (South Sound) by Erin Arzola-Davis! Good thing the survey was over--it might have been hard to watch the birds otherwise!
I hope you all have an awesome week! Enjoy the wonders of the birds, the beach, and all that each new day brings.
Thank you for your continued dedication to our PIGU Breeding Survey!
Shannon
Thank you for your continued dedication to our PIGU Breeding Survey!
Shannon
Week 7: 07/14/2024 - 07/20/2024
Hello SSGN and happy Week 7!
I hope everyone fared well last week in the intense heat, including our PIGU! According to the data submitted, the heat did not stop prey deliveries. It was another busy week of provisioning, with 81 observed deliveries documented so far. I expect we'll see a steady stream at many colonies through the next two weeks, although some may notice a slowdown. The literature has the age of PIGU chick fledging ranging between 36-41 days of age, so it's possible that this will start happening in the next week, if it hasn't already, at the earliest of colonies.
To follow up on some of the open items from our last meeting, I have placed the revised PIGU Counting Strategies and Guideline and PIGU Counting Graphic on our website in the Survey Toolbox. Give them a look and if you have any questions, feel free to reach out!
http://www.pigeonguillemot.org/survey-toolbox---main-page.html
I have also come up with an idea for our End of Season Celebration that I think could be fun to try this year. I would like to make a video montage of photos and videos from as many different colonies as possible. My idea is to get a photo or selfie of each colony team with their colony bluff or structure in the background. I would love it if some teams decide to make a quick video selfie of their team and bluff or a quick video of something interesting on their beach/bluff. I can also intermix fun PIGU photos or other short video clips from the season. This will take the place of regional check-ins this year. For folks who would still really like to share a story, we can have a sort of open mic at the end of the evening with any extra time. Please send submissions to me at [email protected].
In other news, the South Sound region was featured in the Thurston County online newspaper, The Jolt, this last week! I should note that I did not assist the author, George Walter, in writing the piece, but I did provide him with photos of South Sound PIGU. I was really appreciative that George wanted to feature our PIGU survey as an example of a citizen science success story and bring awareness to our community. You can read his article here: https://www.thejoltnews.com/stories/our-marine-neighbors-pigeon-guillemots,16317?inf_contact_key=5c007be8d5a2ae6efd1a48b57c6cfca309c74070ac2bf3cfa7869e3cfd4ff832
I'll leave you today with some wonderful photos from the Rolling Bay Colony on Bainbridge Island, sent to me by photographer and surveyor, Sue Larkin. I love how these showcase a spectrum of PIGU aerial abilities, especially in the second photo! How did that little guy get completely upside down?? :D And how gorgeous is that first photo? Even with the presence of human constructs in the background, the beauty in nature is so evident. It calls to mind how important it is that we continue to monitor these special birds.
Hello SSGN and happy Week 7!
I hope everyone fared well last week in the intense heat, including our PIGU! According to the data submitted, the heat did not stop prey deliveries. It was another busy week of provisioning, with 81 observed deliveries documented so far. I expect we'll see a steady stream at many colonies through the next two weeks, although some may notice a slowdown. The literature has the age of PIGU chick fledging ranging between 36-41 days of age, so it's possible that this will start happening in the next week, if it hasn't already, at the earliest of colonies.
To follow up on some of the open items from our last meeting, I have placed the revised PIGU Counting Strategies and Guideline and PIGU Counting Graphic on our website in the Survey Toolbox. Give them a look and if you have any questions, feel free to reach out!
http://www.pigeonguillemot.org/survey-toolbox---main-page.html
I have also come up with an idea for our End of Season Celebration that I think could be fun to try this year. I would like to make a video montage of photos and videos from as many different colonies as possible. My idea is to get a photo or selfie of each colony team with their colony bluff or structure in the background. I would love it if some teams decide to make a quick video selfie of their team and bluff or a quick video of something interesting on their beach/bluff. I can also intermix fun PIGU photos or other short video clips from the season. This will take the place of regional check-ins this year. For folks who would still really like to share a story, we can have a sort of open mic at the end of the evening with any extra time. Please send submissions to me at [email protected].
In other news, the South Sound region was featured in the Thurston County online newspaper, The Jolt, this last week! I should note that I did not assist the author, George Walter, in writing the piece, but I did provide him with photos of South Sound PIGU. I was really appreciative that George wanted to feature our PIGU survey as an example of a citizen science success story and bring awareness to our community. You can read his article here: https://www.thejoltnews.com/stories/our-marine-neighbors-pigeon-guillemots,16317?inf_contact_key=5c007be8d5a2ae6efd1a48b57c6cfca309c74070ac2bf3cfa7869e3cfd4ff832
I'll leave you today with some wonderful photos from the Rolling Bay Colony on Bainbridge Island, sent to me by photographer and surveyor, Sue Larkin. I love how these showcase a spectrum of PIGU aerial abilities, especially in the second photo! How did that little guy get completely upside down?? :D And how gorgeous is that first photo? Even with the presence of human constructs in the background, the beauty in nature is so evident. It calls to mind how important it is that we continue to monitor these special birds.
Wishing you all blissful mornings out on the beach with the PIGU!
Shannon
Shannon
Week 6: 07/07/2024 - 07/13/2024
It's a beautiful, if toasty Sunday, and I hope everyone stays cool this 6th week of our PIGU Breeding Survey! If the tides allow, you may want to consider surveying a bit earlier than usual to beat the heat. In any case, be sure to wear your hats and sunscreen!!
I was just taking a peek at this week's data, and we are squarely in the high season. So far, we are up to 167 prey deliveries overall--that's 114 gunnels/pricklebacks, 41 sculpin, and 12 "others". This is not a competition of course, but in case you were wondering...the colony with the highest number of chick burrows (burrows with prey deliveries), is Discovery Bay - Tukey (East Jefferson), with 11! That must be a head spinner! The colonies observing the highest number of fish deliveries for one burrow are Fort Casey and Langley Marina (both on Whidbey), with 7. There are a few colonies that have seen four weeks of deliveries now, so it's possible that chicks will be fledging soon, but most still have a few weeks left, and some are just starting up or still have yet to become active.
I'm curious, has anyone witnessed prey other than gunnel and sculpin, that you were able to identify? Let me know if you've seen something interesting or unusual out there!
Here are a few shots of PIGU with prey during week 5:
It's a beautiful, if toasty Sunday, and I hope everyone stays cool this 6th week of our PIGU Breeding Survey! If the tides allow, you may want to consider surveying a bit earlier than usual to beat the heat. In any case, be sure to wear your hats and sunscreen!!
I was just taking a peek at this week's data, and we are squarely in the high season. So far, we are up to 167 prey deliveries overall--that's 114 gunnels/pricklebacks, 41 sculpin, and 12 "others". This is not a competition of course, but in case you were wondering...the colony with the highest number of chick burrows (burrows with prey deliveries), is Discovery Bay - Tukey (East Jefferson), with 11! That must be a head spinner! The colonies observing the highest number of fish deliveries for one burrow are Fort Casey and Langley Marina (both on Whidbey), with 7. There are a few colonies that have seen four weeks of deliveries now, so it's possible that chicks will be fledging soon, but most still have a few weeks left, and some are just starting up or still have yet to become active.
I'm curious, has anyone witnessed prey other than gunnel and sculpin, that you were able to identify? Let me know if you've seen something interesting or unusual out there!
Here are a few shots of PIGU with prey during week 5:
Seeing double! Two Snake Pricklebacks out for delivery at Isthmus Beach!
Order up! One Gunnel and one Snake Prickleback at Amsterdam Bay.
Here is a closer pic of that same Pacific Snake Prickleback. Can you spot the difference? PSPs have horizontal dashes running down their midline and an obvious white belly patch. They are also a bit beefier around than gunnels, which tend to look more like slender ribbons.
Don't worry if it isn't obvious to you--we record SPs in the gunnel category since id'ing them can be a bit tricky. I just think it's fun to note the different species, when it's possible. I often put an (P) next to the delivery time when I'm sure I'm seeing a snake prickleback in the mouth.
On a sad note, Mary Bond found a dead PIGU chick on the beach following her survey at Discovery Bay, so I thought it good to revisit the topic of what to do when something like this happens. We generally don't want folks handling dead birds unless they have been trained in how to do it safely, have the right supplies, and if it's been requested by a state agency. For now, I would say, report your findings to WDFW (https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/1550804e5fd743668049e06d5ad8836a ) and leave the bird on the beach. I have reached out to a WDFW wildlife veterinarian for additional guidance, so if I hear differently, I will pass that info. along.
And now I want to share a very interesting disturbance observed by Lee Badovinus and team at Malmo Bluff. Lee said, "During the Malmo Bluff survey, an orca pod passed by Admiralty Inlet directly offshore. The guillemots moved close to the shoreline in a way that was obviously due to the presence of orcas. In fact, the bird count was 31 and 34 before the orcas at 8:04 and 55 at 8:30 when the birds moved inshore and stayed there until the end of the survey." Just when you think you've seen it all! So the question was, does this count as a disturbance when the guillemots actually move inshore? The answer is, yes. This may be a different response pattern than we're used to, but any event that causes the birds to change their behavior, is still a disturbance (and must have been pretty exciting to witness)!
On the topic of disturbances, I asked Cathi Bower for some close-ups of the sketches from her poster that I shared last week. No surprise that Mr. and Mrs. Eagle are the stars of the disturbance scene! These really are delightful, and I'd love for you all to read the text she's written!
On a sad note, Mary Bond found a dead PIGU chick on the beach following her survey at Discovery Bay, so I thought it good to revisit the topic of what to do when something like this happens. We generally don't want folks handling dead birds unless they have been trained in how to do it safely, have the right supplies, and if it's been requested by a state agency. For now, I would say, report your findings to WDFW (https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/1550804e5fd743668049e06d5ad8836a ) and leave the bird on the beach. I have reached out to a WDFW wildlife veterinarian for additional guidance, so if I hear differently, I will pass that info. along.
And now I want to share a very interesting disturbance observed by Lee Badovinus and team at Malmo Bluff. Lee said, "During the Malmo Bluff survey, an orca pod passed by Admiralty Inlet directly offshore. The guillemots moved close to the shoreline in a way that was obviously due to the presence of orcas. In fact, the bird count was 31 and 34 before the orcas at 8:04 and 55 at 8:30 when the birds moved inshore and stayed there until the end of the survey." Just when you think you've seen it all! So the question was, does this count as a disturbance when the guillemots actually move inshore? The answer is, yes. This may be a different response pattern than we're used to, but any event that causes the birds to change their behavior, is still a disturbance (and must have been pretty exciting to witness)!
On the topic of disturbances, I asked Cathi Bower for some close-ups of the sketches from her poster that I shared last week. No surprise that Mr. and Mrs. Eagle are the stars of the disturbance scene! These really are delightful, and I'd love for you all to read the text she's written!
I also want to pass along a fun musing that she shared. Cathi relayed to me the moment she realized why it's a good thing to have two surveyors present on survey, even at a small colony. She shared, "The tide was really far out, so there wasn’t a lot of action – easy to get distracted. But we had two deliveries and I missed them both! Arg. The first time I hadn’t even seen anyone sitting with prey, and then suddenly a bug flew in my eye and I was trying to rinse it out, but that’s just when Louie saw a quick delivery. Then a few minutes later, I was talking with the regular gal who walks her dogs down there for just a minute as she was going by, and a bird went into the same burrow right behind us. I then checked back for the prey sitter on the water, and Louie said it had gone in!" I couldn't help but chuckly at the thought-- I think we've all been there before! And I agree with Cathi, two surveyors are always better than one!
Finally, I'm continually amazed by the creativity of our surveyors and how they use it to show their love of PIGU! Maria Ruth sent me this photo of a gorgeous PIGU pie baked up by Melinda Wood, one of the surveyors on her Edgewater Beach team (South Sound), with rhubarb from the garden of another team member. It looks almost too beautiful to eat! All I can say is, yum! I hope they saved me a slice!
Finally, I'm continually amazed by the creativity of our surveyors and how they use it to show their love of PIGU! Maria Ruth sent me this photo of a gorgeous PIGU pie baked up by Melinda Wood, one of the surveyors on her Edgewater Beach team (South Sound), with rhubarb from the garden of another team member. It looks almost too beautiful to eat! All I can say is, yum! I hope they saved me a slice!
This was a bit of a long update, but I hope you enjoyed it!
Take care, all, and soak in every minute of those peaceful mornings out on the beach with the PIGU!
Shannon
Take care, all, and soak in every minute of those peaceful mornings out on the beach with the PIGU!
Shannon
Week 5: 06/30/2024 - 07/06/2024
Happy Monday, all!
Week 4 was such an eventful one, I don't know where to begin!
The highlight of the week had to be the wonderful Guillemot Appreciation Day Celebration put on by the Whidbey Survey Coordinators. Huge kudos to them for planning and hosting this awesome get together for all of us. I lost count, but the Ott and Hunter Wine Tasting Room was packed full of folks connected by their dedication to monitoring our lovable PIGU! In addition to Whidbey, surveyors came from East Jefferson, Kitsap-Bainbridge, and South Sound (myself!). We were treated to fabulous food, fun PIGU crafts (red PIGU feet!), a PIGU sing along, and a heartwarming video. Smiles and laughter abounded. I have so many photos to share that I've created a special section in the "Current Happenings" on our website just for this event. I'll also be posting the lyrics to the Pigeon Guillemot song written by Whidbey's Frances Vandal, along with a vid of us singing it in our loveliest voices. :D
Week 4 was such an eventful one, I don't know where to begin!
The highlight of the week had to be the wonderful Guillemot Appreciation Day Celebration put on by the Whidbey Survey Coordinators. Huge kudos to them for planning and hosting this awesome get together for all of us. I lost count, but the Ott and Hunter Wine Tasting Room was packed full of folks connected by their dedication to monitoring our lovable PIGU! In addition to Whidbey, surveyors came from East Jefferson, Kitsap-Bainbridge, and South Sound (myself!). We were treated to fabulous food, fun PIGU crafts (red PIGU feet!), a PIGU sing along, and a heartwarming video. Smiles and laughter abounded. I have so many photos to share that I've created a special section in the "Current Happenings" on our website just for this event. I'll also be posting the lyrics to the Pigeon Guillemot song written by Whidbey's Frances Vandal, along with a vid of us singing it in our loveliest voices. :D
Singing the Pigeon Guillemot Song. Photo by Govinda Holtby
I am excited to share with you this incredible poster that Cathi Bower made for the GAD Celebration. What I love about this is that it encourages us to think about other creative ways to express those things we observe and experience during our surveys and turn them into fun art and stories. This would also be a fabulous way to get out any musings or other observations you may have during the survey hour that don't fit in the notes section. We can get started by using tools such as Poetry of Place, Questioning Questions, Comparisons, Making a Diagram, and Soundscape Maps. If any of you already do this, I would love to see what you've made--if you're up for sharing! :) Thank you so much, Cathi, this is a treasure!!
Photo by Cathi Bower
I also have some fun news to share from the Fort Worden Pier in East Jefferson County. Lindsay reported that she and Amber took kayaks out to see what the PIGU were doing under the pier and found that two have shown interest in one of the old WDFW nest boxes, with one even caught sitting inside the box! We are hopeful that the PIGU will make good use of the boxes and produce some chicks this season! I can imagine how exciting it was for Lindsay and Amber to make that discovery last week. :D
Photo by Lindsay Kotzebue
And, in the South Sound, we had not one, but two PIGU in non-breeding plumage at Amsterdam Bay last week. One appears to be in transition, so perhaps this colony just has a tendency for late bloomers!
Photo by Shannon Boldt
One last thing before I go, I was speaking with some folks about an Oregon State Univ. PIGU nest box live stream and promised to share the link. Unfortunately, I don't know that it is supported any longer, but I did find this live cam in a Black Guillemot's burrow in Maine. Enjoy!
https://explore.org/livecams/national-audubon-society/guillemot-cam
Have a wonderful week out there, Guillemoteers!!
Shannon
https://explore.org/livecams/national-audubon-society/guillemot-cam
Have a wonderful week out there, Guillemoteers!!
Shannon
Week 4: 06/23/2024 - 06/29/2024
In a blink, we've found ourselves in Week 4 already! I'm always amazed at how quickly the season seems to fly following our kick-off. I hope you all had a wonderful week and didn't get too cooked out there in the sun.
It looks like prey deliveries are starting to ramp up across the regions! We now have 8 colonies with fish going to burrows! As usual, gunnels appear to be the preferred choice. I've also read further reports of PIGU holding fish and eating them--perhaps this is more common than we realized!
I imagine others of us are still experiencing somewhat "sleepy" colonies while PIGU are hunkered down, incubating eggs--I know I am. Hillary Smith shared with me that Isthmus Beach on Indian Island was quiet this week. She went back later with her camera and got photo evidence that the PGs are indeed sitting quietly in their burrows! Thank you for sharing, Hillary!
It looks like prey deliveries are starting to ramp up across the regions! We now have 8 colonies with fish going to burrows! As usual, gunnels appear to be the preferred choice. I've also read further reports of PIGU holding fish and eating them--perhaps this is more common than we realized!
I imagine others of us are still experiencing somewhat "sleepy" colonies while PIGU are hunkered down, incubating eggs--I know I am. Hillary Smith shared with me that Isthmus Beach on Indian Island was quiet this week. She went back later with her camera and got photo evidence that the PGs are indeed sitting quietly in their burrows! Thank you for sharing, Hillary!
I had an interesting occurrence happen at my Amsterdam Bay Colony in South Sound last week--a PIGU in full non-breeding plumage was present and floating around with the others. While this is unusual, we've seen it before in the South Sound, and particularly at this colony. We've had birds (sometimes 2!) in non-breeding plumage here throughout the summer over the last 4-5 seasons. We were actually just wondering when one would show up, and viola, it finally graced us in Week 3. :D Has anyone else observed this during the breeding season before? We can't say for sure why this happens, especially at the same colony every year, but we're guessing they are either not yet sexually mature or for whatever reason missed going into their breeding plumage/breeding cycle. It's a curious situation for sure!
And last but not least, don't forget that our International Guillemot Appreciation Day Celebration is this Friday (the 28th) at the Ott and Hunter Winery in Langley, from 3:00-5:00pm. We sure hope to see many of you there!!
Have a fabulous and fun-filled week!
Shannon
Have a fabulous and fun-filled week!
Shannon
Week 3: 06/16/2024 - 06/22/2024
Happy Week 3 SSGN!
It's the middle of June, and while the weather still isn't sure what it wants to do, our PIGU know exactly what to do! I have received so many amazing photos and even videos of PIGU exhibiting socialization, aggression, courtship, and breeding behavior. From the looks of it, chicks are on the way! :D For those observing copulation over the last two weeks, if the breeding attempts were successful, you could see prey deliveries in the next 3-4 weeks.
Here is a video sent in by Steve Koehler, taken at his Dungeness Spit Colony. Up in Clallam County, PIGU have to contend with rolling waves--but that doesn't stop them! (Graphic PIGU content ;)).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri9po6o9UCM
Some colonies are ahead of the game, however. I took a peek at the data, and Week two saw the first prey deliveries--at Rolling Hills on Whidbey Island, and San Juan County Park on San Juan Island! PIGU chicks fledge sometime around 35 days of age, so we would expect to see prey deliveries for at least 4-5 weeks, assuming we catch the first week of provisioning and the chicks survive to fledge.
Lindsay and Amber up at the Fort Worden Pier saw PIGU holding gunnels on the water, but instead of delivering them to burrows, they gulped them down themselves! Yes, that does happen from time to time! Here is one PIGU with a mouthful:
It's the middle of June, and while the weather still isn't sure what it wants to do, our PIGU know exactly what to do! I have received so many amazing photos and even videos of PIGU exhibiting socialization, aggression, courtship, and breeding behavior. From the looks of it, chicks are on the way! :D For those observing copulation over the last two weeks, if the breeding attempts were successful, you could see prey deliveries in the next 3-4 weeks.
Here is a video sent in by Steve Koehler, taken at his Dungeness Spit Colony. Up in Clallam County, PIGU have to contend with rolling waves--but that doesn't stop them! (Graphic PIGU content ;)).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri9po6o9UCM
Some colonies are ahead of the game, however. I took a peek at the data, and Week two saw the first prey deliveries--at Rolling Hills on Whidbey Island, and San Juan County Park on San Juan Island! PIGU chicks fledge sometime around 35 days of age, so we would expect to see prey deliveries for at least 4-5 weeks, assuming we catch the first week of provisioning and the chicks survive to fledge.
Lindsay and Amber up at the Fort Worden Pier saw PIGU holding gunnels on the water, but instead of delivering them to burrows, they gulped them down themselves! Yes, that does happen from time to time! Here is one PIGU with a mouthful:
Gulp!!
Lac Pope sent a beautiful photo sequence of PIGU playing "King of the Hill" at Hastie Lake on Whidbey. Such classic guillemot behavior--one of the many reasons we so love to watch them!
Winner!
Thank you to everyone who has entered their data already! It really does help us to get a handle on what's going on across the regions and get a feel for how surveys are coming along.
Just a reminder that we are less than two weeks away from the annual International Guillemot Appreciation Day Celebration, put on by the Whidbey Coordination Team. This fun PIGU party will be held at the Ott and Hunter Winery in Langley on Friday, June 28th from 3-5pm. There will be PIGU themed food and the good company of dedicated PIGU lovers from around the Salish Sea. We hope to see many of you there!
Also, I am working on website updates--if there's anything you'd like to see or think can be improved, just let me know! I'm already thinking about the new Data page and eyeing the photo gallery. I would love to show more regional representation in the photos, and luckily, I've gotten enough recently to give me a good start! Please keep 'em coming!
I'll leave you with one last pic from Taylor Umetsu from the Portage Colony on Vashon Island:
Just a reminder that we are less than two weeks away from the annual International Guillemot Appreciation Day Celebration, put on by the Whidbey Coordination Team. This fun PIGU party will be held at the Ott and Hunter Winery in Langley on Friday, June 28th from 3-5pm. There will be PIGU themed food and the good company of dedicated PIGU lovers from around the Salish Sea. We hope to see many of you there!
Also, I am working on website updates--if there's anything you'd like to see or think can be improved, just let me know! I'm already thinking about the new Data page and eyeing the photo gallery. I would love to show more regional representation in the photos, and luckily, I've gotten enough recently to give me a good start! Please keep 'em coming!
I'll leave you with one last pic from Taylor Umetsu from the Portage Colony on Vashon Island:
PIGU pair through the spotting scope
Have a wonderful week, all!
Shannon
Shannon
Week 2: 06/09/2024 - 06/15/2024
What a difference a week makes!! We went from gale force winds in Week 1 to beautiful, sunny weather here in Week 2. Whew! Although one could easily argue that every day in the PNW is a beautiful day, it should be decidedly easier to survey with calmer seas. :)
I heard that many of our dedicated surveyors braved the elements Monday and Tuesday, and the stories ranged from cold, wet surveyors in complete misery to surveyors chasing data sheets stolen by the wind! Whatever the case may have been, thank you everyone for heading out and making our season's launch a success!
Also, a huge shout out goes to the folks at COASST (Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team) who found and forwarded along one such lost BDS from our Hood Canal colony--they reminded us that there is strength in collaboration and we're all partners in this! The HC survey team had a good laugh over the circumstances and we were all amazed that the sheet was recovered safely. Thank you, COASST, and thank you Karin and Nancy for sticking out the survey in a wind tunnel! From the sounds of it, the PIGU weren't phased, and continued to do their thing!
A note about PIGU activity in the early season. Every colony is different, and while most surveyors are likely to observe PIGU up close to the bluffs engaging in social and breeding behaviors, such as synchronized flying, billing, water games, ledge sitting, vocalization, copulation, and even prey deliveries, some might still observe an amount of indifference to the bluff or extended periods of quiet. If the colony seems a bit sleepy, it could be that PIGU are busy incubating eggs within the burrows. Then again, some colonies may just take a little longer to start up. So, if you didn't observe much activity in Week 1 as you had hoped (as was the case at my colony), don't despair, things are bound to change with time!
I'm curious, has anyone seen a prey delivery yet? Please let me know when you hear of one! I believe last season, we had our first fish recorded up at the Discovery Bay Colony in East Jefferson County in Week 2. Who will it be this year and what kind of prey will we see??
Dave and I will start our data tracking next week, so make sure to get your data entered in Survey123 within one week of completing your survey. This gives us and regional admins a chance to look over the data, ask questions, and correct any issues while everyone's memories are still fresh. And I know I don't really need to say all of this, because you're already on top of it! Everyone did such a great job last year that I am not worried in the slightest! Our data entry and data systems leads rock!
And without further ado, I did get some fun pics this week from Hillary Smith taken at her Isthmus Beach Colony in East Jefferson County. You could say that the activity there is hopping! Hillary also witnessed both swallows and Belted Kingfishers going in and out of PIGU burrows, which is not uncommon. Although swallows tend to use burrows too small for PIGU, BEFI and PIGU may have some overlap in the size of burrows they choose. In the early season especially, you might witness competition for burrows.
I love the face of the little guy peeking out. :)
I heard that many of our dedicated surveyors braved the elements Monday and Tuesday, and the stories ranged from cold, wet surveyors in complete misery to surveyors chasing data sheets stolen by the wind! Whatever the case may have been, thank you everyone for heading out and making our season's launch a success!
Also, a huge shout out goes to the folks at COASST (Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team) who found and forwarded along one such lost BDS from our Hood Canal colony--they reminded us that there is strength in collaboration and we're all partners in this! The HC survey team had a good laugh over the circumstances and we were all amazed that the sheet was recovered safely. Thank you, COASST, and thank you Karin and Nancy for sticking out the survey in a wind tunnel! From the sounds of it, the PIGU weren't phased, and continued to do their thing!
A note about PIGU activity in the early season. Every colony is different, and while most surveyors are likely to observe PIGU up close to the bluffs engaging in social and breeding behaviors, such as synchronized flying, billing, water games, ledge sitting, vocalization, copulation, and even prey deliveries, some might still observe an amount of indifference to the bluff or extended periods of quiet. If the colony seems a bit sleepy, it could be that PIGU are busy incubating eggs within the burrows. Then again, some colonies may just take a little longer to start up. So, if you didn't observe much activity in Week 1 as you had hoped (as was the case at my colony), don't despair, things are bound to change with time!
I'm curious, has anyone seen a prey delivery yet? Please let me know when you hear of one! I believe last season, we had our first fish recorded up at the Discovery Bay Colony in East Jefferson County in Week 2. Who will it be this year and what kind of prey will we see??
Dave and I will start our data tracking next week, so make sure to get your data entered in Survey123 within one week of completing your survey. This gives us and regional admins a chance to look over the data, ask questions, and correct any issues while everyone's memories are still fresh. And I know I don't really need to say all of this, because you're already on top of it! Everyone did such a great job last year that I am not worried in the slightest! Our data entry and data systems leads rock!
And without further ado, I did get some fun pics this week from Hillary Smith taken at her Isthmus Beach Colony in East Jefferson County. You could say that the activity there is hopping! Hillary also witnessed both swallows and Belted Kingfishers going in and out of PIGU burrows, which is not uncommon. Although swallows tend to use burrows too small for PIGU, BEFI and PIGU may have some overlap in the size of burrows they choose. In the early season especially, you might witness competition for burrows.
I love the face of the little guy peeking out. :)
It IS that time of year!
Enjoy your time out on the beach, all! Take care,
Shannon
Shannon
Week 1: 06/02/2024 - 06/08/2024
Wahoo!! We made it to Week 1, Day 1! Is everybody ready to survey?
First off, a huge thank you to all of our surveyors, regional admins, colony leads, and regional leads for all of the work you've put into getting ready for the season. It's a heavy lift, but everyone has put so much positive energy into getting this off the ground, and it hasn't gone unnoticed!! I hope you're feeling good and excited to get out there and watch the birds!
Has anyone been out at their colonies in the preseason to see what kind of activity is happening? Hillary Smith reported on activity at her Isthmus Beach colony--and I think it's safe to say, she's going to see some prey deliveries soon! She also sent me some fabulous pics. Do you recognize this "hunch whistle"?
First off, a huge thank you to all of our surveyors, regional admins, colony leads, and regional leads for all of the work you've put into getting ready for the season. It's a heavy lift, but everyone has put so much positive energy into getting this off the ground, and it hasn't gone unnoticed!! I hope you're feeling good and excited to get out there and watch the birds!
Has anyone been out at their colonies in the preseason to see what kind of activity is happening? Hillary Smith reported on activity at her Isthmus Beach colony--and I think it's safe to say, she's going to see some prey deliveries soon! She also sent me some fabulous pics. Do you recognize this "hunch whistle"?
I managed to catch some synchronized flying and water games down here in the South Sound! :D
Watching these guys in action never gets old! They may be just following their seasonal instincts, but it's so much fun to witness.
I'd like to encourage everyone to keep in touch and send me any interesting stories, observations, or pics you might have--you never know, they could make the weekly update! I love sharing stories from across the regions. Not only is it fun to hear about everything PIGU, I love that it connects us all as part of a larger group. It's also interesting to experience the unique aspects of each region through pics and anecdotes.
Before I sign out, let's talk about disturbances. I've had a few folks from different regions reach out to clarify, as this aspect of the survey can sometimes feel like a bit of a gray area--so I thought it might be a good topic to address for everyone here. The key to determining what constitutes a disturbance, and therefore an instance you should record on the datasheet, is whether or not the event causes most PIGU to change their behavior (e.g. fleeing from the bluff or nearshore, diving, etc). Sometimes what we perceive as a disturbance doesn't result in a reaction from the PIGU, and in that case, we should not record it as such. The start time of the disturbance is the time at which the birds begin to react, and the end time is the time at which a majority return to normal PIGU behavior. This is a bit subjective, but I think you'll get a pretty good feel just by being in tune with your birds.
If you survey at a long, extended bluff with multiple observation points, a disturbance at one end may not impact the birds at the other. In this case, you can still document a disturbance if most of the birds at your observation point react. On the combined datasheet, this distinction can be added in the disturbance description note. For example, you could record the disturbance start and stop times and a note such as, "Eagle landed in a tree and all birds at site A flew from shore." I hope this helps! If you have any other questions or have a tricky situation come up, feel free to email me, and we can work through it together.
That's all for now! I hope everyone has a wonderful week surveying out there. I can't wait to hear what's happening around the Salish Sea in Week 1!!
~Shannon
P.S. Make sure to save the date for Whidbey's 2024 International Guillemot Appreciation Day Celebration!! All are welcome to attend and we'd love the chance to catch up with folks from across the regions!
I'd like to encourage everyone to keep in touch and send me any interesting stories, observations, or pics you might have--you never know, they could make the weekly update! I love sharing stories from across the regions. Not only is it fun to hear about everything PIGU, I love that it connects us all as part of a larger group. It's also interesting to experience the unique aspects of each region through pics and anecdotes.
Before I sign out, let's talk about disturbances. I've had a few folks from different regions reach out to clarify, as this aspect of the survey can sometimes feel like a bit of a gray area--so I thought it might be a good topic to address for everyone here. The key to determining what constitutes a disturbance, and therefore an instance you should record on the datasheet, is whether or not the event causes most PIGU to change their behavior (e.g. fleeing from the bluff or nearshore, diving, etc). Sometimes what we perceive as a disturbance doesn't result in a reaction from the PIGU, and in that case, we should not record it as such. The start time of the disturbance is the time at which the birds begin to react, and the end time is the time at which a majority return to normal PIGU behavior. This is a bit subjective, but I think you'll get a pretty good feel just by being in tune with your birds.
If you survey at a long, extended bluff with multiple observation points, a disturbance at one end may not impact the birds at the other. In this case, you can still document a disturbance if most of the birds at your observation point react. On the combined datasheet, this distinction can be added in the disturbance description note. For example, you could record the disturbance start and stop times and a note such as, "Eagle landed in a tree and all birds at site A flew from shore." I hope this helps! If you have any other questions or have a tricky situation come up, feel free to email me, and we can work through it together.
That's all for now! I hope everyone has a wonderful week surveying out there. I can't wait to hear what's happening around the Salish Sea in Week 1!!
~Shannon
P.S. Make sure to save the date for Whidbey's 2024 International Guillemot Appreciation Day Celebration!! All are welcome to attend and we'd love the chance to catch up with folks from across the regions!
2023 Weekly Survey Updates
Week 13: 08/27/2023 - 09/02/2023
Hello all,
It doesn’t seem possible, but here we are, coming to the end of our 2023 PIGU breeding season. This will be my last weekly update, although a handful of sites still have another week or two to officially wrap things up. Each of you played a critical part in making this season successful, from supporting and guiding your surveyors, to wrangling the data—I appreciate and thank you for all of your hard work!
This project we’ve taken on, to monitor our precious Pigeon Guillemots, is important, and I hope you have enjoyed participating in this heartfelt collaboration as much as I have!
Each week I could feel our group growing stronger and more in tune with the survey, just as our birds were falling into their own rhythm of activity. And now, as the activity (and the excitement that goes with it) fades, we can already begin to look forward to the next season with anticipation and know it will be even better!
I really only have a few reminders this week.
-Data entry and QA/QC is due September 15th. This will give Dave a chance to prepare his end of season analyses ahead of our event. I know everyone has been working on cranking this out in time and I have a good feeling about data this year!
-Our End of Season Celebration will be held on Wednesday, September 27th, at 7:00pm via Zoom. Please send me 2-3 slides and be thinking of highlights or stories you would like to share with the entire group.
-If you were able to field test Maria Ruth’s PIGU Vocalization flash cards this season, and you have any feedback for her, please email Maria directly @ [email protected].
Now for this week’s featured fun. I was fortunate to have a conversation with our upcoming guest speaker, Maria Ruth, at an event this last weekend. I discovered that she and her survey team at Edgewater Beach, in South Sound, have been up to some pretty cool explorations of PIGU. She indulged my excitement by sharing some content they created while observing their colony.
This first one is a short video clip, recorded by Maria, of two PIGU parents making back to back prey deliveries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1tw4t_Id6U
This second piece is an audio recording of chicks calling from the burrow before, during, and after a double fish delivery, recorded by surveyor, Rachel Hudson. Rachel actually constructed her own parabolic recording device, which she has used to record various PIGU vocalizations. What is so awesome about this recording, is that you can hear the wing beats of the parents as they fly into the burrow. You can also hear the chicks continue to “chatter” following the delivery. I hope you enjoy!
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/602746371
Here’s to a great week! As always, let me know if you have any questions or if I can be of assistance!
Shannon
It doesn’t seem possible, but here we are, coming to the end of our 2023 PIGU breeding season. This will be my last weekly update, although a handful of sites still have another week or two to officially wrap things up. Each of you played a critical part in making this season successful, from supporting and guiding your surveyors, to wrangling the data—I appreciate and thank you for all of your hard work!
This project we’ve taken on, to monitor our precious Pigeon Guillemots, is important, and I hope you have enjoyed participating in this heartfelt collaboration as much as I have!
Each week I could feel our group growing stronger and more in tune with the survey, just as our birds were falling into their own rhythm of activity. And now, as the activity (and the excitement that goes with it) fades, we can already begin to look forward to the next season with anticipation and know it will be even better!
I really only have a few reminders this week.
-Data entry and QA/QC is due September 15th. This will give Dave a chance to prepare his end of season analyses ahead of our event. I know everyone has been working on cranking this out in time and I have a good feeling about data this year!
-Our End of Season Celebration will be held on Wednesday, September 27th, at 7:00pm via Zoom. Please send me 2-3 slides and be thinking of highlights or stories you would like to share with the entire group.
-If you were able to field test Maria Ruth’s PIGU Vocalization flash cards this season, and you have any feedback for her, please email Maria directly @ [email protected].
Now for this week’s featured fun. I was fortunate to have a conversation with our upcoming guest speaker, Maria Ruth, at an event this last weekend. I discovered that she and her survey team at Edgewater Beach, in South Sound, have been up to some pretty cool explorations of PIGU. She indulged my excitement by sharing some content they created while observing their colony.
This first one is a short video clip, recorded by Maria, of two PIGU parents making back to back prey deliveries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1tw4t_Id6U
This second piece is an audio recording of chicks calling from the burrow before, during, and after a double fish delivery, recorded by surveyor, Rachel Hudson. Rachel actually constructed her own parabolic recording device, which she has used to record various PIGU vocalizations. What is so awesome about this recording, is that you can hear the wing beats of the parents as they fly into the burrow. You can also hear the chicks continue to “chatter” following the delivery. I hope you enjoy!
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/602746371
Here’s to a great week! As always, let me know if you have any questions or if I can be of assistance!
Shannon
Week 12: 08/20/2023 - 08/26/2023
We had a smoky start to week 12 yesterday, but thankfully, conditions seem to be improving. I hope no one was too heavily impacted by the poor air quality.
This week, as more and more colonies begin to slow down or cease activity, surveyors may see a greater number of birds transitioning into non-breeding plumage. This comes in varying stages. One might notice that some PIGU are just starting to turn a lighter shade of brown, some are “speckly", others are wearing “sooty” shades of white and gray, and a few may already be covered in mostly white plumage, with black accents. This is a period of time when deciphering between the juveniles and the adults can be tricky!
We had a smoky start to week 12 yesterday, but thankfully, conditions seem to be improving. I hope no one was too heavily impacted by the poor air quality.
This week, as more and more colonies begin to slow down or cease activity, surveyors may see a greater number of birds transitioning into non-breeding plumage. This comes in varying stages. One might notice that some PIGU are just starting to turn a lighter shade of brown, some are “speckly", others are wearing “sooty” shades of white and gray, and a few may already be covered in mostly white plumage, with black accents. This is a period of time when deciphering between the juveniles and the adults can be tricky!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Once chicks have fledged and provisioning stops, a dramatic drop in observed PIGU abundance and activity occurs at the colony. It’s interesting how birds can be socializing and flying at the bluff one week, and then completely gone the next, but it happens. Even so, it’s possible to miss one or two birds that have stayed behind to feed a late chick. So, as I’ve stressed before, make sure surveying continues through two weeks of no activity. Thank you for sticking it out, even when the morning’s events are not quite as entertaining as they were in previous weeks!
I am happy to say that I finally made the trek up to Whidbey Island last Friday to see where this all started and meet the amazing and dedicated team there! I was given the warmest welcome by all and introduced to two very different colonies—one at a very active ferry terminal and the other at a beautiful, long stretching community beach bluff. If you haven’t visited Whidbey before (or lately), I strongly encourage you to do so—it is a magical place! I was especially enchanted by the PIGU breeding and nesting at the Keystone ferry (Coupeville). Here you will see PIGU that have adapted to humanity and chosen to nest in all kinds of man-made structures!
Here are some pics from my visit
I am happy to say that I finally made the trek up to Whidbey Island last Friday to see where this all started and meet the amazing and dedicated team there! I was given the warmest welcome by all and introduced to two very different colonies—one at a very active ferry terminal and the other at a beautiful, long stretching community beach bluff. If you haven’t visited Whidbey before (or lately), I strongly encourage you to do so—it is a magical place! I was especially enchanted by the PIGU breeding and nesting at the Keystone ferry (Coupeville). Here you will see PIGU that have adapted to humanity and chosen to nest in all kinds of man-made structures!
Here are some pics from my visit
PIGU visiting a "burrow" on top of the dock counterweight.
|
PIGU with Shiner Perch at Shore Meadows
|
Bluff at Shore Meadows
|
Getting a tour of Shore Meadows with the Whidbey Team. Photo by Cathi Bower.
|
Save the Date! Our End of Season Celebration will be held via Zoom on September 27th, 2023 from 7:00-8:30pm. Make sure to put this on your calendar and pass it along to all of your surveyors and volunteers. I will be sending out an agenda and Zoom link as we get closer to the date.
That's all for now! Have a fabulous week!
Shannon
Shannon
Week 10: 08/06/2023 - 08/12/2023
We've made it to week 10! This week brought with it some cooler, wetter weather, and I don't know about you, but I'm in heaven. It's always nice to have a little fresh air and respite from the sun.
I’m curious to know if there are any colonies closing down this week? I imagine some are very close! I’m always amazed when we get to this point in the season, how quickly it flies by. It really does feel like we just began!
PIGU Breeding in the Strangest of Places
I’ll start off by sharing some photos that I promised at our last SSGN meeting. Following our presentation by Claire Molina about the impacts of human disturbance on “pre-delivery pause” (thank you Claire, for the new term!), we were sharing our wonder at some of the places PIGU will choose to breed and rear chicks within high traffic areas. That discussion brought these photos to mind. Bets alerted us to PIGU feeding chicks at the Keystone Jetty and dolphin, and Lac went out later to capture these. I just love the one of the PG strutting across the dock with a sculpin! This is determination!
We've made it to week 10! This week brought with it some cooler, wetter weather, and I don't know about you, but I'm in heaven. It's always nice to have a little fresh air and respite from the sun.
I’m curious to know if there are any colonies closing down this week? I imagine some are very close! I’m always amazed when we get to this point in the season, how quickly it flies by. It really does feel like we just began!
PIGU Breeding in the Strangest of Places
I’ll start off by sharing some photos that I promised at our last SSGN meeting. Following our presentation by Claire Molina about the impacts of human disturbance on “pre-delivery pause” (thank you Claire, for the new term!), we were sharing our wonder at some of the places PIGU will choose to breed and rear chicks within high traffic areas. That discussion brought these photos to mind. Bets alerted us to PIGU feeding chicks at the Keystone Jetty and dolphin, and Lac went out later to capture these. I just love the one of the PG strutting across the dock with a sculpin! This is determination!
Time of Day vs. Tide Level
Another hot topic of recent weeks is the discussion surrounding the correlation of PIGU abundance and activity with tide levels. I have received several questions recently from surveyors who observed that there are noticeably more PIGU present at their colonies on high tides than low tides, and they are not wrong.
We discussed this topic at our SSGN meeting as well, and everyone wants to know:
So, I did some digging and I have answers!
Firstly, yes, scientific evidence supports a correlation between the tide level and PIGU presence at the colony. It also supports the theory that guillemots are present in greater numbers from the first morning light until around 8:30-9:00am. Whether one is stronger than the other is site dependent, however, and seems to relate to the extent of the tidal range. At sites with greater tidal fluctuation, the tide height was the greatest predictor of abundance, while at sites with a lower range of fluctuation, time after sunrise was the only significant factor. Vermeer et al. (1993) recommended taking standardized population counts only during the high tide and only during the morning. If we were to follow this guidance, however, we would miss entire weeks’ worth of breeding data.
Secondly, I asked Frances if she could answer the question about our rule to survey according to time of day. The answer stems from guidance we received from WDFW while establishing our protocol. They were firm in specifying that we complete our surveys before 9:00am, as is standard in their own protocols. This is critical, as doing so ensures that our data can be compared to WDFW seabird survey data.
She also reminded me that the goal of our study is not to aim for ever higher numbers of PIGU or burrow visits, but rather to be consistent in how we are observing and measuring survey components. Though we may have weeks with lower activity, as long as we survey every week, we should capture a good snapshot of what is going on and encompass an entire breeding cycle. This enables us to collect and compare data from year to year and through all of the different tide levels.
This is all great information, and I hope it answers many of the questions floating around out there. I love that this community is so curious and always asking questions! I suspect there is a high correlation between our inquiring minds and our participation in this survey! :D So, keep sending the questions along, and we will continue to ponder and put the puzzle pieces together, when we can.
Here are two great references if you’d like to read further into the studies related to this topic. Unfortunately, copyright law does not allow me to share the full PDF directly.
Drent, R. H. (1965). Breeding biology of the pigeon Guillemot, Cepphus columba. Brill.
Vermeer, K., Morgan, K. H., & Smith, G. E. J. (1993a). Colony Attendance of Pigeon Guillemots as Related to Tide Height and Time of Day. Colonial Waterbirds, 16(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.2307/1521550
More Photos!
And now, I’ll leave you with some more fabulous chick/juvenile PIGU photos, taken last season by Hillary Smith. These are too fun not to share!
Another hot topic of recent weeks is the discussion surrounding the correlation of PIGU abundance and activity with tide levels. I have received several questions recently from surveyors who observed that there are noticeably more PIGU present at their colonies on high tides than low tides, and they are not wrong.
We discussed this topic at our SSGN meeting as well, and everyone wants to know:
- Is the correlation to tide level stronger than time of day?
- Have we considered surveying at the high tides instead of between sunrise and 9:00am?
So, I did some digging and I have answers!
Firstly, yes, scientific evidence supports a correlation between the tide level and PIGU presence at the colony. It also supports the theory that guillemots are present in greater numbers from the first morning light until around 8:30-9:00am. Whether one is stronger than the other is site dependent, however, and seems to relate to the extent of the tidal range. At sites with greater tidal fluctuation, the tide height was the greatest predictor of abundance, while at sites with a lower range of fluctuation, time after sunrise was the only significant factor. Vermeer et al. (1993) recommended taking standardized population counts only during the high tide and only during the morning. If we were to follow this guidance, however, we would miss entire weeks’ worth of breeding data.
Secondly, I asked Frances if she could answer the question about our rule to survey according to time of day. The answer stems from guidance we received from WDFW while establishing our protocol. They were firm in specifying that we complete our surveys before 9:00am, as is standard in their own protocols. This is critical, as doing so ensures that our data can be compared to WDFW seabird survey data.
She also reminded me that the goal of our study is not to aim for ever higher numbers of PIGU or burrow visits, but rather to be consistent in how we are observing and measuring survey components. Though we may have weeks with lower activity, as long as we survey every week, we should capture a good snapshot of what is going on and encompass an entire breeding cycle. This enables us to collect and compare data from year to year and through all of the different tide levels.
This is all great information, and I hope it answers many of the questions floating around out there. I love that this community is so curious and always asking questions! I suspect there is a high correlation between our inquiring minds and our participation in this survey! :D So, keep sending the questions along, and we will continue to ponder and put the puzzle pieces together, when we can.
Here are two great references if you’d like to read further into the studies related to this topic. Unfortunately, copyright law does not allow me to share the full PDF directly.
Drent, R. H. (1965). Breeding biology of the pigeon Guillemot, Cepphus columba. Brill.
Vermeer, K., Morgan, K. H., & Smith, G. E. J. (1993a). Colony Attendance of Pigeon Guillemots as Related to Tide Height and Time of Day. Colonial Waterbirds, 16(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.2307/1521550
More Photos!
And now, I’ll leave you with some more fabulous chick/juvenile PIGU photos, taken last season by Hillary Smith. These are too fun not to share!
Thinking about taking a leap?
Alley Oop!
Take care, all, and have a great week!
Week 9: 07/30/2023 - 08/05/2023
Hello SSGN Team!
It’s a beautiful Monday here in Week 9. Our breeding season is winding down, with many colonies seeing changes in activity level. This brings to mind a few important topics to consider as we survey our way to the end of our breeding season.
Fledglings
We have had a few fledgling sightings this last week, so let’s talk about how to differentiate these new guys from the adults. Fledgling and juvenile ID can be tricky, especially when adults begin to molt into non-breeding plumage and take on a mottled appearance, so here are some things to look for:
· Dark forehead, eye line, lore (area between the eye and beak), and crown. This makes the upper portion of the head appear more defined and darker than adults molting into non-breeding plumage.
· White or “sooty” chin and throat
· Mantle of bird (back) and proximal portion of wings are darker and underparts lighter or white.
· Lack of defined, white wing patch, instead appearing more barred with brown or mottled.
· Dark feathers appear more brown than black
· Feet that are dark gray vs. bright red/orange
Other things to consider:
· At this time of year, most PIGU are still in breeding plumage, so if you see a bird matching the description above, there is a high probability it is a fledgling.
· Fledglings are usually spotted floating around on their own rather than socializing within their colony.
· Fledglings are generally flightless for the first few weeks out of the nest. Meaning, they shouldn’t fly away or fly very
far.
· Adults retain their white wing bar year round, even while molting.
Thank you to Lee and Govinda for their input on fledgling ID and the Cornell, Birds of the World entry on Pigeon Guillemot plumage.
Here are some fledgling photos to help with your identification:
Hello SSGN Team!
It’s a beautiful Monday here in Week 9. Our breeding season is winding down, with many colonies seeing changes in activity level. This brings to mind a few important topics to consider as we survey our way to the end of our breeding season.
Fledglings
We have had a few fledgling sightings this last week, so let’s talk about how to differentiate these new guys from the adults. Fledgling and juvenile ID can be tricky, especially when adults begin to molt into non-breeding plumage and take on a mottled appearance, so here are some things to look for:
· Dark forehead, eye line, lore (area between the eye and beak), and crown. This makes the upper portion of the head appear more defined and darker than adults molting into non-breeding plumage.
· White or “sooty” chin and throat
· Mantle of bird (back) and proximal portion of wings are darker and underparts lighter or white.
· Lack of defined, white wing patch, instead appearing more barred with brown or mottled.
· Dark feathers appear more brown than black
· Feet that are dark gray vs. bright red/orange
Other things to consider:
· At this time of year, most PIGU are still in breeding plumage, so if you see a bird matching the description above, there is a high probability it is a fledgling.
· Fledglings are usually spotted floating around on their own rather than socializing within their colony.
· Fledglings are generally flightless for the first few weeks out of the nest. Meaning, they shouldn’t fly away or fly very
far.
· Adults retain their white wing bar year round, even while molting.
Thank you to Lee and Govinda for their input on fledgling ID and the Cornell, Birds of the World entry on Pigeon Guillemot plumage.
Here are some fledgling photos to help with your identification:
An amazing photo by Govinda Holtby of a PIGU chick near the time to fledge.
A late season photo taken by myself (Shannon) a few years back.
I believe this bird is slightly older than the previous two due to the increased mottling, but notice how the feet are not bright red yet. (Photo also by Shannon B.)
** Edit: After receiving some thoughtful correspondence from Lee and having additional thoughts of my own on Fledgling ID, I should put in a disclaimer regarding our ability to identify fledglings with certainty. The plumage description above came from an effort to summarize in simple terms the Cornell Birds of the World PIGU entry on plumage and from our own observations of birds we *think* to be fledglings. I say best effort because I am not an ornithologist or expert. The photos I shared are also of birds assumed to be fledglings because of the timing of when they were seen and the differences observed in size and coloration. Without actually seeing the birds fledge it is not possible to say they are such with 100% certainty. So please take these descriptions as loose guides and not absolutes.
Another difficulty with identification is in having the ability to discriminate between fledglings and juveniles. At this time, we do not have a definitive way to differentiate between the two. PIGU plumage through the fledgling, juvenile, and adult molting stages is complicated, and we do not have concrete descriptions to help us distinguish the subtle differences between them at this time.
I would like to add a link to a video on our website taken by Govinda Holtby. This is the only actual photo documentation SSGN has of a fledgling leaving its burrow. This may be the most helpful footage that we have in identifying fledglings.
https://vimeo.com/232748265
PIGU Activity
Many folks are reporting interesting changes in PIGU behavior, such as increased ledge sitting and repeated flights to the bluff, without fish deliveries. I like to call this circus behavior. We aren’t exactly sure what this means, but it seems to follow 4-5 weeks of prey deliveries and comes shortly prior to a sudden fall in activity. There is some speculation that this activity is meant to coax chicks to fledge, but again, this is our own musing. Have any of you witnessed this seemingly bizarre behavior?
Some have also witnessed continued sparring, courting, and water game behavior. I was asked if it might be possible for them to copulate this late in the season, which I did not think likely. On Friday, however, one of our boat captains observed two PIGU mating on a buoy! Whether or not that will result in a successful reproduction cycle is unclear, but it proves that some things are still a mystery!
Closing a Colony Down for the Season
With week 9 here, some colonies will be entering the last two weeks of the breeding survey. Our protocol states that we must observe each colony for a minimum of 10 consecutive weeks, at which point, we may close a colony if we have not recorded activity for two weeks prior to week 10. If we have not had two weeks with no activity by week 10, then we continue to survey until we do. Surveyors should consult their coordinators to confirm that it is okay to close a colony.
Activity includes:
· Burrow visits and ledge sitting
· Birds holding fish on the water, even without delivery
· Birds still associating with, congregating, and socializing at the colony
Exceptions can be made, at the discretion of regional coordinators, if there has been no activity and no or very few birds recorded at a colony all season. We don’t want to make surveyors feel as if they are stuck at a site with no hope for activity. If you are unsure if a colony fits into this category, feel free to reach out, and we can help you make that decision.
Another difficulty with identification is in having the ability to discriminate between fledglings and juveniles. At this time, we do not have a definitive way to differentiate between the two. PIGU plumage through the fledgling, juvenile, and adult molting stages is complicated, and we do not have concrete descriptions to help us distinguish the subtle differences between them at this time.
I would like to add a link to a video on our website taken by Govinda Holtby. This is the only actual photo documentation SSGN has of a fledgling leaving its burrow. This may be the most helpful footage that we have in identifying fledglings.
https://vimeo.com/232748265
PIGU Activity
Many folks are reporting interesting changes in PIGU behavior, such as increased ledge sitting and repeated flights to the bluff, without fish deliveries. I like to call this circus behavior. We aren’t exactly sure what this means, but it seems to follow 4-5 weeks of prey deliveries and comes shortly prior to a sudden fall in activity. There is some speculation that this activity is meant to coax chicks to fledge, but again, this is our own musing. Have any of you witnessed this seemingly bizarre behavior?
Some have also witnessed continued sparring, courting, and water game behavior. I was asked if it might be possible for them to copulate this late in the season, which I did not think likely. On Friday, however, one of our boat captains observed two PIGU mating on a buoy! Whether or not that will result in a successful reproduction cycle is unclear, but it proves that some things are still a mystery!
Closing a Colony Down for the Season
With week 9 here, some colonies will be entering the last two weeks of the breeding survey. Our protocol states that we must observe each colony for a minimum of 10 consecutive weeks, at which point, we may close a colony if we have not recorded activity for two weeks prior to week 10. If we have not had two weeks with no activity by week 10, then we continue to survey until we do. Surveyors should consult their coordinators to confirm that it is okay to close a colony.
Activity includes:
· Burrow visits and ledge sitting
· Birds holding fish on the water, even without delivery
· Birds still associating with, congregating, and socializing at the colony
Exceptions can be made, at the discretion of regional coordinators, if there has been no activity and no or very few birds recorded at a colony all season. We don’t want to make surveyors feel as if they are stuck at a site with no hope for activity. If you are unsure if a colony fits into this category, feel free to reach out, and we can help you make that decision.
Week 8: 07/23/2023 - 07/29/2023
Happy Week 8!
Excuse the gap in weekly updates, I've just returned home from two weeks in Japan, and am playing catch up. Here's what's in "PIGU News" this week...
Fledglings sighted!
There was some exciting news out of Whidbey this last weekend. Jann Ledbetter, who surveys the Lake Hancock colony, reported seeing a fledgling on the water! She also passed along that there have been other sightings as well. Woohoo! Has anyone else seen fledglings floating around out there with the currents? Let me know if you have, and if you manage to capture a photo, please send that along too!
Avian Flu
By now, you have all seen news of the Avian Flu outbreak among the Caspian Tern breeding colony on Rat Island. A big thank you to Brenda Johnson of East Jefferson for keeping us up to date on the situation there. Although the guidance she sent out to her team pertains specifically to Jefferson County, it is a good reminder that we should all know what to do if we see dead or sick birds on the beach. The important thing is not to touch the birds or allow dogs near them, as avian flu is highly infectious between species. Make sure to report dead birds to WDFW so they can track sightings and assess the cause of death, if necessary. So far, I haven’t heard of any other seabird outbreaks, and hopefully that will remain the case.
Mary Bond gave us the WDFW link to report dead birds at our June SSGN meeting, but here it is again:
https://wdfw.wa.gov/get-involved/report-observations
The direct link to the online reporting form is here:
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/1550804e5fd743668049e06d5ad8836a
PIGU Activity
It’s hard to believe that next week some colonies will already be heading into their two week season closure period! I checked our data to date, and we have a fair number of burrows that have now seen 4-5 weeks of prey deliveries, which means we should have a chance to see more fledglings soon—although they do tend to be elusive.
We also still have a wide range of burrow activity spanning over 1, 2, or 3 weeks of provisioning, so for many colonies, there is still some steam yet in the season. Kudos to those of you who have encouraged your volunteers to keep surveying even if their colonies have been slow or they have seen gaps in prey deliveries--this advice is right on. Every year we document burrows that become active late in the season or weeks in which we don’t catch activity during the survey window. Whether it is a late start, a second clutch, or nervous parents, we’re not sure, but we do know that we don’t want to miss a chance to document a full breeding cycle.
Thank you for keeping the momentum going!
And now for a few recent photos from our photogs across the regions…
Happy Week 8!
Excuse the gap in weekly updates, I've just returned home from two weeks in Japan, and am playing catch up. Here's what's in "PIGU News" this week...
Fledglings sighted!
There was some exciting news out of Whidbey this last weekend. Jann Ledbetter, who surveys the Lake Hancock colony, reported seeing a fledgling on the water! She also passed along that there have been other sightings as well. Woohoo! Has anyone else seen fledglings floating around out there with the currents? Let me know if you have, and if you manage to capture a photo, please send that along too!
Avian Flu
By now, you have all seen news of the Avian Flu outbreak among the Caspian Tern breeding colony on Rat Island. A big thank you to Brenda Johnson of East Jefferson for keeping us up to date on the situation there. Although the guidance she sent out to her team pertains specifically to Jefferson County, it is a good reminder that we should all know what to do if we see dead or sick birds on the beach. The important thing is not to touch the birds or allow dogs near them, as avian flu is highly infectious between species. Make sure to report dead birds to WDFW so they can track sightings and assess the cause of death, if necessary. So far, I haven’t heard of any other seabird outbreaks, and hopefully that will remain the case.
Mary Bond gave us the WDFW link to report dead birds at our June SSGN meeting, but here it is again:
https://wdfw.wa.gov/get-involved/report-observations
The direct link to the online reporting form is here:
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/1550804e5fd743668049e06d5ad8836a
PIGU Activity
It’s hard to believe that next week some colonies will already be heading into their two week season closure period! I checked our data to date, and we have a fair number of burrows that have now seen 4-5 weeks of prey deliveries, which means we should have a chance to see more fledglings soon—although they do tend to be elusive.
We also still have a wide range of burrow activity spanning over 1, 2, or 3 weeks of provisioning, so for many colonies, there is still some steam yet in the season. Kudos to those of you who have encouraged your volunteers to keep surveying even if their colonies have been slow or they have seen gaps in prey deliveries--this advice is right on. Every year we document burrows that become active late in the season or weeks in which we don’t catch activity during the survey window. Whether it is a late start, a second clutch, or nervous parents, we’re not sure, but we do know that we don’t want to miss a chance to document a full breeding cycle.
Thank you for keeping the momentum going!
And now for a few recent photos from our photogs across the regions…
Alcid cousins in flight, taken near Smith Island.
Water games and shenanigans at Indian Island (East Jefferson County).
Catch me if you can! Synchronized flying at Ledgewood Beach (Whidbey Island).
That familiar plop and splash at Ledgewood Beach (Whidbey Island).
Week 5: 07/02/2023 - 07/08/2023
I can’t believe we are in week 5 already—how is that possible? I actually had to go back and check my past updates to make sure I was counting correctly. It’s crazy to think we are halfway to our 10 week minimum survey duration. Time flies when you're having fun!
This week was a bit quiet as far as stories and photos go. Everyone seems to be busy settling in and we also had several regional leads on vacation.
By now, it looks like we are seeing fish deliveries across most of the regions. If you haven’t seen any yet, do not fret, it is possible for chicks to continue hatching over the next several weeks, and even into August.
Speaking of prey, what’s for breakfast at your colonies? This last week, I saw both greenish brown (crescent?) and bright red (penpoint?) gunnels, sculpin, Pacific snake prickleback, and even a shrimp! These are becoming a trend at Lyle Point, on Anderson Island. We seem to have one PIGU there with a taste for shrimp cocktail! Here are some photos I took of prey in the last week. One shot was pretty heavily backlit, but I thought the way the red gunnel lit up in the sun was a cool effect.
I can’t believe we are in week 5 already—how is that possible? I actually had to go back and check my past updates to make sure I was counting correctly. It’s crazy to think we are halfway to our 10 week minimum survey duration. Time flies when you're having fun!
This week was a bit quiet as far as stories and photos go. Everyone seems to be busy settling in and we also had several regional leads on vacation.
By now, it looks like we are seeing fish deliveries across most of the regions. If you haven’t seen any yet, do not fret, it is possible for chicks to continue hatching over the next several weeks, and even into August.
Speaking of prey, what’s for breakfast at your colonies? This last week, I saw both greenish brown (crescent?) and bright red (penpoint?) gunnels, sculpin, Pacific snake prickleback, and even a shrimp! These are becoming a trend at Lyle Point, on Anderson Island. We seem to have one PIGU there with a taste for shrimp cocktail! Here are some photos I took of prey in the last week. One shot was pretty heavily backlit, but I thought the way the red gunnel lit up in the sun was a cool effect.
Pacific snake prickleback
Pacific snake prickleback
Shrimps up!
Trippy backlit red gunnel
On Whidbey Island, Lac Pope is at it again, this time catching PIGUs feeding sculpin at a burrow in the Keystone Ferry Dock counterweight.
PIGU bringing a sculpin to the Keystone Ferry Dock Counterweight burrow. Photo by Lac Pope.
In case you missed it, the Guillemot Appreciation Day was a hit. I received these photos of the beautiful spread that Michelle and Govinda put out! Are there any leftover cookies?? Those look amazing!
Photo by Govinda Holtby
Reminders: Data. As always, try to get your data input to Survey123 within a week of your completed survey. I know things come up and life happens, so it's not always going to be possible, but getting data in early will save many headaches later and help us identify and correct any problems before they become major deals. If I can help with any barriers you're experiencing, please let me know.
That’s all for now. I hope everyone is enjoying this sunny, holiday weekend. Stay cool this week and happy surveying!
~Shannon
That’s all for now. I hope everyone is enjoying this sunny, holiday weekend. Stay cool this week and happy surveying!
~Shannon
Week 4: 06/25/2023 - 07/01/2023
It's week 4...how is everyone doing? I've heard stories of more fish deliveries occurring in East Jefferson County, Camano, and Whidbey and increasing activity throughout the network. I was nosing around survey data and I think Hood Canal takes the cake for most burrow visits in a survey, with 44 visits across 14 burrows!! Wowza, that's incredible! I'm not sure how Nancy and Karin do it--their heads must have been spinning!
As folks are settling into the groove of entering data, we've had some questions rolling in, and I think we've been able to successfully navigate and resolve everyone's concerns. Hopefully, we're past most of the speed bumps and on to smooth sailing. I'm optimistic! That being said, if you or your surveyors come across anything that makes you go, "hmm"...please don't hesitate to reach out. As we all know, this can happen even to the most veteran surveyors as the season progresses and unique situations crop up.
Speaking of data, it's rolling in! We do have some gaps, so I will be reaching out to a few of you just to make sure there aren't any issues or barriers to entering data and also to check whether there are some colonies that aren't being monitored this season. I'm aware of a few special circumstances, so thank you to those who are keeping me in the loop!
New this week--I've published a page on our website called "How is Our Data Used". This is a frequently asked question, so I hope this helps answer your ponderings on that subject. Our updated colony map is also live under the "How Can I Get Involved" tab, "Where We Survey". I will be in touch with everyone this week and will send out your individual region colony maps. I have also completed a rough draft SSGN flyer. I hope to have this finalized soon, pending edits, so that I can get it out to you. Also, last week I was able to get our Facebook page up and running--woohoo! If you haven't already, consider following our page for more photos, fun stories, and updates. I still don't have access to our Instagram account, but when I do, I will sync these two together. Visit: https://www.facebook.com/SalishSeaGuillemotNetwork
On that note, some of you may have seen the photos I posted from Lac Pope of a PIGU sitting on eggs in the old Keystone pier winch gear, but in case you haven't, check these out! Where there's a will, there's a way! I am really wishing I lived on Whidbey right now!! I would love to keep eyes on these chicks when they hatch. :D
It's week 4...how is everyone doing? I've heard stories of more fish deliveries occurring in East Jefferson County, Camano, and Whidbey and increasing activity throughout the network. I was nosing around survey data and I think Hood Canal takes the cake for most burrow visits in a survey, with 44 visits across 14 burrows!! Wowza, that's incredible! I'm not sure how Nancy and Karin do it--their heads must have been spinning!
As folks are settling into the groove of entering data, we've had some questions rolling in, and I think we've been able to successfully navigate and resolve everyone's concerns. Hopefully, we're past most of the speed bumps and on to smooth sailing. I'm optimistic! That being said, if you or your surveyors come across anything that makes you go, "hmm"...please don't hesitate to reach out. As we all know, this can happen even to the most veteran surveyors as the season progresses and unique situations crop up.
Speaking of data, it's rolling in! We do have some gaps, so I will be reaching out to a few of you just to make sure there aren't any issues or barriers to entering data and also to check whether there are some colonies that aren't being monitored this season. I'm aware of a few special circumstances, so thank you to those who are keeping me in the loop!
New this week--I've published a page on our website called "How is Our Data Used". This is a frequently asked question, so I hope this helps answer your ponderings on that subject. Our updated colony map is also live under the "How Can I Get Involved" tab, "Where We Survey". I will be in touch with everyone this week and will send out your individual region colony maps. I have also completed a rough draft SSGN flyer. I hope to have this finalized soon, pending edits, so that I can get it out to you. Also, last week I was able to get our Facebook page up and running--woohoo! If you haven't already, consider following our page for more photos, fun stories, and updates. I still don't have access to our Instagram account, but when I do, I will sync these two together. Visit: https://www.facebook.com/SalishSeaGuillemotNetwork
On that note, some of you may have seen the photos I posted from Lac Pope of a PIGU sitting on eggs in the old Keystone pier winch gear, but in case you haven't, check these out! Where there's a will, there's a way! I am really wishing I lived on Whidbey right now!! I would love to keep eyes on these chicks when they hatch. :D
I hope you all have a fabulous week, both on and off the beach!
-Shannon
-Shannon
Week 3: 06/18/2023 - 06/24/2023
Happy Week 3 PIGU Team!
I finally managed to sync the Weekly Update with the first day of the survey week! It only took me two weeks to remember that we start on Sunday and not Monday!
Down here in the South Sound we've noticed that some colonies are starting off in a bit of a lull. We have a lot of birds on site and social activity on the water, but our burrow activity has slowed. Are you experiencing that where you are? We know that Mary Bonds up in Jefferson County is already seeing fish deliveries, but I’m not sure if that’s the norm?
I have a theory (and it's just my theory ) that while the PGs are getting ready in the early season—courting, apartment shopping/staking, settling territorial disputes, copulating, etc., there is a flurry of activity, both on the water, and on the bluff. Then, once the majority of nesting and incubating begins, there is a several week lull in activity. I know some worry that this lull signals a quiet season to come, but I wouldn’t bet on that yet! We may just have birds in the burrows, quietly tending eggs. Once the chicks hatch, we should see an uptick in burrow activity as they dutifully feed their little ones. Does anyone else have a theory for this observation of decreased activity?
Before I get to the fun stuff, I just want to remind everyone about data:
-I have begun tracking data entry. This is to give me an idea where everyone is at with our data entry goals and also to identify any issues I see early, so that I can help you get those corrected before they become more difficult to solve. I’m your biggest fan, so don’t see this as me being critical so much as me helping to support your success and trying to prevent extra work later. Our goal is to have our data as complete and as clean as possible at the end so that we can use it! For all of the dedication and effort put in by surveyors and team leads, this would be the ultimate reward for us all to realize.
And now, I have something so incredibly awesome to share with you! Hillary Smith sent me these amazing sketches made by Dale Dell’Ario, who drew them while in a Jefferson Land Trust Natural History course they were both attending. I just can’t get over how beautiful they are!! Dale has been gracious enough to give permission for me to share his sketches, but please don’t share them outside of this group. If you have an interest, I can probably pass along contact information through Hillary, so that you can get in touch.
Happy Week 3 PIGU Team!
I finally managed to sync the Weekly Update with the first day of the survey week! It only took me two weeks to remember that we start on Sunday and not Monday!
Down here in the South Sound we've noticed that some colonies are starting off in a bit of a lull. We have a lot of birds on site and social activity on the water, but our burrow activity has slowed. Are you experiencing that where you are? We know that Mary Bonds up in Jefferson County is already seeing fish deliveries, but I’m not sure if that’s the norm?
I have a theory (and it's just my theory ) that while the PGs are getting ready in the early season—courting, apartment shopping/staking, settling territorial disputes, copulating, etc., there is a flurry of activity, both on the water, and on the bluff. Then, once the majority of nesting and incubating begins, there is a several week lull in activity. I know some worry that this lull signals a quiet season to come, but I wouldn’t bet on that yet! We may just have birds in the burrows, quietly tending eggs. Once the chicks hatch, we should see an uptick in burrow activity as they dutifully feed their little ones. Does anyone else have a theory for this observation of decreased activity?
Before I get to the fun stuff, I just want to remind everyone about data:
-I have begun tracking data entry. This is to give me an idea where everyone is at with our data entry goals and also to identify any issues I see early, so that I can help you get those corrected before they become more difficult to solve. I’m your biggest fan, so don’t see this as me being critical so much as me helping to support your success and trying to prevent extra work later. Our goal is to have our data as complete and as clean as possible at the end so that we can use it! For all of the dedication and effort put in by surveyors and team leads, this would be the ultimate reward for us all to realize.
And now, I have something so incredibly awesome to share with you! Hillary Smith sent me these amazing sketches made by Dale Dell’Ario, who drew them while in a Jefferson Land Trust Natural History course they were both attending. I just can’t get over how beautiful they are!! Dale has been gracious enough to give permission for me to share his sketches, but please don’t share them outside of this group. If you have an interest, I can probably pass along contact information through Hillary, so that you can get in touch.
Also, look who floated into my colony yesterday right as we finished our survey! Has anyone else seen birds in non-breeding plumage during the summer? Interestingly, this is the third year I have seen birds wearing white at this location during the breeding season, but it is definitely not typical.
One final thing I would like to share—I finished a more detailed map of SSGN Colony Locations. I have copied individual region maps from this one, so that you each will have your own separate map, and I just need to finish up labeling those for use. This one is an interactive Google map, so you can play around with it. For each region, I’ve updated the regional contact information. You can see your info by clicking on the shaded area or clicking on your survey area in the legend. This is basically building on the map that Brendan had made, except I created a new layer for each region with the colony sites also marked. I used the GPS coordinates from Survey123 to populate this. Please check your regions and contact info. and let me know if you’d like me to make any changes to the colony locations or contact information. Thanks!
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1F21XhoWfBBVG7xe2i__O33N6rnAgpnw&usp=share_link
I hope you all have a great week out on the beaches! Stay dry and have fun!!
-Shannon
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1F21XhoWfBBVG7xe2i__O33N6rnAgpnw&usp=share_link
I hope you all have a great week out on the beaches! Stay dry and have fun!!
-Shannon
Week 2: 06/11/2023 - 06/17/2023
Happy Week 2 everyone!
We have fish!! Exciting news out of Discovery Bay in Jefferson County—Mary Bond emailed me to report that she had two gunnel deliveries during her survey yesterday morning. Day 1 of Week 2! I believe these could be our first recorded prey deliveries of the season. Woohoo! Has anyone else seen fish yet? It is interesting that some PGs are still copulating this week, while others already have chicks in their burrows—and still others might be feeding into early September. That’s quite a spread!
One thing I left out of my SSGN June monthly meeting recap was the link I promised to the State’s Puget Sound Indicators, Abundance of Marine Bird Population page. The Pigeon Guillemot is one of four Puget Sound seabirds which have been identified as Vital Sign Indicators to the health of Puget Sound. Population data from aerial surveys, in addition to breeding survey data from the Salish Sea Guillemot Network, help inform reporting to the state by Scott Pearson of WDFW on PIGU population trends. It’s a testament to our standardized survey methods and the long-term commitment of our extraordinarily dedicated volunteer base, that our citizen science program has earned the attention and trust of the state in using our data! You can read more about the Pigeon guillemot as a Vital Sign Indicator and follow Scott's Pearson's trend reporting here: https://www.pugetsoundinfo.wa.gov/Indicator/Detail/3
I will keep the update short this week, since I already covered most of the week’s happenings in the SSGN meeting recap. But I’ll leave you with some beautiful photos of PGs being PGs taken by Hillary Smith at her Isthmus Beach Colony last week. Which reminds me...help me identify your photogs! I would love to reach out to them and start collecting photos and albums that we might share internally, or perhaps on social media and outreach material (with attribution, of course!).
Happy Week 2 everyone!
We have fish!! Exciting news out of Discovery Bay in Jefferson County—Mary Bond emailed me to report that she had two gunnel deliveries during her survey yesterday morning. Day 1 of Week 2! I believe these could be our first recorded prey deliveries of the season. Woohoo! Has anyone else seen fish yet? It is interesting that some PGs are still copulating this week, while others already have chicks in their burrows—and still others might be feeding into early September. That’s quite a spread!
One thing I left out of my SSGN June monthly meeting recap was the link I promised to the State’s Puget Sound Indicators, Abundance of Marine Bird Population page. The Pigeon Guillemot is one of four Puget Sound seabirds which have been identified as Vital Sign Indicators to the health of Puget Sound. Population data from aerial surveys, in addition to breeding survey data from the Salish Sea Guillemot Network, help inform reporting to the state by Scott Pearson of WDFW on PIGU population trends. It’s a testament to our standardized survey methods and the long-term commitment of our extraordinarily dedicated volunteer base, that our citizen science program has earned the attention and trust of the state in using our data! You can read more about the Pigeon guillemot as a Vital Sign Indicator and follow Scott's Pearson's trend reporting here: https://www.pugetsoundinfo.wa.gov/Indicator/Detail/3
I will keep the update short this week, since I already covered most of the week’s happenings in the SSGN meeting recap. But I’ll leave you with some beautiful photos of PGs being PGs taken by Hillary Smith at her Isthmus Beach Colony last week. Which reminds me...help me identify your photogs! I would love to reach out to them and start collecting photos and albums that we might share internally, or perhaps on social media and outreach material (with attribution, of course!).
I hope you all have fun and eventful surveys this week and enjoy your time out on the beach, connecting with nature! I can't wait to hear more stories!!
Take care!
-Shannon
Take care!
-Shannon
Week 1: 06/04/2023 - 06/10/2023
It’s week 1 and I hope everyone is feeling ready and excited for this new season! How many of you were out surveying yesterday already?
I want to thank you all for helping get me up to speed over the last month. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting all of you through Zooms, emails, the phone, and even in person! Everyone has been so welcoming and supportive. I feel fortunate to work with such an amazing and dedicated group! I was very happy to be able to do site visits at both Jefferson and Clallam counties last month and I was reminded of the sheer beauty of this state and the preciousness of our PIGUs and the marine environment. It really drove home the reasons we do what we do. I hope to get out to visit the rest of you in the very near future!
Week by week, as we go through the season, I hope you will share any fun stories or pictures you get from your surveyors. I would love to share these across the regions, so we can all stay connected and get a peek into what’s happening across the Sound. If you have any photogs in your group, please also let me know! I would love to reach out to them and get a collection of photo albums going. Please also continue to send any questions or concerns my way! I'm here to help in any way I can.
I’ve heard several stories over the last few weeks of PIGU activity ramping up at the colonies--synchronized flying, billing, water games, touch and gos, and burrow visits! Many have also spotted copulating on the beach—including me! Our little birds are definitely not shy and at least we know we should be seeing prey deliveries sometime in the next month!
Here are some pics I took while up in Clallam County. Something new for me was seeing PIGUs riding the waves. Things are just a bit calmer down here on our southern shores! These extreme PGs of Dungeness Spit have adapted to dealing with rollers and crashing surf. What fun to watch! Thank you Ed and Dan for sharing them with me.
It’s week 1 and I hope everyone is feeling ready and excited for this new season! How many of you were out surveying yesterday already?
I want to thank you all for helping get me up to speed over the last month. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting all of you through Zooms, emails, the phone, and even in person! Everyone has been so welcoming and supportive. I feel fortunate to work with such an amazing and dedicated group! I was very happy to be able to do site visits at both Jefferson and Clallam counties last month and I was reminded of the sheer beauty of this state and the preciousness of our PIGUs and the marine environment. It really drove home the reasons we do what we do. I hope to get out to visit the rest of you in the very near future!
Week by week, as we go through the season, I hope you will share any fun stories or pictures you get from your surveyors. I would love to share these across the regions, so we can all stay connected and get a peek into what’s happening across the Sound. If you have any photogs in your group, please also let me know! I would love to reach out to them and get a collection of photo albums going. Please also continue to send any questions or concerns my way! I'm here to help in any way I can.
I’ve heard several stories over the last few weeks of PIGU activity ramping up at the colonies--synchronized flying, billing, water games, touch and gos, and burrow visits! Many have also spotted copulating on the beach—including me! Our little birds are definitely not shy and at least we know we should be seeing prey deliveries sometime in the next month!
Here are some pics I took while up in Clallam County. Something new for me was seeing PIGUs riding the waves. Things are just a bit calmer down here on our southern shores! These extreme PGs of Dungeness Spit have adapted to dealing with rollers and crashing surf. What fun to watch! Thank you Ed and Dan for sharing them with me.
And here is a sweet pic of PIGUs billing, shared by Hillary Smith of Jefferson County East. Love is definitely in the air!
We had an interesting event happen at Isthmus Beach in Jefferson County last week that highlights the need for public awareness at beaches where PIGUs are nesting. Hillary came to check on her colony and found this elaborate fort built right in front of the burrows where the PIGUs are nesting. Luckily, the county is going to dismantle the fort, thanks to Brenda alerting them right away to the issue. Brenda will be in talks with the county to install permanent signage to help educate the public about the guillemots and the bluff. Way to go, Brenda!
I hope you all have a fabulous week out on the beach!! I can't wait to hear how it goes. Happy surveying!!
-Shannon
-Shannon