Week 8: July 20th-26th

​Holy moly, we're in Week 8! 

How is everyone feeling this week? Is your colony activity starting to wind down, or does it seem it's just getting started, or are you still in the thick of it? I've heard a little bit of everything this last week! If your burrow activity is slowing down or you're beginning to wonder if you'll see any activity, you may also wonder, how much longer do we need to continue?! I've had this question crop up several times now, so here is what I'll say:

Our survey protocol dictates that colony teams survey for a minimum of 10 weeks and have at least two weeks with no colony activity prior to closing down for the season. We do this to make sure that we don't miss any late starting chick burrows. Incubation lasts for around four weeks, so even if your colony seems quiet, if you still have a group of PGs associating with each other, the bluff/beach or nearshore, breeding activity may still be ongoing. I once surveyed a colony where we saw our first prey delivery (and burrow visit for that matter) occur in Week 10! We thought for sure that would be our last survey, but we ended up going another 6 weeks. It can happen! 

So, the real clue is PIGU presence and activity. We know that when all of the chicks have fledged, the PGs seemingly disappear. If they are still hanging around, and especially if you see birds on the water with fish or birds interacting with the bluff, we assume that someone is still cooking behind the scenes. I believe that many of our colonies still have birds quietly incubating eggs, and here is a case in point: Lac Pope saw a PIGU fly into a driftwood log at Keystone on Friday (7/18). When he went to investigate, he saw a single egg inside the log!

​In any case, please talk to your regional coordinator before you decide to stop surveying for the season. Each colony is different and we want to make sure that it's clear which colonies are ready to shut down and when. I'm also happy to jump in and help if there's a special situation and the decision feels a bit murky.  Thank you to everyone for sticking with it--I know it can be hard when activity is slow, but all data that you collect (zeros or not) is critical to piecing together the story of our Salish Sea Guillemots.

A huge thank you to everyone who sent in pics of PIGU with prey last week! I asked you all what's for breakfast, and you delivered! 

We've got gunnels at Battle Point (Bainbridge/Kitsap), captured by Suzanne Lieberman.

A gunnel and a very lovely backlit sculpin at Isthmus Beach, by Hillary Smith (E. Jefferson).

A bright red gunnel (love those!) at Hastie Lake (Whidbey Island), courtesy of Lac Pope.

And, another sculpin at Dungeness Spit, sent in by Steve Koehler.

​I'll leave you with a few more fun pics from the week. 

We STILL have PGs sparring and chasing after each other at Isthmus Beach, captured by Hillary Smith.

And here's a little cutie showing off its good posture in Clallam County, from Linda Nakamura.

Last minute add-on: I just became aware of a brush fire at the Double Bluff Colony on Whidbey Island. Surveyor Michele Sakaguchi said that the fire burned along the ridge line over at least two of their active burrows. Although there was no activity at the burrows on Friday, everyone is hopeful that the heat of the fire did not impact any chicks inside. It must have been heartbreaking for the survey team to arrive on-site and think about what happened there. Sending positive thoughts to the Double Bluff team and their PIGU and many thanks to the fire crews who worked together to contain and  extinguish the fire!!

Go forth and have a wonderful week with the PGs!
Take care,
​Shannon