Every month, I survey the
beach south of the Seward Airport as part of the COASST citizen science program
(Coastal Observation and Seabird Survery Team). Although COMMON MURRE carcasses
litter the Seward boat harbor and various other places around town under
favorite BALD EAGLE perches, I had not found any carcasses on my surveys. Until
today.
Over the past five days,
Seward experienced a huge storm with south winds and surf combined with extreme
high tides between 12.5 and 13.4 feet. The beach was strewn with debris
including mats of seaweed, broken branches, and large driftwood logs. Tangled
in the wrack, I found many storm-washed COMMON MURRES, but only one intact. All
the rest had been partially eaten.
More carcasses were deposited
on the beach rye grass berm. Freshly killed carcasses lay amidst a snowstorm of
white feathers near the driftwood perches of the Bald Eagles. Due to the high,
high tide, I found another 5 carcasses tossed into the grass up to 2 blocks
from the beach. I’m sure I missed many in that zone.
The tide did a major cleanup,
depositing at least 36 carcasses along the beach. It was a very sad duty to
report all these Murres, but hopefully the survey will add important data to
help scientists understand this phenomenon that extends from northern Oregon
and Washington to the Gulf of Alaska.
On a brighter note, the
resident TRUMPETER SWAN family with all four cygnets was again feeding at the
recently thawed pond. Yesterday, I found 3 adults in a nearby pond that were
not part of this family. It is possible that the very protective resident swans
drove them off.
The Swan Diverter Fund is up
to almost $800.00, thanks to recent generous contributions. If you would like
to help save the swans from senseless power line deaths, please see the
November 15, 2015 blog entry for contact information.
Totally unrelated, if you haven't heard about the talking MAGPIE living at the Alaska Zoo, check out this amusing website <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jewtXi5xjY4> Hi George!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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