Monday December 10, 2018 Nordic Viking sank in Seward Harbor on Sunday

Seward Alaska

Shortly after noon on a sunny, calm, Sunday, December 9, the Nordic Viking sank in the Seward Harbor while moored to the T Dock by Icicle Seafoods.

Thanks to a tip this morning, I discovered a rainbow of diesel fuel all along the shore of the Waterfront. I found more diesel sheen at the Second Avenue culvert in  the Lagoon, showing that the fuel entered Scheffler Creek and flowed into the Lagoon during the previous two high tides. No booms were deployed to protect the anadromous creek or Lagoon where  Trumpeter Swans, Bufflehead, Barrow's Goldeneyes, Mallards, Common Mergansers, and other birds and wildlife live and eat.

When I arrived at the site of the sunken vessel at noon, a fixed containment boom partially ringed the boat, but several feet of the boom was submerged, letting more diesel fuel escape. A saturated absorbent pad flowed right out as well. Shortly afterwards, a crew from Storm Chasers arrived and deployed a long absorbent boom to block the escaping pollution. They also collected the saturated pads and boom into black plastic bags.

Two staff members from the Anchorage office of the Department of Environmental Conservation also arrived on the scene shortly after noon, and began coordinating with the Coast Guard on the containment and raising of the vessel.

They said Storm Chasers had to submit a proposal for raising the vessel before any further work could be done. ADEC does not have a protocol, but many options exist.

I checked Sheffler Creek at 1 pm where the incoming tide carried more diesel sheen into the unprotected creek. A Barrow's Goldeneye dove for fish in the salmon creek.

When I returned at 2 pm, three absorbent booms had been placed in the lower stretch of the creek. Water and diesel fuel flowed between the gaps of the boom, continuing to pollute this important, rich stream, the Lagoon, and tributaries.

Like the failed tsunami warning system, the protocol for containing oil spills from sunken vessels and preventing contamination of the harbor, ocean, Waterfront Beach, Scheffler Creek, the Lagoon, etc needs a lot of improvement.

Meanwhile, seabirds, sea lions, sea otters, and other wildlife will ingest a little diesel with every meal and fish will breathe it.  Please do not let your dog wade or swim along the Waterfront.

ADEC advised that the diesel sheen should eventually evaporate.

Next time, it should be contained.

Carol Griswold

Wednesday, December 12, 2018 Nordic Viking Day 4

Seward, Alaska 

snow flurries, 25º, north wind

Highlights:
KTVA Channel 11 from Anchorage covered the continuing preparations to raise the F/V Nordic Viking and planned to report on the 6 pm news.
Diver Karl Van Buskirk of Storm Chasers released a 500 gallon diesel fuel tank that breached the surface like a whale (!) and released a rainbow sheen. He also sealed up hull openings in preparation for raising the vessel.
Alaska Cadux, a non-profit oil spill response organization based in Anchorage was on the scene coordinating oil containment booms and sorbent pads, rolls, and booms.
US Fish and Wildlife Service monitored wildlife in the harbor, along the Waterfront, and in the Lagoon. Fortunately, no distressed wildlife was noted. Longer term effects from ingesting oil are a concern. Thin, fluttering red mylar ribbon was installed over absorbent booms across the culvert in the Lagoon to prevent birds and other wildlife from approaching the booms.
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation on the scene, monitoring containment.
NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service and State Troopers/Wildlife: continued wildlife and diesel monitoring. Seward Harbormaster Regis continued to help monitor progress.

Thanks to all the local agencies and individuals, and Anchorage agencies and individuals who drove down to Seward to help ensure containment of the diesel fuel, monitor wildlife, support preparations for a successful raising, and document this unfortunate event.

Seward is lucky to have a local qualified commercial diver and marine salvage contractor, Karl and Storm Chasers, on the scene.

As to why this vessel sank, local mariner Mike Brittain stated decisively that a sinking is due, 100% of the time, because it filled up with water. Fisherman Bob Linville further explained that the above water planks on old wooden boats such as this, may dry and shrink over time or the caulking may fail, resulting in a quick sinking.

Carol Griswold

Tuesday, December 11, 2018 Sharpie, and Northern Shrike 

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 9:52 am, sunset 3:52 pm for a total daylight of 6 hours. Tomorrow will be 1 minute and 46 seconds shorter.

About an inch of snow transformed the landscape to winter overnight, though the temperature hovers around freezing in a delicate dance between rain and snow. 

This morning, shortly after sunrise, I heard a strangled “squawk!” and glanced down the block. A couple hundred yards away, I saw two dark bird shapes struggling in the snow in the middle of the quiet street. I whipped out my little point and shoot and tried to document the scene, wishing for my binocs and telephoto lens. 

The larger bird, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, soon subdued the smaller bird and all was still. The Hawk shrouded his kill, holding his wings in an arc around the dinner table, glancing around fiercely. Satisfied there were no uninvited guests, he then began preparing breakfast by ripping out beakfuls of feathers.

Rather than disturb this exchange of life forces, the dogs and I turned and went the other way. About 25 minutes later, on the way back home, I examined the kill site. I could see the imprint of the hawk’s wingtips in the snow, the depressions where the struggle occurred, and a sprinkling of feathers and a single large drop of bright red blood. Wow. 

I searched unsuccessfully for the Hawk perched in a nearby tree, quietly digesting his meal. Tomorrow will be another precarious day, another hunt, perhaps another death to sustain this life. Nature red in beak and claw!

Later in the afternoon, over near Fourth of July Beach, I chucked a green tennis ball for the good dog. Suddenly, a NORTHERN SHRIKE swooped down from the nearby alders after the flying ball and almost hit the racing dog! He then realized neither were suitable prey and veered off and away, probably hugely disappointed and disgusted. Hope he finds something more suitable to sustain him. Pretty slim pickings now; no Pine Siskins or Common Redpolls yet.

As for the Pied-billed Grebe, I have not seen it since December 2. That was also the first and last day to see TWO HOODED MERGANSER hens and one male at the Lagoon with three TRUMPETER SWANS.  

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Friday, November 30, 2018 Pied-billed Grebe still here

Seward, Alaska

At 8:30 am, still predawn twilight, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake radiating from about 10 miles NW of Anchorage rumbled through Southcentral with an abrupt jolt, followed by east-west and rotational shaking. It seemed to last a long time, too long, but was probably less than a minute. The tsunami warning siren went off in Seward and those living in the zone beat it to higher ground or left town in a stream of traffic.  Fortunately, no tsunami was generated and life returned to almost normal, except for cleaning up the shambles.

Figuring that the earth just had a major adjustment, I decided it would be safe to venture into the tsunami zone to check on the PIED-BILLED GREBE at the Seward Harbor Z float. (I later learned this conclusion is not necessarily true.) Most of the harbor ice had melted so he could be anywhere.  After a few minutes, however, there he was! Today he was actively diving, presumably feeding, and in intervals, preened. All good signs. Hopefully, he will survive the winter here. Maybe Seward will count him for the Christmas Bird Count!

Also present, a small flock of COMMON GOLDENEYES, MEW GULLS, PELAGIC CORMORANTS, and the male BELTED KINGFISHER who apparently owns the dock by Icicle Seafoods.

I also birded in another tsunami zone, Fourth of July Beach. There weren’t many birds, but it sure was great to see a COMMON LOON in winter plumage, a few HARLEQUIN DUCKS, BARROW’S GOLDENEYES, and HORNED GREBES. Three Steller’s Sea Lions cruised along, breathing explosively as they flowed past. Frozen Northern Sea Nettles like pinwheel candies decorated the tideline. Beautiful aliens from another world.

After such a startling and humbling event, it was such a pleasure to find everything more or less normal. Seward was very lucky this time.

Best wishes to everyone, especially my birder friends. Be careful and be safe!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Thursday, November 29, 2018 Pied-Billed Grebe in Seward!

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 9:31 am, sunset 4:04 pm for a total daylight of 6 hours and 33 minutes. Tomorrow will be 3 minutes and 28 minutes shorter.

Sparkling sunshine today after seemingly endless cloudy, rainy days. The tradeoff was a dip in  temperature from the recent slew of 40s to a chilly low of 17 and a high of 29. Snow is briefly in the forecast then rain as the temp rises back to the 40s.

Seward birder John Maniscalco discovered a rare juvenile PIED-BILLED GREBE yesterday afternoon in the Seward Boat Harbor. I drove all of five minutes to the harbor to seek it out this morning. Yesterday, it was warm; last night the “ice-free” harbor froze with only a few open areas, which limited the little Grebe’s range, if it was still around. 

I spent several thoroughly enjoyable hours walking up and down the floats looking for open water and birds. En route, I watched the spectacular half-moon setting behind the stunning snowy mountains, watched an enormous US Air Force jet blast overhead (probably left Anchorage ten minutes ago), admired the sleeping boats, and checked out bird-free reflections in the few open areas. 

There weren’t many birds. Five MEW GULLS flew overhead, a small flock of BARROW’S GOLDENEYES paddled serenely by Icicle Seafoods, a male BELTED KINGFISHER perched on the dock and rattled over the thin ice looking for open areas to fish.

Running out of open water areas, I decided to check the other side of the harbor by the big tugs and Z Float. As I drove up, I saw 5 BARROW’S GOLDENEYES, and nearby, the unmistakable silhouette of the PIED-BILLED GREBE. YAY! I took some bad photos with the sun almost directly behind it, then parked and tried to sneak down the walkway to get a slightly better angle. I was relieved to see that the juvenile Grebe was wary, and began paddling away when it saw me. I stopped, and it came back. 

Rare birds are vulnerable; usually alone, in a strange place, with no buddies to help them identify and track danger, find food and shelter. I didn’t linger and slowly backed away to leave it in peace.

Pied-billed Grebes are noted as residents and short-distance migrants that should be wintering/residing down the Pacific Coast from Vancouver south, and across the southern half of the US and into northern Central America. It’s quite a mystery how this bird ended up in the Seward Boat Harbor at the end of November. Maybe it’s the same bird as reported in Homer last month. Who knows? 

Meanwhile, it was a pleasure seeking this bird today, and a delight to find it.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter