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
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