You just never know when a past connection is going to resurface.  Kevin Bacon may be 6 steps removed from me, but Kyle Frischkorn, a PhD candidate in biogeochemistry at Columbia University and a budding science communicator is only 4.  This week Kyle published his first science communication article on the COASST program.  Woohoo!!

What’s the connection between a West Coast professor of “seabird science” and an East Coast “molecular oceanographer” studying nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria with a hankering to expand his science domain into public communication?

In academics, it’s all in the pedigree.  Kyle was an undergrad at the University of Washington who signed up for my Marine Biology course.  And part of that class is a weekend field trip (imagine 5 weekends with 25 freshmen and sophomores who think of the ocean as the thing you lie next to when you go to the beach, all crammed into vans on a early Saturday morning on the way to a salty science adventure – introduced species on the mud flats, invertebrate sampling in the rocky intertidal, 24 hour plankton tows, dead birds on the beach – and you can begin to get an idea…).

Kyle’s first choice was a weekend on the UW Oceanography research vessel Thomas G. Thompson.  When do students ever get their first choice?  He ended up on the beached bird field trip.  Turns out that a beachcast bird is a lot like any other drifter that oceanographers might use to understand ocean currents.  What had started out in his mind as a waste of time suddenly became a cool way to figure out more about ocean flow.  Lightbulb moment!

And, it opened a door in his academic path and in his future career.  From marine biology, to a cool capstone project with marine bacteria to a PhD project at Columbia to a realization that reaching out to the public about how cool science can be is something all scientists should do.

So when Kyle called COASST a few months ago to ask whether he could write his first story about COASST and identified his pedigree back to the COASST field trip in Marine Biology, I was thrilled.  Because you never know when the “pay it forward” every professor hopes to gift their students with will turn into a “pay it back.”  Thanks Kyle!

— Julia K. Parrish, COASST Executive Director

Hi COASSTers,

It’s been an exciting few weeks. In the office, we’ve been busy taking a look at the Common Murre die-off and gearing up for the official launch of our new marine debris program. Our first trainings are scheduled for Forks (WA), Port Angeles (WA), and Newport (OR) next month. Additionally, COASST Executive Director, Julia Parrish, recently returned from a trip to the White House, where COASST was recognized on multiple fronts as an example of a citizen science program providing useful data to scientists and resource managers. Big thanks to all of you for all of your hard work!

Let’s take a look at what’s washed in recently:

Here’s a fun one! Barbara and Mike had “never seen anything like this bird” when they came across it during their September survey on South Butterclam in Washington.

Bill 30mm
Wing 28.5cm
Tarsus 34mm

Alaska Foot Key – page 34
West Coast Foot Key – page 22
Choose webbed (go to Q2), completely webbed (go to Q3), four toes: 3 webbed 4^th free (go to Q5), tarsus not >12mm across (go to Q6), thin toe or nail only (go to Q7), heel swollen – STOP: Larids.

Alaska Guide
On LA1 –Bill is hooked, Gulls and Kittiwakes (go to LA2). Wing Coloration: triangular dark-white-dark pattern. Go to species pages: Red-legged Kittiwake (immature) LA16 or Sabine’s Gull, LA20 The wing is within the SAGU range (26-29cm) but not outside of reason for RLKI (29-33cm). If we look at “Similar Species” we see that SAGU inner primaries are white, as opposed to gray with white tips. Sabine’s Gull it is! Notice its dark bill with yellow tip (adult!) and dark head (breeding!).

West Coast Guide
On LA1 –Bill is hooked, Gulls and Kittiwakes (go to LA2). Wing Coloration: dark wingtips, primaries without windows. Go to species pages:
Black-legged Kittiwake LA13, wing tips not solid black. Moving on…
Heerman’s Gull LA21, all measurements too small. Hmm…
Red-legged Kittiwake (too rare to be in the guide). Can’t rule it out, so let’s stick with Group: Gulls and Kittiwakes, species unknown and let Charlie work his magic.

Sabine’s Gulls are so rare in the lower 48 that they aren’t even mentioned in the West Coast Guide!

During her June survey on Agate Beach in Northern Oregon, Wendy found quite a bit of bird variety, including this tricky specimen.

Wing 15cm
Tarsus 28mm

Alaska Foot Key – page 34
West Coast Foot Key – page 22
Choose webbed (go to Q2), completely webbed (go to Q3), four toes: 3 webbed 4^th free (go to Q5), tarsus not >12mm across (go to Q6), thin toe or nail only (go to Q7), heel flat (go to Q8), foot not huge – STOP: Tubenose: Petrels

Alaska Guide
On TN1 –wing chord is <18cm: Storm-Petrels. Go to species pages:
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel TN15
Leach’s Storm-Petrel TN17

Tarsus measurement more fitting for FTSP and plumage gray rather than dark sooty brown. No white rump patch. Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel it is!

West Coast Guide
On TN1 –wing chord is <17cm: Storm-Petrels. Go to species pages:
Leach’s Storm-Petrel TN9
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel TN11

Tarsus measurement more fitting for FTSP and plumage gray rather than dark sooty brown. No white rump patch. Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel it is!

The Harps found the 7^th COASST bird of its kind on their July survey on Ediz Hook in Washington.

Bill 30mm
Wing 28.5cm
Tarsus 34mm

Alaska Foot Key – page 34
West Coast Foot Key – page 22
Choose free (go to Q9), 4:3 front, 1 back (go to Q10), two toes are fused! STOP: Kingfishers are as far as the COASST guides will take you—this one is a Belted Kingfisher.

Keith found this “bucket” on Steamboat Creek in July.  Amanda and Chris identify and translate the object as follows: In the small, blue kanji characters on top) 天下一品=Tenka Ippin=”Best thing on Earth” (In the larger white characters in the blue box below) ジヨータみそ=jiyota miso. The contents are probably bean paste that is put into miso soup, among other things. Tenka Ippin is apparently a restaurant chain in Japan that specializes in ramen.

What a find! Olli sent us this great shark photo from Cape Meares, Oregon that Katherine Maslenikov, Collections Manager at the UW Burke Museum, confirmed to be a salmon shark. Salmon sharks have a slightly bulbous body with a conical snout and are usually found roaming the subarctic and temperate North Pacific. As you might guess from their name, they feed primarily on Pacific salmon, but they will occasionally snack on other bony fish as well. Typically, they are about 6.5-8 feet long, but they can reach up to 10 feet in length!

Seen something on the beach you’ve always wondered about? Send us a photo!

Cheers,
Erika, Julia, Hillary, Charlie, Heidi, Jenn, and the COASST Interns

Here’s an update from COASST Executive Director, Julia Parrish, on her recent trip to Washington, DC:

Who knew that only a few years after going to The White House to receive a Champions of Change award (zoom to minute 10:30) on behalf of COASST, I’d be back in the South Auditorium attending a “by invitation” gathering of citizen science cognoscenti. Of course COASST has been pioneering citsci for years out here on the West Coast, but inside the beltway the notion that “the rest of us” non-scientists can collect data, and deduce information, at a level of rigor rivaling grad students, faculty, and other “card-carrying” scientists is just beginning to gain ground. What we know:

• that the world is changing too fast to rely only on scientists to measure and monitor
• that involving residents in communicating what is happening in the places, spaces and habitats they know and love can only improve our knowledge
• that people will use and respect science that comes from within, and not just from the ivory tower

creates the perfect storm for effective citizen science.

The auditorium was crowded with guests. Mike Brubaker from the LEO Network was there. Just last week I gave a LEO webinar about the Common Murre die-off. Also present were Nolan Doesken – the brains, energy and boundless enthusiasm behind CoCoRaHS (if you don’t know about this weather citsci project, you might want to sign up!), Karen Oberhauser – the woman who has singled handedly pushed Monarch butterfly citizen science to new levels, and Gretchen Lebuhn, who spearheads the Great Sunflower Project. COASST was in excellent company.

Here are some super-great things that happened:

• John Holdren, the President’s Science Advisory and the head of the Office of Science Technology Policy, spoke to us about the power of citizen science and how the federal government can, and should, do more. To that end, he released a policy memo outlining what The White House and the federal agencies can do. And COASST is called out as a great example of how to do citsci right (pg 10-11)! YaHOO!!

• France Cordova, the Director of the National Science Foundation, gave a great speech about the power of rigorous citizen science to advance all of science – citsci as a bonafide tool in the science toolbox. Turns out she used citizen science data in her own PhD research (astronomy). And wouldn’t you know, Dr. Cordova also called out COASST as a shining example of citsci done right, with our data used by scientists and resource managers alike. Double YaHOO!!!

• As if that wasn’t enough (and actually, it was – I was already on cloud 9), the next day I had the chance to speak to staffers of our Washington delegation about COASST and the great work we do. Upshot? Senator Patty Murray tweeted congrats to us! Hat-trick YaHOO!!!

Now I’m back in Seattle, leaping back into the Common Murre die-off, moving our new marine debris sampling program forward, and working with a myriad of scientists and resource managers who are using COASST data. It’s all COASST all the time, which is just how I like it.

And it’s a great feeling to know that thousands of miles away in the other Washington COASST is getting well-deserved recognition as an exemplar citizen science program. And that’s quite simply due to the continuing efforts of hundreds (and hundreds!) of COASSTers out there every month. Hat’s off to you!!!!

Hi COASSTers,

Hope you’re all enjoying the start of the fall season! It’s certainly been busy, with high numbers of Common Murres washing in to many COASST beaches.  Thanks so much for helping us to document this event – we couldn’t do it without you.

Below is an infographic and additional information that we’ve put together with the data that we’ve received so far.

Along the outer coast of Washington, the carcass encounter rate is significantly higher (stars) than normal (gray area), as well as than any other year in the COASST record.  Murres are also significantly above normal (see green versus yellow on bull’s eye plot) in Washington, with the maximum beach spiking to 3-4x average (see red versus yellow).

For murres, the long-term average in Oregon and northern California is not different than the 2015 value, even though single beaches (e.g., the maximum value) are reporting high values.

In the Gulf of Alaska, murre numbers are contributing to higher than normal carcass counts, although this signal pales in comparison to the lower 48.

Note that the long-term averages are variable length intervals: AK from 2007, N. WA – 2002, S. WA – 2001, N. OR – 2002, SOR – 2006, N. CA – 2006.

Please let us know if you have any questions.  We’d be happy to help.

Now, let’s take a look at what else has washed in!

During a very COMU filled survey at Anchor River State Rec Area in the Gulf of Alaska on September 2, Michael and Lisa also encountered these two birds among the 30 from their day.

Bill: 29 mm
Wing: 16 cm
Tarsus: 32 mm

Alaska Foot Key – page 34
West Coast Foot Key – page 22

Choose webbed (go to Q2), completely webbed (go to Q3), three toes: all webbed (go to Q4), foot not huge – STOP: Alcids.

Alaska Guide:
On AL1 veer left – wing chord is more than 15cm. Bill is dark, slender, featureless. Upperwing dark w/ large white patch. STOP: Guillemots, AL7.

Underwing gray-to-pale linings – PIGU! Note there is some white in the underwing linings, but not including the base of the primaries and secondaries. PIGUs in Alaska tend to have a bit more white here than in the lower 48.
Upperwing mottled white patch – immature!

West Coast Guide:
On AL1 veer left – wing chord is more than 15cm. Bill is dark, slender, featureless. Upperwing dark w/ large white patch. STOP: Proceed to species pages Murres & Guillemots, AL2 and AL10.

The measurements are too large to be an adult COMU. We can also rule out an immature COMU because the wings are proportional to the body (not stumpy) and the upperwing is not completely dark. Go to PIGU – measurements are a little small but within reason. Upperwing mottled white patch – immature PIGU!

Another birdy survey for Oregon Mile 286! Among Olli, Carolyn, Keith and Anita’s finds on September 17:

Bill: 33 mm
Wing: 16.5 cm
Tarsus: 33 mm

Alaska Foot Key – page 34
West Coast Foot Key – page 22

Choose webbed (go to Q2), completely webbed (go to Q3), 4 toes, 3 webbed, 4^thfree (go to Q5), tarsus not more than 12mm across (go to Q6), 4^th toe shape is loped, w/ flap extending to nail – STOP: Waterfowl: Diving Ducks.

Alaska Guide:
On WF1 choose plain bill. Upperwing has a white speculum. Go to species pages:

Greater Scaup WF15. Measurements too small for a Greater Scaup and bill not grey-blue. Next:
Bufflehead WF29. Measurements reasonable for Bufflehead and plumage consistent with a female: small white ear patch, gray feet but let’s check out the other options:

• Common Goldeneye WF31. Measurements too small and our bird does not have white above the speculum on the wing. Nope.
• Barrow’s Goldeneye WF33. Same as with the Common Goldeneye.
• Lesser Scaup. Nope, bill not grey-blue (as mentioned in Greater Scaup similar species)
• Gadwall. Underwing linings dark not white (as mentioned in Bufflehead similar species)

Female BUFF it is!

West Coast Guide:
On WF1 choose plain bill. Go to species pages:

Greater Scaup WF13. Bill not blue with dark tip and measurements too small for Greater Scaup. Next:
Bufflehead WF15. Measurements are reasonable, the head does have a white patch and the wing is dark with a white speculum. The underparts are pale and the feet are grey, which is consistent with a female. Let’s try the other options just to be sure:

Black Scoter-F WF17. Outer primary not shorter than the next 2 and measurements generally too small.
Steller’s Eider would be a very rare find on the West Coast, so let’s stick with female BUFF!

Lee encountered this rather large piece of debris (from a dock?) during his September survey at Old Mill Park in Washington. When COASST launches large debris monitoring (soon!) each piece of large debris (anything greater than 50cm in longest length) will be marked so that we can keep track of refinds and persistence month to month. And a reminder for those of you in the Puget Sound, large debris items, creosote covered logs, and derelict vessels found can be reported to the WA DNR debris removal program. They rely on reports to prioritize removal actions and can be reached at 360-854-2808.

Check out the pipefish that Rayna found at Sunset Beach in Washington! Pipefish are small, straight-bodied fish in the same family as seahorses and seadragons. Because they are weak swimmers, pipefish are often found sheltered in coral reefs or seagrass beds. They are carnivorous and their diets consist mostly of newborn fish, small crustaceans, and fish eggs.  Like their seahorse relatives, pipefish also leave most of the parenting duties to the male. The male provides all the care for offspring by supplying them with nutrients and oxygen when they are in a brood pouch.

Seen something on the beach you’ve always wondered about? Send us a photo!

Cheers,
Erika, Julia, Hillary, Charlie, Heidi, Jenn, and the COASST Interns

 

Hi COASSTers,

It continues to be an interesting beached bird year, as moribund and dead Common Murres are washing in in higher than usual numbers, perhaps 3-6 times “normal” (long-term average).

Many of you have sent in data already – thank you! These data are critical for capturing the geographic extent and magnitude of the event. If you find that you have a lot of birds on your next survey, don’t forget that you can expedite the processing of birds when there are many carcasses on the beach (see also COASST Protocol page BB 36-37):

• After the 10th bird, don’t measure – record, tag, and photograph only
• Process birds as a group – record, tag, and photograph together
• Send in your data for us to enter (after a long day, you certainly deserve a break!)

Many folks have been asking about the cause of this “wreck.” COASST is working closely with our partners to pull together the pieces of the story– what species are dying where and when, how that contrasts to baseline (long-term average), what the clues are for the cause of death, and whether these and other die-off events are linked to one another.

Specimens collected from the AK Peninsula and Grays Harbor County, WA are undergoing diagnostics to determine the cause of death. Whether that is food scarcity, poisoning (as in from a harmful algal bloom), bad weather, juvenile ineptitude, or a combination, is often difficult to determine. Almost all beached birds die of starvation and are emaciated at the time of death, so determining what caused them to stop eating is often the larger question. Getting this big picture takes time, and we are unlikely to find a singular “smoking gun.”

We’ll continue to keep you informed as we learn more.

For now, let’s take a look at what’s washed in:

This month brought a new species for COASST, found by Betsy and Bob at Terrell Mouth (WA).

Bill: 18 mm
Wing: 11 cm
Tarsus: 33 mm

Using the foot key, they took the following path:
Free (go to Q9), choose 4: 3 front, 1 back (go to Q10), choose no fused toes (go to Q11), tarsus less than 150mm (go to Q12), no claws (go to Q13), toe pads not fleshy — SHOREBIRDS: 4-TOED

Here, there only a couple options: Dunlin and Whimbrel (West Coast Guide) or Rock Sandpiper and Dunlin (Alaska Guide). These could be ruled out by bill length and shape alone.  At this point, they left their COASST guide behind and relied on other field guides. Charlie, all the way from the middle of the Chukchi Sea, confirmed their identification- it’s a juvenile Sora.

Further out toward the coast Ken and Mary found this bird on Tsoo-Yess North (WA).

Bill: 14 mm
Wing: 11 cm
Tarsus: 24 mm

In both the West Coast and Alaska Guides:

Choose webbed (go to Q2), completely webbed (go to Q3), three toes all webbed (go to Q4), foot not huge, tarsus less than 50 mm – ALCIDS

On AL1, wing chord is less than 15cm, so choose Small Alcid. Bill is dark with (pale) spot at base–Cassin’s Auklet. This one may be all too familiar for those of you on the outer west coast this winter.

Can you spot the bird bite marks? Virginia and Jean found this example during their August marine debris survey of South Ocean Beach (WA). Take a closer look, then scroll down to see the marks that COASST identified.

These blue circles show areas with puncture marks in the crescent shape of a bird’s bill, different from cracking, crumbling or weathering.

Take a look at this Fried Egg Jelly, found by Tina and Mark at Cape Sebastian (OR) in June. Also known as Egg Yolk Jellies, these jellies are commonly found in the open-ocean habitats off of the West Coast from California all the way up to the Gulf of Alaska.  They can grow up to two feet in diameter and their tentacles can grow to twenty feet long.  Sometimes other organisms ride along either on the subumbrella (underside) or exumbrella (aboral surface) of the jelly to catch extra food!

Seen something on the beach you’ve always wondered about? Send us a photo!

Cheers,
Erika, Julia, Hillary, Charlie, Heidi, Jenn, and the COASST Interns

Hi COASSTers,

Hope you’re all having a great month and enjoying some beautiful weather on the beach lately.  It’s been a busy month here at COASST. We have a fantastic new team of summer interns (see photos and bios at the bottom of this page), and we’re gearing up for a series of trainings in the San Juan Islands (WA) this weekend. WA COASSTers, we’d love it if you could join us – see our events calendar for details!

Thank you for all of the datasheets and photos over the past few weeks – we really appreciate it! As you head out for your next survey, take a quick look at your supplies – we’ll be starting summer volunteer check-ins soon and would be happy to replenish your inventory of cable ties, datasheets, etc.

Also, as some of you have heard, Jane Dolliver (COASST’s Beached Bird Program Coordinator) is leaping into graduate school in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University this fall. She’ll be working on project involving seabirds (what else?!) and Alaska’s Groundfish fishery. We’ve been lucky to have Jane as part of the COASST team for the last 13 years – she started as an undergraduate intern with COASST in 2002 – and wish her well on this next step!

Let’s take a look at what’s washed in recently:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oregon Mile 166 (OR) 7/1/15 found by Priscilla and Walter
 
Bill: 15 mm
Wing: 13 cm
Tarsus: 18 mm
 
Alaska Foot Key – page 34
West Coast Foot Key – page 22
Choose webbed (go to Q2), choose completely webbed (go to Q3), choose 3 toes: all webbed (go to Q4), choose tarsus <50mm – ALCIDS.
 
West Coast Guide
On AL1, select wing chord < 15cm, Small Alcids. Select bill color dark: Common Murre juvenile (AL4), Marbled Murrelet (AL14). The MAMUs measurements match, check COMUj – nope, plain white belly. Double check similar species: no white underwing linings (not ANMU), no spot on bill (not CAAU) – so it’s a Marbled Murrelet, an adult in breeding plumage.
 
Alaska Guide
On AL1, select wing chord < 15cm, Small Alcids. Select bill color dark: Marbled Murrelet (AL17), Kittlitz’s Murrelet (AL19). Based on measurements, could be either of these species – but the secondary feathers are all dark – not a KIMU. Check similar species: no white underwing linings (not COMU), bill is dark and underwing linings are not white (not ANMU), bill in range and underwing simply dark (not CAAU). It’s a Marbled Murrelet, an adult in breeding plumage.

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South Spit (CA) 07/04/15 found by Grace and Don
 
Bill: not measurable, no upper bill
Wing: 5.5 cm
Tarsus: 32 mm
 
Alaska Foot Key – page 34
West Coast Foot Key – page 22
Choose webbed (go to Q2), choose completely webbed (go to Q3), choose 3 toes: all webbed (go to Q4), choose tarsus <50mm – ALCIDS.
 
West Coast Guide
On AL1, select wing chord < 15cm, Small Alcids. Select bill color dark: Common Murre juvenile (AL4), Marbled Murrelet (AL14). The Marbled Murrelet’s tarsus and wing chord are too small – check COMUj. Looks like the photo of the young juvenile, but confirm against similar species: white throat (not CAAU), no white upperwing patch (not PIGU), no white scapulars (not MAMU) – so it must be a Common Murre juvenile.
 
Alaska Guide
On AL1, select wing chord < 15cm, Small Alcids. Select dark bill: Marbled Murrelet (AL17) or Kittlitz’s Murrelet (AL19). Whoa! Tarsus is way too long and wing is way too short for either of these species! Consult the similar species section: murres (AL3, AL5), Ancient Murrelet (AL15), Cassin’s Auklet (AL21). Hmm. The measurements are not fitting any of these species, either. Check for immatures – Thick-billed Murre, Common Murre. Tiny wing and tarsus almost adult-sized (like puppies, they grow into their feet first!). This is a Common Murre chick – white face and throat.

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This Russian vodka bottle was found by COASST interns during a field trip to Ocean Shores. As explained by translating volunteer Sarah, the brand is Кристалл/Kristal which was founded in 1901.This particular vodka bottle is not currently in production by the company. The words at the top mean “Moscow plant,” so this bottle was processed in their Moscow factory. We hear it’s high quality vodka.

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While combing the Long Beach peninsula (WA) on July 3^rd, Russ found this object. We have no clue what it is–but hope one of you do! Any ideas? Please send them to COASST!

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Check out this cool find! John, Tara, and Cassidy found this Virginia opossum in May during a survey of Bayshore Beach (OR). You can tell it is an opossum due to its long, rat-like tail and sharp claws. Not only do their prehensile tails grasp objects, but their claws help them climb trees. Opossums can be found living in tree holes that have been dug out by other animals. They are most commonly known for their signature phrase “playing possum,” where they involuntarily fall to the ground and play dead, when they sense that they are in danger. This catatonic state is commonly accompanied by a foul odor and foaming at the mouth, where they have the chance to show off all 50 of their teeth!

Seen something on the beach you’ve always wondered about? Send us a photo!

Cheers,
Erika, Julia, Jane, Hillary, Charlie, Heidi, Jenn, and the COASST Interns

Hi COASSTers,

Hope you’ve all had a great month! Thank you for the datasheets and photos that you’ve sent in recently, we really appreciate it.

As you head out for your next survey, note that there is currently a largeharmful algal bloom occurring on the West Coast involving microscopic algae called Pseudo-nitzschia.  This algae produces a strong neurotoxin called domoic acid. High levels of domoic acid are often reported in the fall, but this outbreak is occurring earlier than usual and is shutting down many recreational and commercial shellfish harvests in Washington, Oregon, and California.

In other news, this week we received an update on Sea Star Wasting Disease from Dr. Drew Harvell at Cornell University, which we’ve posted on theCOASST website with an updated animation. During recent surveys in Eastsound, WA, Dr. Harvell and her team confirmed that the surviving sea stars are not resistant and the disease is reportedly going strong again this year.

If you live in a coastal area with cobble, rocky bench, or tide pool coastal sites and are able to conduct a July sea star survey during low tides, we’d greatly appreciate it. Everything you need to get started (the sea star survey protocol and datasheet) can be found in the volunteer toolbox at the bottom. We’re hoping to get a final push of data in for July to help assess the size of their populations and assess the magnitude of further impacts of Sea Star Wasting Disease.

Also, we’d like to give a big welcome to our new COASSTers in Fort Bragg and Fortuna, CA and our new COAST interns who are joining us for summer quarter. We’re excited to have you all join the team!

Let’s take a look at what’s washed in recently:

Mariner Park (AK) 6/2/15 found by Michelle and John

Wing: 42 cm

Alaska Wing Key – page 44
Choose gray, some species with dark tips and/or dark stripe(s) (go to Q25), select gray wingtips with white windows and fingernails – Glaucous-winged Gull (LA6).

West Coast Wing Key – page 33
Choose gray, some species with dark tips and/or dark stripe(s) on mantle (go to Q10), wingtips do not contrast (gray- same as mantle) (go to Q11), primary feathers have contrasting white in the outer half – white windows and fingernails – Glaucous-winged Gull (LA7).

West Coast Wing Table – page 32
Choose size row Extra Large (wing chord 33-43) and column gray mantle. Don’t have a photo of the underwing linings, so it’s either Heermann’s Gull (HEEG – LA21) or Glaucous-winged Gull (GWGU – LA7). HEER has a very dark mantle and wingtips – must be the lighter-colored Glaucous-winged Gull (LA7)

Elger Bay (WA) 1/12/15 found by Alice and Bill

Wing: 34 cm
Tarsus: 95 mm

Alaska Foot Key – page 34
West Coast Foot Key – page 22
Choose webbed (go to Q2), choose completely webbed (go to Q3), choose 4 toes: 3 webbed, 4^th free (go to Q5), choose tarsus more than 12mm across – LOONS.

Alaska Guide
On LO1, we don’t have a bill, but measurements fit only one species – Common Loon (LO6)

West Coast Guide
On LO1, we don’t have a bill, but measurements fit only one species – Common Loon (LO4).

    

Babs sent images of this buoy, found on Second Beach, to COASST back in May. The buoy and other debris was also reported to WDFW, who put together this information about their response. If you see something unusual or interesting, don’t hesitate to report it!

Have you jawbones like these on your surveys? Bobbee, Linda, and Jeanene found this set at Rendsland Creek last week, just above the wrack line. To get an idea of size, the longest jawbone is 4 inches from tip to tip and the smaller one is 2.5 inches.

According to Mike Etnier, a curator at the UW Burke Museum, these are salmon jawbones, but “ID-ing salmon bones to species is really really tricky (some would say impossible).” With a chum salmon hatchery nearby and the big, hooked teeth in front, these jawbones may be from a chum salmon.

Seen something on the beach you’ve always wondered about? Send us a photo!

Cheers,
Erika, Julia, Jane, Hillary, Charlie, Heidi, Jenn, and the COASST Interns

Two year postdoctoral position in seabird conservation

The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) of University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, in partnership with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, seek a Postdoctoral Research Associate.

COASST is a 17-year old citizen science program focused primarily on rigorous, effort-controlled, standardized, and independently verified data on the identity and condition of beach-cast birds. COASST data are collected monthly at ~450 sites from northern California north to Cape Lisburne, Alaska by a diverse collective of hundreds of coastal residents who are committed to coastal stewardship and science as a basis of responsible decision-making. Additional information on site characteristics and citizen participation, as well as verification and QAQC post-processing, bring the total database fields to over 200.

This project is focused on data mining with a particular objective of using the COASST dataset to further scientifically-based natural resource management along the West Coast, and with a goal of publication in the peer-reviewed literature. Potential projects include:

• modeling the factors affecting deposition rate as a precursor to establishing a credible estimate of total carcasses (an index for mortality)
• creating a time/space and taxon specific model of oiling sensitivity

We seek an enthusiastic, creative team-player who wants to apply their quantitative skills to the intersection of citizen science, coastal ecology and applications to resource management. The ideal candidate will bring unique skills to add to the COASST team of faculty, students and staff; and will be available to start by September 2015.

Screening of applicants will begin on July 1, 2015; applications should be received by June 30th, 2015 to ensure consideration. Applications should include: (1) letter of interest (2) a curriculum vitae, including publications, (3) the names and contact information of four individuals who can provide a letter of reference. Please send all materials and any questions to Sarah Drerup at sdrerup@uw.edu