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

Hi COASSTers,

Thank you for all of your help this month! We’ve really enjoyed seeing your photos and datasheets and hope your summer is getting off to a great start.

A big welcome to our new Alaska COASSTers. We just wrapped up a great series of Beached Bird trainings in Kodiak, Homer, Seward, Yakutat, and Sitka.  We’re looking forward to bolstering our data collection in these areas.

As you get ready for your next survey, take a peak at your survey kit and let us know if you need any more datasheets, cable ties, chalk, etc.  We’re happy to send supplies out to you right away.

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

Lands End (AK) 02/22/15 found by Carol and Janet

Wing: 19 cm
Tarsus: 35 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 less than 50mm – Stop: ALCIDS.

Alaska Guide
On AL1, select wing chord greater than 15cm, Large Alcids. Since we don’t have a head, it could be any of the following: AL3, AL5, AL7, AL9, AL11, AL13. White underwing lining and white-tipped secondaries: must be a murre  – Common Murre or Thick-billed Murre – AL3 or AL5.

West Coast Guide
On AL1, select wing chord greater than 15cm, Large Alcids. From there, choose between AL2, AL6, AL10 or AL12. Only one of these has a white underwing lining and white-tipped secondaries – Common Murre (since this bird was found in Alaska, could also be the similar species: Thick-billed Murre).

Tsoo Yess North (WA) 1/25/15 found by Janet, Sally, Gail, Jim, and guest

Bill: 65 mm
Wing: 27 cm
Tarsus: 65 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: all webbed – Stop: POUCHBILLS.

Alaska Guide
On PB1, select wing chord less than 35cm – cormorant. The only one with a pale chin is rare in Alaska: Brandt’s Cormorant.

West Coast Guide
On PB1, select hooked bill with colored throat pouch, bill less than 100mm (10cm). Choose between PB2, PB4, PB6. Only one has a dark bill with a tan chin – Brandt’s Cormorant – correct!

COASST is excited to have a team of multilingual students who have volunteered to help with debris identification and translation.  Beginning this week, we’ll be sharing some of their discoveries from COASSTer photos.
Here we have a container found by Keith on Oregon Mile 286. The writing in Japanese states “Oofunato Fish Market”. Japanese Studies major Devin reports that “Oofunato is a city in Iwate prefecture, east of Mt. Hikami and northeast of Kesennuma. As Iwate is a neighboring prefecture of Miyagi, the home of Sendai, it is possible that this is tsunami debris, or it is possibly just accidental litter from the Oofunato Fish Market.”

Take a look at this North American River Otter that Judy, Dave, and Karen found a few weeks ago at Diamond Point North in Washington.  How can we tell the difference between sea otters and river otters? Check out the feet! Sea otters have paws in front and flippers in back, whereas river otters have paws in the front and back, as shown here.

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’re all enjoying nice weather on the beach this month. We’ve had a great few weeks at COASST with refresher trainings in Westport and Long Beach, WA. Thanks to those of you who came out to join us.  It was great to see you!

For those of you in Alaska, we’re headed your way! Over the next 2 weeks, we’ll be in Kodiak, Homer, Seward, Yakutat, and Sitka for COASST trainings. In Sitka, Julia (COASST Executive Director) will also give a talk on “The Natural History of Dead Birds” as part of the Natural History Seminar Series coordinated by the University of Alaska Southeast and the Sitka Sound Science Center.

As we approach the end of the month, if you have any datasheets or photos sitting around, please send them our way. We’d love to see them!

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

Samoa Bay Street North (CA) 01/13/15 found by Brenda and William

Bill: 26mm
Wing: 16cm
Tarsus: 35mm

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 not more than 12mm across (go to Q6), choose 4^th toe lobed, with flap extending to end of nail – STOP: Waterfowl: Diving Ducks.

Alaska Guide
On WF1, select “plain bill” and continue to WF2. Wing has white in the speculum and a white patch – SO many choices: WF15, WF19, WF25, WF29, WF31 and WF33. Hey! That wasn’t so bad – only species fits that wing chord: Bufflehead.

West Coast Guide
On WF1, select “white in wing” and “plain bill” – WF13, WF15 and WF23. Great! The wing chord proves this is a Bufflehead.

Fishing Rock North (OR) 4/22/15 found by Ann

Bill: 52 mm
Wing: 21 cm (molting into breeding plumage!!)
Tarsus: 73 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 weebed, 4^th free (go to Q5), choose tarsus more than 12mm across – STOP: Loons.

Alaska Guide
On LO1, bill is less than 60mm, wing chord less than 30mm:
Pacific Loon (LO2)
Red-throated Loon (LO4)
Arctic Loon (rare)
Bill is straight, no spotting on back or wings, so not a RTLO. Between Pacific and Arctic, we need the ventral side, to see the dark stripe between the feet. Fortunately, the tarsus is also a bit too long for the Arctic Loon (53-65mm) so Pacific it is!

West Coast Guide
On LO1, bill is less than 60mm and straight – Pacific Loon – easy!

Have you ever found one of these and wondered what it was?

Components of a hagfish trap, shown above, regularly wash-up on COASST beaches. Bait is placed inside the barrel and the “slime eel” swims in through the opening of the cone then can’t get back out. The catch is exported to Asian markets.

Have you ever seen this animal on your COASST survey? Here’s a photo of one found by Linda at Short Beach in Oregon.

Even though they may look like jellyfish with their simple gelatinous form, these barrel shaped gelatinous creatures are actually tunicates or saclike filter-feeders known as sea salps.  Salps are about 4 inches long and pump water through their gelatinous bodies as they move, catching food in the process. Capable of fast asexual reproduction, sea salps can form large communities, linking together in long luminous chains sometimes more than 4 meters long under water.

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