Notes from the Field (Spring 2013):
Date: May 31, 2013
Location: 5 miles south of the mouth of the Yaquina River and Newport, Oregon.
Observers: Dan Varland, Will Dixon, Larry Warwick, Garth Herring and John Pierce.
We got out before first light, during vulture sleepy time, and set up the net launcher next to the sea lion carcass.
Will Dixon photo.
L to R: Larry Warwick, Dan Varland, Garth Herring and John Pierce.
Will Dixon photo.
Garth, John and Dan attach the driftwood cover to the net launcher.
Will Dixon photo.
After we set the trap and before vultures started to arrive, I showed a video clip by Pete Bloom on how to attach wing tags. The video was a refresher for me but was something new for the rest of the crew. In particular, Garth Herring wanted to learn the procedure in order to get authorization from the federal Bird Banding Lab to apply wing tags on his own.
Will Dixon photo.
John Pierce with BB, one of two turkey vultures we captured, tagged and tissue-sampled.
Dan Varland photo.
BB up close.
Dan Varland photo.
BB had a toe injury, which had healed.
Dan Varland photo.
Will Dixon records data as Garth (left) and John get the weight of the captured bird. Larry Warwick looks on.
Dan Varland photo.
Garth Herring with AS.
Dan Varland photo.
Date: May 30, 2013
Location: 5 miles south of the mouth of the Yaquina River and Newport, Oregon.
Observers: Dan Varland, Will Dixon and Larry Warwick
Turkey vultures at a Stellar sea lion. Jim Rice of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network let me know that this carcass had washed up and that vultures were feeding there.
Dan Varland photo.
Date: May 24, 2013
Location: Ocean Shores
Observers: Dan Varland, Dan Miller, and Ellen Sweetin
Raptor count:
| Bald Eagle |
Peregrine Falcon |
7 adults,
3 juveniles
|
3 adults |
Raptors Banded:
| Species |
Color Marker Code |
| Peregrine Falcon |
H/5 |
A one-year-old male Peregrine Falcon that we captured and color banded with H/5 during today's survey. Note that the molt to the blue-gray plumage of adult peregrines is far from complete in this individual, which is how we know his age.
Dan Varland photo.
H/5's leg bands.
Dan Varland photo.
H/5.
Dan Varland photo.
H/5.
Dan Varland photo.
These “Geotubes” were buried in place more than 10 years ago to protect the residences from the sea. Unfortunately the pounding surf of the last few months has left them exposed.
Dan Varland photo.
Date: May 5, 2013
Location: Long Beach
Observers: Dan Varland, Tom Rowley, Suzy Whittey, and Suzanne Staples
Raptor count:
The south half of the Long Beach Peninsula was full of people enjoying the day's wonderful weather. Needless to say, we saw few birds other than gulls along this stretch of the beach.
Tom Rowley photo.
Adult Bald Eagle perches next to a creek.
Tom Rowley photo.
Wimbrel.
Tom Rowley photo.
Black-bellied Plover.
Tom Rowley photo.
Common Raven.
Tom Rowley photo.
Common Raven.
Tom Rowley photo.
Caspian Terns, one of which was banded!
Tom Rowley photo.
This tern was banded in 2008 on East Sand Island near the mouth of the Columbia River.
Caspian Terns are banded at several locations on the Columbia to learn more about their biology, given
their propensity to feed on salmon smolts. Suzy Whittey, who was on today's survey, found out where the
tern was banded for us by reporting the band information online to
http://www.birdresearchnw.org/.
Tom Rowley photo.
Date: May 1, 2013
Location: Ocean Shores
Observers: Dan Varland, Trish Safstrom, Ellen Sweetin and Dale Larson
Raptor count:
| Bald Eagle |
Peregrine Falcon |
Northern Harrier |
8 adults,
4 juveniles
|
1 adult |
1 |
Thanks to Ellen Sweetin, pictured here, for sharing her wonderful photos from today's survey.
Dan Varland photo.
Adult Peregrine Falcon feeding on a shorebird.
Ellen Sweetin photo.
Greater yellowlegs!
Ellen Sweetin photo.
Adult Bald Eagle.
Ellen Sweetin photo.
3-year old Bald Eagle.
Ellen Sweetin photo.
3-year old landing.
Ellen Sweetin photo.
2-year old Bald Eagle landing.
Ellen Sweetin photo.
The 2-year-old was perched on what looked to us, and to the 3-year-old at right, like food.
Ellen Sweetin photo.
After the eagles left, we discovered that the younger bird had been perched on a small piece of driftwood.
Dan Varland photo.
Date: April 21, 2013
Location: Ocean Shores
Participants: Dan Varland, Tom Rowley, Sandra Miller, and Mary O'Neil
Comments: We captured two one-year-old Peregrine Falcons during today's survey.
Raptor count:
| Bald Eagle |
Peregrine Falcon |
Merlin |
2 adults,
3 juveniles
|
2 |
1 |
Raptors Banded:
| Species |
Color Marker Code |
| Peregrine Falcon |
C/7 |
Marked Individuals Observed:
| Species |
Color Marker Code |
| Peregrine Falcon |
R/5 |
Newly applied bands to a 1-year-old female Peregrine Falcon.
Dan Varland photo.
Sandra Miller with C/7.
Dan Varland photo.
We were able to identify C/7 as age 1 because she still retained some brown feathers of the juvenile plumage; some can be seen here in this view of her back.
Dan Varland photo.
Brown feathers are also still visible on C/7's head.
Dan Varland photo.
C/7, one beautiful bird!
Dan Varland photo.
Sandra Miller releases C/7.
Dan Varland photo.
Video of the release of C/7.
Dan Varland video.
The second Peregrine Falcon we captured was R/5, an individual that Don and Dalene Edgar, Mike Walker and I initially
captured and banded on November 4, 2011.
Tom Rowley photo.
We usually don't feel the need to wear gloves when handling peregrines, but R/5 was a biter! Just before we captured her, she had chased three bald eagles away from her prey. She was not a happy camper when we stepped into the picture and picked her up!
Tom Rowley photo.
R/5 did not retain brown feathers in her plumage as had C/7 of the same age. Timing of molt can vary among individuals. Moreover, R/5 has one of the most unique plumages I've seen in coastal peregrine.
Tom Rowley photo.
Take a look at this photo of R/5 when she was caught as a juvenile on November 4, 2011. Her plumage did not contain brown feathers even then. We identified her as a juvenile at the time by the lack of a yellow cere and eye ring.
Mike Walker photo.
Here you can see the yellow cere (at base of beak) and eye rings on R/5.
Tom Rowley photo.
Bonapart's Gull with an injury to the back of its head. It's possible a peregrine got ahold of this individual, given that falcons first attack this part of the body once they get their prey on the ground.
Tom Rowley photo.
We don't think this gull felt too well, given that it did a lot more walking than flying with our approach.
Tom Rowley photo.
White-fronted Geese heading north this morning.
Tom Rowley photo.
Marbled Godwit.
Tom Rowley photo.
Marbled Godwits foraging.
Tom Rowley photo.
Date: March 19, 2013
Location: City of Hoquiam Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Participants: Dan Varland, Tom Rowley, Don Edgar, Larry Warwick, Adam Hoxit and Al Gregory.
Comments: We fixed a Peregrine Falcon nest box to the top of a platform at the city of Hoquiam Wastewater Treatment Plan.
Before the 2010 nesting season, city of Hoquiam Wastewater Treatment Plant personnel erected a nest platform for Ospreys next to the wastewater treatment pond. Osprey had been nesting on the crossbeams of a telephone pole several hundred yards away on Port of Grays Harbor property along Paulson Road. That pole broke and the nest was lost during a winter storm in 2009-10. Upon their return from nesting, the treatment plant crew offered Ospreys a new, sturdier location for nesting.
Tom Rowley photo.
Another view of the Osprey nest platform, sans Osprey.
Tom Rowley photo.
Ospreys perched on the platform. However, they chose not to nest there. This may have been because they were intimidated by local Bald Eagles.
Tom Rowley photo.
Instead of using the Wastewater Treatment Plant Platform, in 2010 Ospreys decided to build a nest on a telephone pole next to the one that broke along Paulson Road. They nested here in 2010, 2011 and 2012. I expect them back at this location in 2013.
Tom Rowley photo.
Osprey nest building along Paulson Road in 2010.
Tom Rowley photo.
Osprey nest building along Paulson Road in 2010.
Tom Rowley photo.
An adult Osprey calls from the nest in 2010.
Tom Rowley photo.
Bald Eagles perch in the trees adjacent to the platform from time to time. Less frequently, one will perch on the platform.
Tom Rowley photo.
Red-tailed Hawk on the platform.
Tom Rowley photo.
Peregrine Falcons like to perch on the platform too.
Tom Rowley photo.
The platform is a great vantage point for searching for prey.
Tom Rowley photo.
A raptor's eye view from the platform, looking east. Peregrines like to feed on waterfowl and small birds; there are plenty in the area.
Dan Varland photo.
In February and March 2013, one and sometimes two Peregrine Falcons were observed perching on the platform.
Tom Rowley photo.
Time for a Peregrine Falcon nest box atop that platform!
Dan Varland photo.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Lead Operator Al Gregory. Al gave Coastal Raptors permission to place nest a box on the Osprey nest platform.
Tom Rowley photo.
The Osprey nest platform.
Tom Rowley photo.
A raptor pellet atop the platform.
Tom Rowley photo.
Our nest box was built by Don Edgar of Ocean Shores.
Dalene Edgar photo.
Don and his son Nicholas with the box and its first resident.
Dalene Edgar photo.
Don attaches the Coastal Raptors logo and a speed limit sign to our box.
We wouldn't want our peregrines crashing into their box, would we?
Dan Varland photo.
While Don built the box Larry Warwick (right) found us pea gravel for the box floor in Tacoma. We couldn't find the diameter-size we needed locally. Peregrines don't bring nesting material to their nest sites. Pea gravel provides a secure substrate for the eggs.
Tom Rowley photo.
For nest box placement, Willis Industries generously provided this man-lift and their operator Adam Hoxit.
Tom Rowley photo.
Adam and I go up with the box.
Tom Rowley photo.
Tom Rowley photo.
Adam operated the man-lift AND secured the box to the nest platform.
Dan Varland photo.
What a day!
Adam and I loaded more than 220 pounds of pea gravel into the nest box.
Tom Rowley photo.
View from above.
Dan Varland photo.
View to the west.
Dan Varland photo.
We have finished our work. Now all we need are the star attractions to set up house-keeping.... Stay tuned!
Tom Rowley photo.
Date: March 3, 2013
Beach: Ocean Shores
Observers: Dan Varland, Kim Middleton, Wayne Munich, Dan Miller, Sandra Miller, Dave Murnen, Kate Davis, Rob Palmer and Nick Dunlop.
Marked Individuals Observed:
| Species |
Color Marker Code |
| Gyrfalcon |
8 |
| Peregrine Falcon |
W/Z |
Gyrfalcon! We don't see many of these during our surveys, and we capture even fewer. The highlight of the day, in fact the highlight of the year so far, was re-capturing this adult female. We caught her 7 years to the day of her initial capture and banding in Ocean Shores at the Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area. She was a one-year old at the time. Today we found her about ½-mile north of the jetty at Ocean Shores. She is eight years old.
Wayne Munich photo.
Kim Middleton with Gyrfalcon 8.
Dan Varland photo.
Dave Murnen (left), Dan Miller (right) and I prepare to take feather samples from the Gyrfalcon.
Wayne Munich photo.
The Gyrfalcon had a small cataract in her left eye, which can be seen in this photo by Rob Palmer.
Rob Palmer photo.
The Gyrfalcon in flight.
Kate Davis photo.
Kim Middleton with W/Z, a 5-year old male Peregrine Falcon we re-captured for blood and feather samples.
Dan Varland photo.
This band has been around. It would be fascinating to know just where W/Z has been.
Dan Varland photo.
W/Z up close.
We've had 18 re-observations of W/Z since he was banded on November 17, 2007.
Nick Dunlop (left), Kate Davis and Rob Palmer cruised the beach photographing raptors while the rest of the group did a survey.
Dan Varland photo.
Nick, Rob and Kate go into action as two peregrines conduct an aerial battle to the south. These three have published several books together, including Raptors of the West, Captured in Photographs. This award-winner is available through Coastal Raptors (contact Dan Varland), Mountain Press, and Amazon. Following are some Kate Davis photos from Ocean Shores.
Dan Varland photo.
W/Z relaxing on the beach.
Kate Davis photo.
W/Z stretches.
Kate Davis photo.
W/Z takes a bath in an Ocean Shores creek.
Kate Davis photo.
W/Z on the march.
Kate Davis photo.
Peregrine Falcon stoops on shorebirds.
Kate Davis photo.
Date: March 2, 2013
Beach: Ocean Shores
Observers: Dan Varland, Mary Kay Kenney, Tom Rowley, Kim Middleton, and Wayne Munich.
On a drizzly morning before first light, Mary Kay Kenney, Wayne Munich (with flashlight) and I set up the net launcher next to a sea lion carcass in the hope of capturing a Bald Eagle as part of the avian scavenger study.
Kim Middleton photo.
For camouflage, we covered the net launcher with rope lost from boats and washed ashore. I collected it over several months, thinking it might serve better than driftwood as a cover. While eagles perched nearby, none would come in to feed on the sea lion. That much rope in one place made them suspicious, I think. Moving forward we will go back to driftwood.
Kim Middleton photo.
Date: March 1, 2013
Beach: Ocean Shores
Observers: Mary Kay Kenney, Dave Murnen, Sandra Miller and Larry Warwick.
Raptor count:
| Bald Eagle |
10 adults,
6 juveniles
|
Marked Individuals Observed:
| Species |
Color Marker Code |
| Bald Eagle |
U/O |