Pigeon Guillemot Survey

by Bob Phreaner, Conservation Co-chair

One morning a week, shortly after sunrise, I am lucky enough to spend a tranquil hour on Port Williams beach observing the breeding behavior of Pigeon Guillemots (PIGUs). It is a very rewarding and peaceful experience. Dan Stahler and Ed Bowlby (PIGU co-leads for Clallam County), provide the following information:

Overview and Training

The Salish Sea Guillemot Network monitoring program began with the Whidbey Audubon Society in 2003. It has grown into a region-wide program. This last year the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife began incorporating the years of data into their state-wide system. There are many Regional partners in the effort. For a full list visit the home page of the project's website. Clallam County's efforts are sponsored and managed by the Clallam County's Marine Resources Committee (MRC). Last year over 30 volunteers monitored 8 nesting colonies along county shorelines. OPAS and MRC members are active in the volunteer ranks. With COVID, volunteer training is being done online. Videos and Zoom meetings have worked well to keep everyone informed. Training dates will be announced soon for this year. To get an idea of how the observations work, you can see last year’s training videos at: Survey Training Videos

Observers at Port Williams are assigned a viewing location between the surf and the bluff. We become familiar with our positions and the PIGU burrows above us. We try to blend into the beach and record the birds that fly from the water to the bluff with fish for their growing chicks. Sometimes their routine is interrupted by predators like Bald Eagles.

Some beach walkers ask our team of observers about our objectives and our concern for the preservation of this important bluff. Jean Siesener, whose station is the first encountered by north bound walkers, developed the idea of an informational sign to alert the public to Pigeon Guillemot’s sensitive nesting sites along the bluffs, and together with Ed Bowlby approached Clallam County Parks for their approval. Park’s staff will be placing the sign at Marlyn Nelson Park this month. Your OPAS contributions and the Clallam MRC shared the expense of this welcome addition to preserving PIGU habitat.

Volunteers are needed for this year's survey

Observers volunteer one morning per week and observations are for one hour between 6 and 8 AM. The 10 week observation season will begin in early June. To become a volunteer, or for more information, contact Ed Bowlby edbowlby2@gmail.com

For details about the project visit: pigeonguillemot.org and https://www.clallamcountymrc.org/projects/pigeon-guillemot-survey/.