by Ed Deal
The Shaheen sailed with a crew of Russ, Pat and Ed. Stops as follows:
"Coyote" – 3 healthy 4.5 week old chicks seen on ledge in brief stop (banded last week)
"Cormorant" – Ace spotter Russ found female perched high above Ed’s Cliff. Male came in from the North and perched on Wendy’s cliff. Female joined him in same tree and e-chupped and wailed. Female flew back South and perched near original location. Adult BAEA flew south along cliff face within 50 ft of male who failed to leave the tree or kak. Female made one lazy pass at the eagle as it passed her and returned to perch. Conclusion – most wimpy cliff defense I’ve ever seen. Failed
"Raven" – no birds seen in 5-6 visits this season. Failed
"TV" – Watched a pigeon circle up in lazy loops, passing in front of the cliff complex 5 times over several minutes. No self-respecting PEFA would have passed up that easy target. Conclusion – Either a bird asleep on eggs or failed.
"Fox" – failed in attempts to read band of adult female. Coyote seen foraging in intertidal zone on adjacent island (see image below). Single chick snoozing on ledge. Nobody in blind.
A coyote seen on an island near "Fox"
"Carolina" – Ran into an orca traffic jam and lost an hour waiting for the pod of whales to move away before approaching. In the interim we were boarded by Anacortes Police Marine Patrol for a “safety check” and we passed! . At "Carolina the female was again perched in the tall tree low on the South end of the cliff complex.
"Otter" – nest ledge empty. Seen incubating there on 4/21. Unhappy conclusion – failed.
"Madrona" – met by the friendly caretakers and given a ride on the tractor to the top of the cliff. Ed dropped in and passed the single youngster up to Pat and Russ for banding. One big feisty 3.5 week old female, now known as Vertical 24 over Vertical Z (left). Worked for another hour and finally got a good read on the adult female’s VID band (Vertical 80 over Vertical D). The exciting news is that this is not our band. We await Bud’s investigation into where this bird is from. She looked like a classic Peale’s Falcon with big vertical teardrops in the bib.
Pat Little holding the single chick from "Madrona" during banding.
PROJECT SUMMARY and AGENDA
No visits this year
"Black Swift"
"Raccoon"
"Witch"
Likely Failed/Abandoned
"Golden"
"Sea Lion"
"Stealth"
"Crow"
"Otter"
"Harrier"
"Raven"
"Mossy Rock"
"Ginger"
"Orca"
"Cormorant"
"TV"
Need more work
"Carolina" - 3 visits (6/1, 6/11, 6/18) Both adults present. May be using ledge low and right(south) on cliff. Need to put someone ashore and scramble up for a better vantage.
"Guillemot" – one visit by boat (6/11) no birds seen. Jim Shiflett spent 3 hours observing eyrie cliff in AM on 6/12 – no birds seen (Thanks Jim!) Either moved further South on this big cliff on moved elsewhere ("Raccoon"?)
"Under control"
"Tekoia" - banded 6/1
"Fox" - banded 6/11
"Coyote" - banded 6/11
"Madrona" - banded 6/18
"Sterna" - incubating, next visit in 1-2 weeks
"Salmon" - incubating, next visit in 1-2 weeks
