Mile 328 - Sunset Beach, Clatsop Plains - February 3, 2008 | Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition

Report Details

Found 4 bird carcasses with zip-ties around the two bones of one wing. Checked it out and found out that this is a method beached bird survey groups use to identify the number of days a dead bird has been on the beach. Ironic (stupid in my opinion) that they use non-biodegradable plastic zip ties given that plastic is such a serious hazard for birds in the first place. Also found where someone had dumped a bucket of dog feces on the beach (I'll spare you the photo). And just north of the Del Rey beach access (on mile 327), an old desk that someone drove in and dumped in the sand. Leavings of six separate driftwood cedar logs that had been chainsawed up in place and the wood removed.More driftwood than I've seen all year, mostly high on the beach and into the dune (but still not nearly as much as the peak of winter 05-06 and 06-07.)

Conditions

Temperature: 36 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 6.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 4. Walking or running: 4. Other Activities: 1 person walking a horse.

Concerns

Driftwood removal

Apparent violations: 6 logs cut with chainsaw.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks on beach, allowed: 5.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 4. four carcasses, looked like gulls, all with colored zip-ties around the wing bones. Found out this is a method bird-survey groups use to identify how long a bird has been on the beach (but PLASTIC zip-ties? That seems dumb.)

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

Found a very strange bit of dead sea-life, a big blubbery mass about 5' across, with skin similar to shag carpet, and no apparent head or appendages, just fat tube-like things running all over.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Styrofoam, Wood pieces.

Natural Changes

Erosion of vegetated foredune.