Mile 209 - Ona Beach north of Beaver Creek, Tracy Creek - September 30, 2013

Report Details

The feature catching my eye were the piles of kelp strewn over the beach. I counted 45 large - small to medium car size - along the mile and many, many single pieces and small piles of kelp over much of the beach. It was a recent happening, probably done by the on going storm, and beyond what I recall having seen.The results of an ongoing dead-seabird survey show that the month of September had these amounts coming on to the beach all month. The dead birds were removed from the beach on each "weekly" survey.Gradient: North end 1 ft in 15 feet, South 1 foot in 27,

Human Activities

Number of people: 1. Number of dogs: 1. Stormy day so only one person walking dog

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 3.

Notable Wildlife

Gulls were numerous on the beach both resting and feeding on quantities of goose-necked barnacles covering numerous fresh drift logs.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 14. 1 Buller's shearwater, 1 pelagic cormorant, 1 Cassin's auklet, 14 adult and hatch-year murres. These mortalities were at-sea deaths most likely due to food shortage rather than weather/water conditions.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Wood pieces. A 20 inch square vinyl boat cushion, a 10 by 10 by 5 inch plastic perforated and hinged box, 37 small containers (bottles etc)

Man-made Modifications

Nothing

Natural Changes

Nothing except erosion of beach sand

Actions & Comments

No action taken or immediate action needed.