June 14, 2016
International Guillemot Appreciation Days Coast to Coast —
Whidbey Island wildlife fans are joining their Maine cohorts for a two-day celebration of a unique seabird, the guillemot. On Whidbey it’s the Pigeon Guillemot and in Maine its the Black Guillemot. Whidbey Island is home to about 1,000 Pigeon Guillemots.
From 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday, June 24, is a Happy Hour at Ott & Murphy Wines. Enjoy Guillemot-themed appetizers. The Pigeon Guillemot Research Project team will formally present photos about this long-running study (since 2002.) Pigeon Guillemots have bright red feet when in breeding plumage and happy hour attenders can make your own guillemot feet from red and black felt. The tasting room is at 204 First Street in Langley.
The following morning, Saturday, June 25, is a field trip to a Guillemot colony. Meet at 8 a.m. at the Freeland Park & Ride (Trinity Lutheran Church), located at 18341 State Route 525 in Freeland. Both events are for any age.
International Guillemot Appreciation Day began 24 years ago with Midcoast Audubon Society in Maine to highlight the Black Guillemot. For Whidbey Audubon Society, this is the second year celebrating Whidbey’s Pigeon Guillemots. To learn more see the website, pigeonguillemot.org.
Whidbey Audubon Society and Island County Marine Resources Committee along with Ott & Murphy Winery are sponsoring these events.
For more information, please contact Govinda Rosling at govinda@whidbey.com.
Attached photos of Pigeon Guillemots are by Govinda Rosling
Wish you had told us where the viewing site will be on June 25th. Now I have to open Audobahn’s site…. please make it easier to connect next time. I never remember how to spell the name.