Summer Mornings with Pigeon Guillemots

Every week from June 1st to the middle of August, my survey partner and I sit on the shore of the Puget Sound Beach near our homes for an hour, monitoring Pigeon Guillemots (PIGU) who nest in burrows on the bluff. We are two of more than 250 volunteers with the Salish Sea Guillemot Network who survey PIGU breeding activity as far north as British Columbia. PIGUs are members of the Alcid family of birds (auks), which includes puffins, auklets, murres, murrelets and two more species of guillemots. While we are observing them during breeding season, PIGU plumage is dark with striking white wing patches, a nice contrast with their bright red feet and mouth. They are fun birds to watch because they are active and engage lovingly with each other, reestablishing their pair bonds each season.

Last summer the pair using the burrow I monitor bred successfully. This year they were off to a great start, with lots of courting behavior, mating on the beach, and burrow visits. But three weeks ago a Bald Eagle family disturbed them by actively hunting five PIGU while I was monitoring them. All PIGU flew off and avoided the area after that. This week two PIGU, possibly the mated pair from last year, are back singing to each other in the water. It seems like it’s too late in the season for successful breeding at this point but we’ll have to watch and see.

Last week I had the absolute pleasure of watching Pigeon Guillemots from the bluffs along West Cliff Dr. in Santa Cruz, CA. I really enjoyed seeing and hearing this very active colony of PIGU as they fished in the waves and vocalized loudly, delivering food to their young in the burrows. I’m including a photo of a sculpin delivery.