Haven't seen a pelican or cormorant in weeks.

[trof]

I live on a bay about 5-6 miles north of the Alabama gulf coast.
We're usually 'lousy' with pelicans, cormorants, sea gulls and cattle egrets.
Now I see none and I wonder "Why?"

Our bay is, so far, pristine.
You'd think this would be a haven for them.
:shrug:

Morning and evening we used to see flocks of cattle egrets heading up and down the bay to wherever they spend their days and nights.
Now?
None.

Used to see cormorants every day, diving for pinfish.
Not now.
None.

Even the ubiquitous sea gulls are MIA.

I did see one porpoise yesterday.
One.

Where are they going?
Or are they just ...gone?

There's an osprey nest down the road from us.
I see the adults in the nest and they have chicks there.
But they're not flying.
I don't hear their 'scree' any more.

:-(

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. No idea, my dear trof...

That is really sad.

God DAMN those BP weasels to HELL.

[blm]

2. so heartbreaking for all of us, but, especially for you and other coastal residents

.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

3. K&R sickening

[Ruby the Liberal]

4. One can only hope they are getting the hell out of dodge

and not simply dying on us.

:cry:

[Mimosa]

13. They're dying

Animals can't 'evacuate' like people do. They act according to habit and their patterns of years. Think how many fish and other sea creatures have died. :(

[Ruby the Liberal]

16. I can't go there.

I try, but I can't.

[tex-wyo-dem]

17. I echo Ruby and hope that the wildlife that is able (i guess that would be birds for the most part).

Is finding new territory not in the crosshairs of the oil. This may be as I would think they would go wherever the food is, and I imaginge the fish population in many parts has declined a lot.

The seaberring creatures are probably not so lucky :(

[woodsprite]

5. Down on the Gulf coast of FL now. Seagulls are few and far between

I've seen more herons, egrets, and pelicans than gulls. I was wondering if it was the oil that was driving them off. We also saw a ton of remoras in the surf the other day. Thought that was odd. We didn't venture in the water much that day, although we have been wading through it. Seems fine for now.

[Lorien]

6. I saw a brown pelican flying over a lake near downtown Orlando not long ago

never saw one that far inland before.

[trof]

7. Yesterday I was down at the beach. Saw 4 pelicans.

FOUR, that's all, flying in that amazing formation that they do.
You usually see dozens of flights.

[JitterbugPerfume]

8. so sad

so very sad

[havocmom]

9. What is sad is I see them every few days

And I live in Montana

[jwirr]

10. Thank you for posting. For many of us it is only through your eyes

that we can see what is really happening down there. Too sad for words.

[SunnySong]

11. Cormorants are hanging with me eating all my fish...

At least for know... I fear the next few months... I fear the next few years...

:grouphug:

[Curmudgeoness]

12. I feel for you, and for the birds and other wildlife. Haven't been seeing

pictures of dead birds either, which pisses me off---I feel like there is a lot being hidden from us. They are either still there, they are dying, or they have completely left the area. Let's hope they have left.

[Mimosa]

14. Trof, your witness is important

Even though we know you're hurting, your reports are valued. I think of you and all our people near the coasts. I know how much we feel connected to the wildlife. Their songs, their serene beauty and the way their patterns and songs become part of our days.

[trof]

15. Thank you. I'll keep reporting.

[amborin]

18. very sad

[Odin2005]

19. Oh god!

:cry:

[Art_from_Ark]

20. That's just sad

Damn :cry:

[DemoTex]

21. This is terrible news, but inevitable.

As you know, I'm Gulf-blooded having been born in Mobile. I'm watching the disaster from my perch in Oregon - sometimes I just can't click on news from the Gulf tragedy. It is the wildlife termination that I cannot abide.

My brother's house at Grayton Beach has oil on the beach now. It is spreading east, as you know better than I.

[Chulanowa]

22. Same situation

Born in Mobile, live in Washington now; It's getting harder and harder to read the news.

[Mimosa]

24. Grayton Beach is one of the world's loveliest beaches.

Sad.

[DemoTex]

25. My mother and most of her seven sisters celebrated the end of WW-II at Grayton Beach.

I have been going there since the late 1940s. The general store where we kids used to play pool, while our dads/uncles drank beer, is now The Red Bar.

Still, with Water Color, Seaside, and Rosemary (where Rove has a home) to the east and Destin to the west, Grayton remains a relatively well kept secret. Being bracketed by a state park doesn't hurt, either.

My brother, of the same political persuasion as me, once ran into Karl Rove at Sun Dog Books in Seaside (a mile or so from Grayton). He wanted to punch Rove out. Bro said that the book store staff hates Rove. That's why I always buy some books at Sun Dog. Plus the fact that it reminds me of Square Books in Oxford.

[onehandle]

23. Sad. nt