FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] More on off shore Shearwaters

["P R Mocko" <paulbirds19@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Forwarded from Dorie Stolley:


From: Chip Dodson [mailto:chipdodson@**********]
Sent: Monday, July 04, 2005 11:57 AM
To: Jon Glass
Subject: Shearwaters everywhere!

Jon,
   I just saw your article on the dead Shearwaters washing up along the
beaches. Coincidentally, I was fishing offshore on Saturday and have never
experienced such aggressive behavior of the Shearwaters. They were
literally coming in the boat chasing our baits. We had to run away from
them numerous times after throwing a handful of bait to distract them so we
could continue fishing.
   These birds are obviously starving. Shearwaters are not boat shy and
one or two picking at your bait is normal but not 30 or 40. I have fished
offshore all of my life and have never seen these birds so hungry. Maybe
these scientist need to take a trip offshore to document this behavior.
They could catch all they wanted with a crab net.
   Hopefully these Shearwaters are just staging here on the way north and
the food supply is short. Please pass this info on to your contacts. Maybe
they can save some time and money chartering a fishing boat, catching a few
healthy Shearwaters and hopefully come to the same conclusion.

Regards,

CHIP DODSON
P. O. Box 8
Eastville, VA 23347


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