[Tweeters] Unusual tag on gull carcass

[Lynn Wohlers via Tweeters]

On Sunday at Bowman Bay (Deception Pass SP), I saw a dead gull on the beach
with a tag that appeared to be tied around its radius and/or ulna. The tag
was a small disk with the number "4" inscribed on it. It didn't show any
wear and appeared to be made of wood. The dead gull seemed to have washed
up with the last high tide. I was mystified by the tag so I sent a message
to Tweeters with photos of the bird and tag.
Because my photo files were too large, the message was rejected. I received
a nice note from Elaine Chuang explaining what to do about the photos and
better yet - what the tag was.
I thought I would tell Tweeters readers about it in case anyone sees the
same thing and wonders what it is. Elaine explained that this tag
"indicates that a member of COASST (Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey
Team, under Julia Parrish at UW) has found, examined and then tagged that
carcass so as to exclude it from future survey.  They are left on the beach
to allow natural processes to take place."

Here's a link to COASST <https://coasst.org/about/our-story/>- the work
they're doing to monitor bird population changes is fascinating. They're
involved in other projects, like monitoring beach debris, too.

Photos of the tagged bird are on my Flickr page.
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/lynnwohlers/>

thanks,
Lynn Wohlers

Blogging at Bluebrightly <https://bluebrightly.com/>
Photography on Flickr <https://www.flickr.com/photos/lynnwohlers/>
And at Lynn Wohlers.com <http://lynn-wohlers.artistwebsites.com>
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