Cape Kiwanda

In 2005, the first year of the Oregon BLOY land surveys overseen by Elise Elliot-Smith at USGS, I found pairs at Cape Kiwanda and figured they were nesting somewhere. In May of 2006, I found a nest on Haystack Rock on the ledge on the east side of the rock. Elise, who helped survey there, saw chicks on June 15. However, the chicks that year were apparently lost. The ledge is on the left side of the rock in this photo.

The ledge is the lighter area in the center of the below photo. Not easy to see tiny black birds on that rock!

Mostly, I would just see a pair feeding on rocks on the south side of Cape Kiwanda and another pair that fed on rocks on the north side of the cape.

Over the years, the only indication of fledging success was when I saw an adult with a fledged juvenile feeding with the parent on the foraging area on one side of the cape or the other.

On 5/11/08 I saw a pair copulate on the cape and then fly to the Rock and walk out of sight to the left of the nest ledge. On 5/29/08 I watched one feed on cape then fly to Rock and disappear. On 6/19/08, I saw 2 adult BLOY and 1 chick on ledge. That was the last time that year I saw BLOY on the ledge.

In May 2009, I saw a pair copulate on north side of Cape. In August 2009 a pair plus juvenile (1/2 beak black) were on tidal flats at south side of Cape. Aug. 21, 2009 notes: "pair with fledgling, bill half black, closely attended by one adult with other adult nearby"

juvenile "closely attended by adult" 8/21/09

juvenile (fledgling) 8/21/09

In May of 2010 and 2011 I saw pairs copulate on the cape. In 2011 one pair flew in from opposite directions on 6/3. One stayed to forage while the other disappeared. I suspected nesting. But on 6/9 and 6/16 they foraged together  so I suspected their nest, if they nested, had failed.

In 2012 a pair apparently nested on the ledge but out of sight. I witnessed several apparent incubation exchanges in June but by July no BLOY could be seen on the ledge. One was seen on the NW corner of the Rock in August but too far to identify as to adult or juvenile. 3 adults were hanging out together in their usual high tide resting spot on the cape on 8/8 and 8/14.

8/14/12

8/14/12

In 2013 nesting was suspected on the Rock ledge in June but I never saw chicks there. However, on 8/28 there were 2 fledglings with 2 adults on the south Cape flats.

8/28/13

8/28/13

8/28/13

 An adult took a large hunk of shellfish and flew to the Rock on 8/21/13. On 10/15/13 there were 2 adults and 1 fledgling on the North side of the Cape at the same time as another 2 adults and 1 fledgling were on the South side of cape. Johnny and I were on opposite sides of the cape in radio contact.

10/15/13 North flats

In 2014 I found pairs on the Cape but no fledglings later in the year.

In 2015 I saw one BLOY carry food to Rock from South flats on 8/5... very late for feeding a chick! On 8/19 I saw 2 adults on the North side of the Cape. Then on 9/3 I found 2 adults and 1 fledgling on the South tidal flats!

9/3/15

9/13/15

In 2016 there was a pair on 5/7 on the South flats and a pair on the North flats. This year (2016) Portland Audubon took over the surveys and gave Cape Kiwanda to another surveyor so I did not make as many trips there from this year onward and never heard if any nesting or fledglings were detected in 2016 or 2017. Also access to view the south flats became virtually impossible with the increased attempts by the Park to keep people off the west portion of the Cape. So I have been limited to viewing the North flats since then.

However, a dory fisherman friend, David Morrison, reported BLOY feeding chicks on the south side of the Rock in 2018. And on August 3, 2018, he saw 2 adults and 1 juvenile on the north side of the Rock. So, watched or not, BLOY continue to nest on Haystack Rock at Cape Kiwanda.

On August 20, 2018, I found two adults and a fledgling on the north flats of Cape Kiwanda. So Dave's chick survived to fly to the Cape with its parents.

In 2019, Dave noticed no nesting activity on the Rock. I saw two adults foraging together on 10/24 on the flats viewable from the lookout area in the center of the cape, no fledglings.

In 2022, the new monitor asked to meet us at the Cape and show him the Observation Points.  We did that on 5/24 and saw a BLOY noisily escorting another BLOY away from The Rock, all the way to shore. We did not see it return but later saw 2 BLOY resting, apparently, low on the Rock north of the old nesting ledge. Before I took photos, one disappeared to the other side of the ledge behind where they both had been. One remained, head tucked under wing sleeping, for photos. Here are a series of photos to show where on the rock the resting BLOY was.

2005 nesting suspected
2006 unknown no. of chicks hatched, apparently did not fledge
2007 nesting unknown
2008 chick seen on Rock
2009 1 fledgling seen on South cape
2010 nesting suspected (pairs seen copulating)
2011 nesting suspected (pairs seen copulating)
2012 nested but apparently failed
2013 2 fledglings seen on S cape with 1 surviving, 1 fledgling on N
2014 nesting suspected (pairs seen on Cape)
2015 1 fledgling South cape
2016 nesting unknown
2017 nesting unknown
2018 chicks seen being fed on the South side of the Rock, juvenile seen on North side and later seen fledged with parents on north side of Cape
2019 no nesting activity seen, no fledglings found
2020 not accessed

2021 not accessed

In 2022, the new monitor asked to meet us at the Cape and show him the Observation Points.  We did that on 5/24 and saw a BLOY noisily escorting another BLOY away from The Rock, all the way to shore. We did not see it return but later saw 2 BLOY resting, apparently, low on the Rock north of the old nesting ledge. Before I took photos, one disappeared to the other side of the ledge behind where they both had been. One remained, head tucked under wing sleeping, for photos. Here are a series of photos to show where on the rock the resting BLOY was.

previous nesting ledge upper left, green area

2022 resting area on 5/24

resting BLOY with head tucked is just right of center and just below middle

BLOY centered

Mystery at South Rock in 2018

South Rock with Polly Island in distance. Boot Rock to the right of South Rock Only a corner of Middle Rock (Double Rock) showing

South Rock at minus tide

nest site left of BLOY and below flat brown rock

Skyline of top of South Rock with nest area in center

2018 BLOY nesting at Road's End is a puzzle.

Who are the two birds, apparently paired but that never bob in greeting, as is customary, nor copulate, that hang out on Middle Rock for hours, then fly off to the south... somewhere.

Are the pair that nested on South Rock, over the west side, still with chicks or eggs (on July 3) and, if so, why do they never appear in the usual guard position anymore? Is one of the Middle Rock mystery pair really one of the South Rock pair that has been lured away?

Is the 3rd BLOY that appeared one week on South Rock one of the Middle Rock birds? Is that the one that was chased off by the South Rock pair plus one of the North Rock birds?

Is there some hanky panky going on? Is one of the Middle Rock birds one that used to nest there but may have lost its mate last year and got into a knock down into the ocean fight with one of the South Rock pair last year?

So many questions without answers. What follows are details from my notes. Some may hold clues to the answers... or not.

The trouble all seemed to start in June of 2017. On June 6, two BLOY called from rock next to and southeast of South Nest Rock. They flew to Polly Island and were met when almost there by a third BLOY who attacked. A fight and screaming and flying around took place with all landing on the NE spit of island. Two of them fought face to face. Eventually one flew to the South end of the island and the other two flew back to Boot Rock north of South Rock. The third flew to North-facing Little Boot Rock and one of the pair flew up and fought. Finally the pair stayed on their rock with the single on Boot Rock. Who the constituents were of "the pair", I have no way of knowing since I can't tell them apart.

The war was far from over. Five minutes later the South Rock birds flew back to the rock I had seen them on first, then called and flew to South Rock. Shortly thereafter they flew back to the island separately and joined together. That's when the battle really began. An air battle ensued between three BLOY with two crashing into the ocean, then all taking off and flying to nest rocks. Two flew around South Rock, landed on South Rock, one flew to foraging rock SW, took a bath, preened and flew back to island, the apparent loser of the battle. The other two stayed together on Middle Rock, preening. So did one of the South Rock pair lose the battle and retreat to the island? Had the pair already split up before I witnessed the big fight?

About 50 minutes later (give or take half an hour), at 1 p.m., a BLOY flew from Middle Rock to guard area on South Rock, stood for about fifteen minutes, then disappeared into nest area. The other BLOY stayed on Middle Rock. Is one BLOY double dipping?

Middle Rock in foreground

BLOY on Middle Rock, South end

Fast forward to 6/13/17, my next visit to the South Rock Soap Opera. At 11:50 one BLOY called and flew from the direction of Polly Island and landed on West side of South Rock (nest side). At 12:10 p.m. 2 BLOY flew and called from the SW side of South Rock over South foraging rocks and landed out of sight. That's the last I saw of them. I left at 1 p.m.

On 6/21, I again visited and saw no BLOY near South Rock the entire hour and fifteen minutes I waited. (Meanwhile on each visit the North Rock pair were being proper parents and not giving me grief... although they did end up losing their chicks.)

6/27/17: at 11 a.m., 2 BLOY flew into S Rock west side. At 11:15 one walked to usual guard position, other to West side where chicks may have been. At 11:30, lots of screaming, 4 BLOY in air, 2 in aerial battle. One flew North out of sight. I lost track of other 3. Guard BLOY never left its post. at 11:50 the BLOY in guard area pecked at something on ground, then walked out of sight. I could not see if it was food.

usual guard position

7/12/17 At 11:05, one BLOY walked up from SW side to usual guard location. At 11:12 it walked down out of sight into suspected nest location. . At 11:50 I spotted one BLOY on rock North of South Nest Rock, just resting in a spot where it could see the South Rock nest area, I think. Just before noon it seemed to be gathering food and flew to North side of nest rock and into North side of nest/chick probable site. Was pecking at dry part of rock... must be very small somethings there.

BLOY directly above suspected nest location behind foreground rock

7/17/17 No BLOY seen on arrival at 11:30.  At 12:50 a BLOY called, landed on guard area and walked into crevasse of suspected nest area and disappeared. Did not reappear by the time I left at 1.

7/20/17 At 11 AM, BLOY appeared on guard position and flew to Polly Island. I think behind it. At 1:10 one flew and landed on guard post, did not go down to feed, stood guard. Maybe they renested?? Still there when I left at 11:40.

7/25/17 Arrived 11:50 a.m. BLOY foraging on Boot Rock North of Nest Rock, did not take food to nest rock, foraged and took a bath in tiny crevasse, preened. At 12:10 flew to guard position on nest rock, preened, in a couple minutes walked over West edge into apparent nest area. If the other one flew out, I didn't see it go. At 12:20 one walked up from W side to guard position then down out of sight to suspected nest area. At 12:45 one landed on West side... could just see it... walked around S end of guard rock and into suspected nest area, a probable Incubation Exchange.

8/1/17 Arrived 11:40. BLOY flew from South to Middle Rock, then to North foraging rock. Foraged for ten minutes, then preened. I'm wondering if at least one of the BLOY nesting on South Rock is a Middle Rock bird having taken over from the North rock female or male.

On 8/8 and 8/14 two BLOY were seen foraging together on a foraging rock to the south... never returned to the nest rock. Presume they lost their eggs/chicks.

That brings us to 2018 nest season and total confusion. Again, the North Rock birds are behaving themselves. South Rock... not so much.

May 11, 2018... pair foraged together then flew south out of sight, so not nesting

5/17/18... BLOY in usual look-out position, nesting presumed



5/23/18... Incubation Exchange IE) witnessed on South Rock (although I can't see the nest area... one flew in as one came up out of suspected nest area and flew off... new arrival went down into nest area)

6/1/18... another probable IE

6/11/18... the confusion begins again... At 11:50 both BLOY off nest in guard position. A 3rd BLOY flew in, bobbing, a pair flew off... no idea if one of the original pair. Soon lots of agitated calls but I could not see birds. More screaming half an hour later. Two birds flew in from North. Confusion as second bird flew in and a fight ensued with one chasing the other all over headed south. One flew back from the south and headed north. Possibly that was a north rock bird chasing off an intruder? North rock bird landed, greeted the other and they went to their nest area.

6/19/18... South Rock BLOY in guard post. Walked down to apparent nest area.  May have been an IE at 11:20. No 3rd BLOY causing trouble this week.

6/25/18... Now it really gets confusing. One BLOY hanging out on Middle Rock, in area where Middle Rock pair used to hang out. Later a second bird joined it and they scratched as though thinking about nesting in an area where the Middle Rock pair had once nested (unsuccessfully). Later one moved to south end of Middle Rock and rested while other stayed in old nest area. Later one of Middle Rock birds called and flew in circle behind South Rock and back to Middle Rock foraging area, foraged, then went back to resting BLOY on Middle Rock. They did not bob or copulate but hung out together. Half hour later one called and flew in big circle past South rock and back to Middle Rock. Five minutes later one called and flew South past South Rock and kept going. Not sure where other Middle Rock Bloy went but shortly one appeared in guard position on South Rock. Fifteen minutes later screams and 4 BLOY flying North. I think 2 came from South Rock. One flew in from North and joined chase South... Maybe same interloper as 2 weeks ago?? At 2 p.m., one back in guard position on South rock.

7/3/18... Two BLOY together on Middle Rock, in old nest area and in old resting areas on south side of Middle Rock. I heard a BLOY calling possibly from behind South Rock. Eventually Middle Rock pair flew south. One curved back around but I lost it. Never saw any BLOY fly into South Rock or in guard position. Have no idea if they were foraging (it was low tide) out of my sight and feeding chicks or if they have lost chicks or if they are the pair on Middle Rock or what. Total mystery.

Middle Rock (Double Rock) on right, South Rock just visible on left, Polly Island in background

Middle Rock with Back or Black Rock behind. In some previous years, BLOY nested on back of Middle Rock with guard BLOY stationed on Back Rock

Two BLOY in old nest area on front of Middle Rock, scratching as though preparing to nest, but did not

Same two BLOY having moved to south end of Middle Rock in customary rest area where resting BLOY sometimes fly back to South Rock

To be continued...

As of July 9, 2018, I believe the mystery is solved... with clues from Elise Elliot-Smith, the USGS biologist who started this BLOY monitoring project. She told me that research in Alaska showed that those pairs that were in tight proximity and spent time arguing about territory had the poorest nesting success, spending too much time off the nest. I think that is what has happened to the South Rock pair. Today they took off, screaming, with the Middle Rock pair also taking off, all four flying north and not returning while I was there. Elise also suggested that if one of the Middle Rock birds is a newby, as I suspect, it might not be ready to nest this year. They often fool around for a year or two before getting serious about nesting. We'll see if they return next year and actually nest. And if the South Rock pair stop worrying about them and tend to their own business. Here's hoping.

Update May 2019: so far, so good. One pair nesting at South Rock, usual spot out of sight. One pair nesting on east face of Middle Rock where they acted like they would nest last year; one egg this year as of May 7, neither pair paying attention to the other pair. As of June 19, Middle Rock pair hatched 3 chicks from their east face nest. South Rock pair apparently lost their first clutch and apparently nested again. Guard BLOY belligerently chasing Pigeon Guillemots away and dramatically chasing a crow all over the sky. So they have not learned much. The Middle Rock pair have ignored all the hysteria at South Rock,keeping their chicks fed and hidden.