Beach Walk & Talk: Watching Pigeon Guillemots in Action

Join us for a guided walk-and-talk below towering coastal bluffs at Fort Flagler State Park, where Pigeon Guillemots have long nested in cryptic burrows. This easy, short beach walk offers a special opportunity to observe these seabirds during the breeding season in their natural habitat. From the beach, participants will see adult guillemots swimming and actively delivering fish to chicks tucked safely into rocky headland crevices. Through binoculars and spotting scopes, Dr. Johnson and volunteers will help interpret what you’re seeing—pointing out feeding behavior, nesting locations, and signs of successful chick rearing.

The walk will move at a relaxed pace and is suitable for most abilities. We will meet at the Fort Flagler Lower Campground fish-washing station, then proceed a short distance along the beach. This field experience is designed to bring the science from the July 17 presentation to life, offering a memorable, up-close look at one of Puget Sound’s most fascinating coastal birds. Some binoculars will be available for use, but if you have your own please bring them.

About the Presenter: Retired ecologist Dr. Brenda Johnson is a Marrowstone Island resident and a long-time volunteer with the Salish Sea Guillemot Network. She also serves on the Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee and Northwest Straits Commission. Her work supports ongoing efforts to understand seabird nesting success, nearshore forage fish availability, and the health of Puget Sound’s coastal ecosystems—especially in areas where guillemots rely on rocky crevices and bluff habitats to raise their young.

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Fort Flagler State Park, Lower Campground by Fish Washing Station/Boat Ramp