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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 20, 2019)
Friday, September 20, 2019 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com • A5 A miraculous journey across continents SEASIDE AQUARIUM WENDI AZALOFF A s the summer fades into fall, thousands of migra- tory seabirds are using the 500 miles of Pacifi c Coast rocky islands, sandy beaches, estuaries, and mudfl ats in their fl ight south for the winter. Migrating seabirds alike uti- lize these coastal areas to rest and forage on their incredible jour- neys between breeding and non- breeding habitats extending from Northern Alaska into the Southern hemisphere. Birds that migrate in the spring and fall along this exten- sive Pacifi c Flyway corridor keep close to the Pacifi c Coastal habi- tats, but migratory seabirds utiliz- ing the same migration route are in a class of their own. Seabirds spend the majority of their lives in the water and have adapted to thrive in the extreme cold and wet environment. Characteristics of sea- birds include waterproof feath- ers, webbed feet, specialized eye glands to remove excess salt from their bodies, and other adaptations that enable life at sea. Bird watching enthusiasts may Tiff any Boothe/Seaside Aquarium Brown pelicans can spot small fi sh and quickly plunge from over 60 feet into the ocean to fi ll 3-gallon throat pouches with water and prey. While visiting the Pacifi c Northwest the sooty shearwater’s diet consists of primarily small fi sh, but can include squid, shrimp and jellyfi sh. September to May then travel to northern feeding grounds for our Northwest spring and summer. Mating begins at fi ve years old and mating pairs work together to incubate a single egg for seven to eight weeks before it hatches then take turns feeding the hatchling for another fourteen weeks. Brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis): It is hard to miss the 8-pound brown pelican in fl ight as they extend their six foot wing- spans as they migrate from Brit- ish Columbia to South America. Utilizing keen eyesight and spe- cially adapted air pouches beneath their skin, Brown pelicans can spot small fi sh and quickly plunge from over 60 feet into the ocean to fi ll 3-gallon throat pouches with water and prey. Needing up to four pounds of fi sh per day, Brown pelicans rely on smaller fi sh such as smelt and sardines in the Pacifi c Northwest. Breeding season in southern climates entails both parents of the mating pair helping to incubate the two-four clutch of eggs for approximately 28 days by covering the eggs with their webbed feet. Adults continue to feed growing pelicans for up to one year. According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the brown pelican is a long lived bird and have been recorded to reach up to 31 years! Caspian terns (Hydroprogne caspia): In North America, the Tiff any Boothe/Seaside Aquarium be able to spot the below-listed species during their fall migrations along our diverse coast: Sooty shearwaters (Ardenna grisea): This open-ocean dwelling migratory seabird prefers to for- age by plunging beak fi rst from a few feet above the water’s surface and utilizing strong silvery wings to swim underwater after prey or fl oating atop the water and using its quick beak to capture marine invertebrates. While visiting the Pacifi c Northwest the shearwater’s diet consists of primarily small fi sh, but can include squid, shrimp and jellyfi sh. These incredible birds create burrow and crevice nests in Australia, New Zealand, and Southern South America from Caspian tern is common along both coasts and found on both fresh and salt water. Western cool- onies of terns prefer protected waters like bays, rivers, or lakes from Mexico to Alaska and have established the largest colony in North America within the lower Columbia River Estuary. For the last two decades 12,000- 20,000 Caspian terns have taken season residence on East Sand Island in the Columbia River which rep- resents 50% to 65% of the Cas- pian tern breeding populations within the Pacifi c Flyway corri- dor. These birds are large as a gull, easily identifi able by their black- capped head and large orange bill and are common in bays and estu- aries along the coast during spring and fall migrations. Smaller num- bers of Caspian terns have even been found inland waters during migration including the mid-Co- lumbia River, Willamette River and Snake Rivers. When feeding on small fi sh such as shiner perch, birds fl y over the water, hover and plunge to catch prey at the waters surface, but have been known to steal fi sh or eggs from other birds for food. Once they reach repro- ductive maturity at fi ve years, mating pairs incubate one-to-three pale brown/black spotted eggs for approximately 22 days. Young terns stay with parents up to eight months and as a species are able to live past 20 years. Tiff any Boothe/Seaside Aquarium Sooty shearwaters fl y along the Pacifi c Coast in fl ocks of hundreds of thousands. Honest and tough conversations can save lives GUEST COLUMN PATTI ATKINS Columbia Pacifi c CCO ne of the top 10 causes of death for Oregonians is suicide. Oregon has more deaths each year from suicide than motor vehicle accidents. There are more than 600 deaths by suicide and more than 1,800 hospitalizations due to suicide in Oregon each year. The friends and family members (suicide loss sur- vivors) left behind are forced to navigate the tragedy of loss. In many cases, suicide loss survivors are left in the dark. Too often the feelings of shame and stigma pre- vent them from talking openly. Suicidal thoughts, much like other mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation or back- ground. In fact, suicide is often the result of pain from an untreated mental health condition. Sui- cidal thoughts, although common, should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues. Crisis resources • If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 911 immediately. • If you are in crisis or are O experiencing diffi cult or suicidal thoughts, you can call the National Suicide hotline/Lines for Life at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). • If you are uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can text 273TALK to 839863 at Lines for Life in Oregon. They also have veteran’s and teen peer support available. Know the warning signs Any person exhibiting these behaviors should get help immediately: • Threats or comments about killing themselves, also known as suicidal ideation, can begin with seemingly harmless thoughts like “I wish I wasn’t here” but can become more overt and dangerous • Increased alcohol or drug use • Aggressive behavior • Social withdrawal from friends, family and the community • Dramatic mood swings • Talking, thinking or writing about death • Impulsive or reckless behavior • Putting their affairs in order and giving away their possessions • Saying goodbye to friends and family • Mood shifts from despair to calm • Planning, possibly by looking to buy, steal or borrow the tools they need to commit suicide, such aurumarcus as a gun or prescription medication If you are unsure, a licensed mental health professional or your primary care provider can help assess risk. These services are a covered benefi t with many insur- ance plans, including Columbia Pacifi c CCO and Oregon Health Plan. Risk factors for suicide Research has found that about 90 percent of individuals who die by suicide are experiencing men- tal illness. A variety of things may put a person at risk of suicide, including: • A family history of suicide. • Substance abuse — drugs and alcohol can result in mental highs and lows that exacerbate suicidal thoughts. • Intoxication – more than one in three people who die from sui- cide are found to be currently under the infl uence. • Access to guns. • A serious or chronic illness. • Gender – although more women than men attempt suicide, men are four times more likely to die by suicide. • A history of trauma or abuse. • Prolonged stress. • Isolation. • Age – people under age 24 or above age 65 are at a higher risk for suicide. • A recent tragedy or loss. • Agitation and sleep deprivation. Can thoughts of suicide be prevented? Mental health professionals are trained to help a person understand their feelings and can improve mental wellness and resiliency. Depending on their training, they may be able to provide additional ways to help including: • Psychotherapy, such as cog- nitive behavioral therapy and dia- lectical behavior therapy, can help person with thoughts of suicide by recognizing unhealthy patterns of thinking and behavior, validate troubled feelings and learn cop- ing skills. • Medication may also be used if necessary to treat under- lying depression and anxiety and can lower a person’s risk of hurt- ing themselves. Depending on the person’s mental health diagnosis, other medications may be used to alleviate symptoms. One diffi cult conversation can save a life Have this crucial conversa- tion with someone you love, you can talk with passion and strength around suicide prevention. The truth is, we can all benefi t from honest conversations about men- tal health conditions and suicide, because just one conversation can save a life. HAPPENINGS IN BRIEF History and Hops returns with Ron Walker Opening its fourth sea- son of History and Hops, the Seaside Museum brings fi lmmaker, musician and art- ist Ron Walker to the Sea- side Brewing Co. at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26, to share two fi lms of by gone days in Astoria. In “Astoria in the 1950s with Liisa Penner,” the viewer sees Astoria through the eyewitness account of the young girl, Liisa Penner, who is now the archivist at the Clatsop Historical Society. Shot in the late 1980s, “Astoria, The Last River- town” is a collage of Walk- er’s fi lming and interview- ing local residents who share their impressions and memories. More information can be found at www.seasideorego- nuseum.com The Art Loft located above Dots N’ Doodles at 303 Marine Drive in Astoria, and the second workshop will be 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Seaside Public Library, located at 1131 Broadway. For more information, visit the coalition website, clatsopculturalcoalition.org, email information@clat- sopculturalcoalition.org, or call Charlene Larsen at 503-325-0590. Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild of Longview Presents “Quilting for the Art of It” 2020 cultural grant application workshops Applications for the 2020 Clatsop Cultural Coa- lition grant are now avail- able online at www.clat- sopculturalcoalition.org. Applications are now being accepted and must be received by Oct. 31. The Coalition recommends potential applicants attend workshops about the appli- cation process. The fi rst workshop is at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20 at FREE TASTING Infused Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar & Gift Wrapping At WESTPORT WINERY Home of Seaside Kites All Ages Welcome — Daily 11-6 810 Broadway — 503-739-7322 $ 5 Admission Fri, Oct 4, 10am-5pm; Sat, Oct 5, 10am-4pm Youth & Family Link Building 907 Douglas Avenue, Longview, WA Over 150 Quilts • Demonstration • Door Prizes Vendors • Raffle Quilt • Country Store • Bed Turning Featuring “Giving Back to the Community” Quilt Display Proceeds Support: Local Veterans, Children’s Justice & Advocacy Center & Luggage of Love Like us on Facebook: Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild Additional Information at: www.lolquiltguild.org
