Date:         Tue, 4 Feb 2003 13:27:41 -0500
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Jim Felley <irmss668@SIVM.SI.EDU>
Subject:      Tidal Basin conditions
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I just got back from a walk around the Tidal Basin.  First,
the birds:  about 200 gulls, Ring-billed, Herring and Greater=20
Black-backed in about a 10:2:1 ratio.  Nothing unusual as
far as I could make out with my poor optics.
   The Tidal Basin is still almost completely frozen over,=20
though the ice is rotten and lots of melted water lies over the
ice.  I ran into a crew from DC taking water measurements.
The water under the ice still has plenty of oxygen, so there
will be no fish feast for the gulls anytime soon.  However,
there are some dead gizzard shad to be seen under the ice,
and these are serving to tantalize the gulls (in a way that
Tantalus himself would appreciate).   The situation still bears
watching, as the weather is about to chill again for the next
several days.  I predict more freezing!
   I also experienced one of those sights that are the reward
for being outside.  I came upon a man photographing a=20
little beaver that was sitting about 10 feet from the Tidal
Basin seawall, next to a big branch.  The beaver was=20
crouching stock-still, and apparently had been that way for
some time, once it had noticed the photographer.  As
people gathered to watch, the little guy acted like one of=20
those living mannequins you see in store-fronts.  He didn't
twitch a muscle the whole time I was there.  "Ignore
me!  I'm not a beaver!.."
   I also predict more beaver stories from the Tidal Basin=20
this spring!
                                   Jim

Jim Felley
Smithsonian Institution
irmss668@sivm.si.edu

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