Pigeon Guillemots: The little seabird with a big purpose

Presented by Shannon Boldt

This progam is part of the

North Cascades Audubon February 24, 2026 Membership Meeting

Location: Whatcom Museum Old City Hall Rotunda Room

Time: Social Hour starts at 6:30pm and Presentation begins at 7pm

NOTE: Reservations are not required - there NO NEED to reserve a ticket on Eventbrite - just add it to your calendar!

Each spring along the shores of the Salish Sea, the flash of red feet and the sound of

piercing whistles announce the return of the Sound’s most endearing residents—the

Pigeon Guillemot—to their natal breeding colonies. Pigeon Guillemots are remarkable

yet often overlooked seabirds. They’re small in stature but mighty in their role as

indicators of Puget Sound health. Their strong connection to the marine environment is

evident and observing them as they bring up their next generation, gives us a window

into what’s happening beneath the water’s surface.

Come get a closer look at the Pigeon Guillemot, from Salish Sea Guillemot Network

Program Coordinator, Shannon Boldt. Through the lens of the community scientist,

you’ll get to know these charismatic birds, from their unique behaviors and striking

personalities, to their integral place in the nearshore ecosystem. Learn how the Salish

Sea Guillemot Network breeding survey serves to monitor their populations, what this

data tells us about Puget Sound, and why these seabirds serve as a key measure of

environmental health. Whether you are a seasoned bird enthusiast or simply curious, this

is your chance to see Pigeon Guillemots in a whole new light!

Shannon Boldt serves as the Program Coordinator for the Salish Sea Guillemot

Network’s Pigeon Guillemot Breeding Survey. She is also a Research Biologist and a

dedicated community science volunteer. Her deep fascination of the marine

environment, particularly Puget Sound, fuels her passion for studying marine life (and

birds!), promoting community connection to marine ecosystems, and advocating for

environmental stewardship.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher North Cascades Audubon Society