The pigeon guillemot, a little seabird with flashy red feet, just benefited from wine sales of Mutiny Bay, a Bordeaux-style blend by the Ott & Murphy Winery.

The winery had a run of 315 cases and with the purchase of each bottle a dollar was donated to the Guillemot Research Group, a citizen science program under the Whidbey Audubon Society and Island County Marine Resources Committee. David Ott presented a $1,000 check representing six months of wine sale donations to the Whidbey Audubon Society at its May 9 meeting.

Vintners and owners Eric Murphy, David Ott and Diane Kaufman have a history of giving back to the community. Ott & Murphy has donated wine to such regional and local organization events as the Salmon-chanted Evening, Whidbey Camano Land Trust, Island Shakespeare Fest and League of Women Voters.

The pigeon guillemot is considered an indicator species; they echo the overall health of the Salish Sea. The research group has monitored the 25 Whidbey Island pigeon guillemots since 2004, including the colonies that nest in the bluffs of Mutiny Bay, hence the name for the wine.

For more information about the Guillemot Research Group, visit its website: pigeonguillemot.org.