Editor,

Recently, information listing Whidbey Audubon Society and our Pigeon Guillemot Research Survey was posted on signs that were used to close a portion of beach on the south end of Mutiny Bay in Freeland.

We would like the public to know that Whidbey Audubon Society never gave its permission for the use of its name and research project for this purpose.

Neither Audubon nor our research group has any need, interest in or advocacy for closing beaches.

Our Guillemot Research Group has been active for nine years studying over 25 nesting colony sites around Whidbey Island. For decades these charismatic seabirds have coexisted with local shoreline residents and beach walkers.

We are grateful for the many volunteer citizen scientists and private beach owners who have aided us in this research and we look forward to continuing this important work.

Ann Casey,

president

Whidbey Audubon Society