RING-BILLED GULLS have returned to their breeding colony on Gull Is. en mass with an estimated 10,000 there on 14 Mar. The only unusual gulls were single ICELAND GULLS on 11 and 13 Mar. BARRED OWLS continue to be seen at various locations in the park. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was spotted in the Calf Pasture field on 13 Mar.

A truly massive flock of EUROPEAN STARLINGS estimated at 12,000 birds flew about the marsh at dusk on 7 Nov being intermittently chased by NORTHERN HARRIERS and COOPER’S HAWKS! Two AMERICAN PIPITS were on the beach on 3 Nov. 12 SNOW BUNTINGS were seen on 3 Nov and a group of 20 were in the picnic area 5-6 Nov.

Non-raptor Observations: The star of the day again was the massive blue jay movement in which we counted/estimated north of 40,000 souls. Bird migration is a truly awesome thing when you see in en masse as we have witnessed the last three days and the birds have been moving in lesser numbers before the last few spectacular days..

Fuel costs are relatively easy to estimate but can be the major cost if you aren't using an economical diesel trawler. However, it's the other stuff than can really screw up a cruising budget! "Will I be back here again, so I'll skip that this time", or "I'll never be back, so I'd better do and see all that I possibly can this time".

* Paccar plans layoffs, production cutback http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008389570_pacc ar13.html Paccar estimates that retail sales of heavy-duty trucks will reach 150,000 in the U.S. and Canada this year, down from 176,000 in 2007 and 322,000

The annual cost associated with warfarin complications is estimated to be $1.1 billion. Researchers have identified two specific genes, VKORC1 and CYP2C9 that contribute up to 60 percent of individual patient variations in response to using warfarin.

"Extending the estimates across all of U.S. higher education would mean, at a minimum, a 12-percent increase in the number of associate degrees awarded," Mr. Adelman said.

The Pell program isn't funded like an entitlement, however, with Congress projecting estimated use on a yearly basis and earmarking funds in its appropriations bills. In recent years, those projections have fallen short of reality, creating the shortfall. "Eventually it catches up to them," says Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of www.finaid.org.

Stoner estimates that the restoration will take four to six weeks to complete. The mural, painted around a fireplace in the living room, has been damaged by smoke as well as water leaks. Carey previously owned a gallery at Howard Technical High School, but it was closed in October.

Smith estimated that Bowie BIC will cost between $200,000 and $250,000 per year to run, which will cover salaries for paid staff, telephones and computers, marketing efforts and paid interns.