Topic: Nature

Mother Nature Loves Friday Harbor

Written on September 15, 2018 at 5:55 am, by

Fred Schumacher shares this awesome photo he shot from the air of the sun shining on Friday Harbor. Be sure to click on it to see a larger version. Thanks for sharing Fred! Mother Nature Loves Friday Harbor – Or, at least it looked like it Monday evening from a Kenmore Caravan heading North to  Continue Reading

Pub Talk in Bothell on Island Marble Butterfly

Written on September 14, 2018 at 5:43 am, by

Amy Lambert, lecturer at the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, University of Washington Bothell, will be giving a Pub Night Talk: “Encountering Rarity: Restoring the Endangered Island Marble Butterfly”. Once thought to be extinct, the Island Marble butterfly is making a comeback in the San Juan Islands. Lambert, a conservation biologist, explains why saving the  Continue Reading

Save Our Shorelines

Written on September 13, 2018 at 5:49 am, by

Here’s a note from Safe Shippers… Proudly, our San Juan County Council Members recently joined their Canadian counterparts, the Islands Trust Council, in calling on Prime Minister Trudeau to abandon the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion project, once and for all. As Safe Shippers well know, if approved, this project would increase tanker traffic by 700%  Continue Reading

The Wild Side: Knock on Wood–All About Woodpeckers

Written on September 9, 2018 at 6:20 am, by

What types of woodpeckers might you see on the San Juan Islands?   How can you tell if they are living in your woodland? Join Shona Aitken, Education Coordinator at Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehab Center to find out more about these fascinating birds and their important role in our local forests.   Refreshments are courtesy  Continue Reading

Know Your Island Walk

Written on August 21, 2018 at 5:48 am, by

Bill Severson with the SJI Trails Committee invites you to this hike next Saturday… Doug McCutchen with the Land Bank will lead us on a walk on Mount Grant.  Maybe he can show us progress on the trail system in the Mount Grant preserve.  Terrain is moderate mostly on road surfaces.  Dogs on leash are  Continue Reading

Explore The Salish Sea: A Nature Guide For Kids

Written on August 15, 2018 at 9:47 am, by

Griffin Bay Bookstore and the San Juan Island Library are excited to host an evening for both kids and adults. Come out for Joe Gaydos’ lively and inter-active book talk– Explore the Salish Sea: A Nature Guide for Kids— at the Library on Wednesday, August 22, 7:00 pm. This is a book that children and  Continue Reading

Sasquatch: Man-Ape or Myth?

Written on August 6, 2018 at 5:43 am, by

“Sasquatch: Man-Ape or Myth?” with David George Gordon Author and Washington Humanities Speaker David George Gordon evaluates the data gathered about the legendary Northwest icon. David discusses the rules of critical thinking and explains how one can become an effective “citizen scientist” by gathering credible evidence that can be used to substantiate the Sasquatch’s status  Continue Reading

First We Mourn; Then We Take Action

Written on July 31, 2018 at 5:55 am, by

Safe Shippers and Friends of the San Juans share this with you… Our beloved and endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKWs) suffered another loss this week. The world heard the news of J35’s deceased calf and sent back words of alarm and sympathy to us here in the Salish Sea. We mourn together – Let’s  Continue Reading

Mount Grant Preserve

Written on July 25, 2018 at 5:45 am, by

Here’s a note from the Land Bank regarding Mount Grant Preserve… Access to Mount Grant Preserve is via a private road, Richard Lee Lane, which is off West Valley Road. The current parking area and first 1/5 mile of road are on an easement over privately owned land. The barbed wire fence, floodlights, and security  Continue Reading

Keith Keyser to talk on Permaculture

Written on July 20, 2018 at 5:46 am, by

Islanders can produce an abundance of food for their families while restoring degraded lands and fighting climate change. Tall order, you say? Permaculture designer Keith Keyser will show how it has been done elsewhere and how it can be done here. Join Keyser on Wednesday July 25th at the San Juan Island Grange Hall for  Continue Reading

Discover Deadman: An Intertidal Walk

Written on July 10, 2018 at 5:30 am, by

On Saturday, July 14 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm San Juan County Land Bank invites you to an intertidal walk at Deadman Bay Preserve… There’s more to the West Side of San Juan Island than orcas! Dr. Erika Iyengar, of Muhlenberg College and long-time researcher at the Friday Harbor Laboratories, returns to lead her  Continue Reading

Superpod 6: Music and Fun at Lime Kiln Park

Written on July 10, 2018 at 5:20 am, by

From Erin Corra of FOLKS, Friends of Lime Kiln Society… Join together with supporters of Lime Kiln Point State Park on Thursday, July 19 for a musical evening at our beautiful whale watch park. Bring a picnic and enjoy a sunset tour of the historic lighthouse with friends old and new. Who knows, maybe our  Continue Reading

Save Wild Salmon Fundraiser

Written on July 9, 2018 at 5:15 am, by

Sea Shepherd veteran Peter Jay Brown has founded a new campaign to save wild salmon… Drop in at Mike’s Cafe and Wine Bar and show your support for Wild Salmon Preservation! Celebrate the launch of Gaia Network’s new campaign Wednesday July, 11th 5-9pm! Gaia Network was founded by Sea Shepherd Veteran Peter Jay Brown. Gaia Network’s new  Continue Reading

The Land Bank Says Thank You!

Written on June 19, 2018 at 5:49 am, by

Islanders, thank you for “Getting Outdoors” and joining the Land Bank at our Zylstra Lake Preserve Open House last weekend. The response was incredible, with almost 200 visitors over the six-hour event, and on a busy June Saturday to boot! It was wonderful to see everyone enjoying the property and to hear the community’s positive  Continue Reading

Orca Sing 2018

Written on June 16, 2018 at 5:51 am, by

Orca Sing is an annual event where people gather for an evening of music at Lime Kiln Point State Park to honor the Southern Resident orcas.  This year’s event is the 19th annual and will take place on Saturday, June 23, beginning at 7 p.m. This year, Fred West and Seattle’s City Cantabile Choir will  Continue Reading

Orpha’s Lilacs Before the Bulldozer

Written on June 11, 2018 at 5:54 am, by

Those who have been reading the SJ Update for a while may recall a story from 4 years ago this month, “Before the Bulldozer“, describing how Friday Harbor resident Chinmayo saved a cherry tree that was growing on some land that was about to be bulldozed and developed for new construction. Well, she is at  Continue Reading