Topic: Wildlife
BUZZ: The Nature and Necessity of Bees
Written on March 22, 2019 at 1:47 pm, by Tim Dustrude
Griffin Bay Bookstore is proud to announce that San Juan Island author, Thor Hanson, author of The Triumph of Seeds and Feathers, has won his third Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association award, receiving the 2019 PNBA award for BUZZ: The Nature and Necessity of Bees. Please join us at the San Juan Island Library when Griffin Continue Reading
Longtime Fishery Science and Policy Manager Hired to Lead Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office
Written on March 19, 2019 at 5:47 am, by Tim Dustrude
The following press release is from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office… OLYMPIA – Erik Neatherlin, a scientist and longtime manager in the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has been selected to lead the Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office, which coordinates statewide and regional efforts to return salmon from the brink of extinction. The Continue Reading
Cattle Point Eagle
Written on March 14, 2019 at 5:51 am, by Tim Dustrude
John Miller shares this photo he shot Wednesday of an eagle perched on top of Cattle Point Lighthouse. Pretty cool – Thanks for sharing John!
Statement from PWWA
Written on March 13, 2019 at 5:43 am, by Tim Dustrude
In the SJ Update mailbag today we find this letter from Kyle Wall, a Senior Account Executive with the Seattle based public relations firm The Fearey Group, sharing this statement from the Pacific Whale Watch Association on the passing of HB 1580 in the Washington State House and SB 5577 in the Senate… “We have Continue Reading
Leviathan Delusion in Paradise Lost
Written on March 7, 2019 at 5:45 am, by Tim Dustrude
In the SJ Update Mailbag this morning, we have this letter from Steve Ulvi… Glancing at caller ID on a recent snowy morning, I guessed that my old Alaska pal, Archie was riled up about something. Most likely a retaliatory shot in response to the brow-beating I served up previously. I had been pretty steamed Continue Reading
A River’s Last Chance
Written on March 4, 2019 at 5:50 am, by Tim Dustrude
Friday Harbor Film Festival Winter Series – Best of the Fest – Tuesday, March 5th at the Grange at 7:00 pm A River’s Last Chance: A Story of Salmon, Timber, Weed and Wine along the Mighty Eel River – the award winning film about saving our Salmon and rivers. The Eel River in Northern California Continue Reading
Killer Ale IPA Launch Party
Written on March 4, 2019 at 5:50 am, by Tim Dustrude
Ghostfish Brewing Partners with Orca Protection & Rescue to Release Limited Killer Ale IPA – Launch Party March 9th Seattle, WA – Ghostfish Brewing is set to launch Killer Ale IPA on March 9, 2019, a bold and distinctly Northwest influenced India Pale Ale brewed to benefit Washington-based Orca Protection & Rescue. Founded in 2018 Continue Reading
SRKW Presentations
Written on March 2, 2019 at 10:26 am, by Tim Dustrude
Protect What You Love: Southern Resident Orca Presentations and Community Discussions Friends of the San Juans will explore the plight of the Southern Resident orcas and engage the community in actions that can help their recovery. Orcas Island – Thursday, March 14, 12 – 1:30 p.m., Orcas Senior Center, 62 Henry Rd. Lopez Island – Tuesday, March 19, 12 – Continue Reading
Know Your Islanders Talk
Written on February 28, 2019 at 5:46 am, by Tim Dustrude
Adam Summers – The Sea: Inspiration for Art and Science Dr. Adam Summers, who runs the Comparative Vertebrate Biomechanics Lab at the Friday Harbor Laboratories, will present a naturalist’s opinion on nature as a source of inspiration for art and science. Monday, March 4 at 7 pm San Juan Island Library Free Refreshments will Continue Reading
What Birds Are These?
Written on February 14, 2019 at 1:28 pm, by Peggy Sue McRae
We received this photo from Ruth Offen, “Just saw this gathering of I think commerants or loons all floating together. First thought it was herring ball, but not. Have you or anybody else seen this sight before?” Click on the photo to enlarge the image and if you know these birds and what they are doing please Continue Reading
Humming Bird in Snow
Written on February 13, 2019 at 5:36 am, by Peggy Sue McRae
Thanks to Richard W. Wright for this great photo (Taken Feb 12, 2019)…
The Eagle and the Hawk
Written on February 7, 2019 at 5:30 am, by Peggy Sue McRae
Thanks to John Miller for this great photo… click to enlarge photo.
#ScanAllStars: Scientists at the UW Labs Scan Sea Stars
Written on February 4, 2019 at 5:35 am, by Peggy Sue McRae
Mo Turner, Ph.D. candidate in Biology at the University of Washington and Cassandra Donatelli Ph.D. candidate at Tufts University are collaborating scanning sea stars. In January they presented their preliminary findings to the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology. The following by Mo Turner, with Cassandra Donatelli is excerpted from February’s Tide Bite, the newsletter of the Continue Reading
Swan Survey Results
Written on February 1, 2019 at 5:47 am, by Tim Dustrude
Here’s a note from Kathleen Foley to all the folks who participated in this year’s swan count. Just thought you might like to see it… Hello swan counters, Thank you for your participation in the 2019 wintering swan count, held last Friday. Thank you as well, to everyone for returning your count forms to me Continue Reading
Snow Geese Sunrise
Written on January 29, 2019 at 10:06 am, by Tim Dustrude
John Miller shares this photo he shot with a drone on Fir Island yesterday morning. Click to enlarge. Thanks for sharing John!
Protect What You Love
Written on January 28, 2019 at 5:50 am, by Tim Dustrude
During Valentine’s week Friends of the San Juans will explore the plight of the Southern Resident orcas and engage the community in actions that can help their recovery. Find out what the Southern Resident orcas need to survive and thrive including how the Snake, Frasier, Columbia, Skagit and other river systems impact the orca; how Continue Reading
Salmon Still Declining
Written on January 18, 2019 at 5:45 am, by Tim Dustrude
State’s New Report Shows Salmon Still Declining: Recovery Projects Funded at Only 16 Percent of Estimated Need OLYMPIA–Despite two decades of efforts to recover them, wild salmon are still declining—and a report released today by the Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office stresses that adequate funding is needed to turn the tide on the iconic species’ future. Continue Reading
Welcome New Baby L124
Written on January 11, 2019 at 7:32 pm, by Tim Dustrude
This just in from the Center for Whale Research… On January 10, 2019, TV stations in Seattle aired live aerial footage of several groups of killer whales in Puget Sound near Seattle, and discerning viewers were able to see a very small whale among them. CWR researcher, Melisa Pinnow, was able to see that L Continue Reading
Local Research Finds New Forage Fish Spawning Beaches
Written on January 9, 2019 at 5:49 am, by Tim Dustrude
Did you know that our local sand and gravel beaches nurture incubating fish eggs? These eggs are virtually undetectable to the naked eye and come from two species of marine fish – surf smelt and Pacific sand lance. These species are among those referred to as “forage fish” for the vital role they play in Continue Reading
Statement from PWWA
Written on December 17, 2018 at 5:44 am, by Tim Dustrude
The Pacific Whale Watch Association issued the following statement… Whale watching and responsible no/low-impact ecotourism is critical to education and conservation efforts that we all are engaged in to protect all whales in the Salish Sea. As the Legislature, the Governor’s Task Force, and the public continue working towards ensuring the safety of the Southern Continue Reading
Inside the Killer Whale Matriarchy
Written on December 12, 2018 at 4:00 pm, by Tim Dustrude
The Center for Whale Research is excited to announce the release of a wonderful 5-minute animation that tells the incredible story of the importance of grandmothers in the Southern Resident orca community. Click the image above to view it. Thank you TED-ED, Darren Croft and Michael Weiss.
In the Mailbag
Written on December 12, 2018 at 5:37 am, by Tim Dustrude
In the SJ Update mailbag we have a letter from Allison Lance… The more diverse an eco-system is, the greater its odds are for survival. Genetic diversity insures robust populations. This applies to Earth’s life forms, which includes humans. In order to ensure our survival we need robust biodiversity. Therein lies the problem, nature is Continue Reading
BUZZ: The Nature and Necessity of Bees
Written on March 22, 2019 at 1:47 pm, by Tim Dustrude
Griffin Bay Bookstore is proud to announce that San Juan Island author, Thor Hanson, author of The Triumph of Seeds and Feathers, has won his third Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association award, receiving the 2019 PNBA award for BUZZ: The Nature and Necessity of Bees. Please join us at the San Juan Island Library when Griffin Continue Reading
Longtime Fishery Science and Policy Manager Hired to Lead Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office
Written on March 19, 2019 at 5:47 am, by Tim Dustrude
The following press release is from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office… OLYMPIA – Erik Neatherlin, a scientist and longtime manager in the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has been selected to lead the Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office, which coordinates statewide and regional efforts to return salmon from the brink of extinction. The Continue Reading
Cattle Point Eagle
Written on March 14, 2019 at 5:51 am, by Tim Dustrude
John Miller shares this photo he shot Wednesday of an eagle perched on top of Cattle Point Lighthouse. Pretty cool – Thanks for sharing John!
Statement from PWWA
Written on March 13, 2019 at 5:43 am, by Tim Dustrude
In the SJ Update mailbag today we find this letter from Kyle Wall, a Senior Account Executive with the Seattle based public relations firm The Fearey Group, sharing this statement from the Pacific Whale Watch Association on the passing of HB 1580 in the Washington State House and SB 5577 in the Senate… “We have Continue Reading
Leviathan Delusion in Paradise Lost
Written on March 7, 2019 at 5:45 am, by Tim Dustrude
In the SJ Update Mailbag this morning, we have this letter from Steve Ulvi… Glancing at caller ID on a recent snowy morning, I guessed that my old Alaska pal, Archie was riled up about something. Most likely a retaliatory shot in response to the brow-beating I served up previously. I had been pretty steamed Continue Reading
A River’s Last Chance
Written on March 4, 2019 at 5:50 am, by Tim Dustrude
Friday Harbor Film Festival Winter Series – Best of the Fest – Tuesday, March 5th at the Grange at 7:00 pm A River’s Last Chance: A Story of Salmon, Timber, Weed and Wine along the Mighty Eel River – the award winning film about saving our Salmon and rivers. The Eel River in Northern California Continue Reading
Killer Ale IPA Launch Party
Written on March 4, 2019 at 5:50 am, by Tim Dustrude
Ghostfish Brewing Partners with Orca Protection & Rescue to Release Limited Killer Ale IPA – Launch Party March 9th Seattle, WA – Ghostfish Brewing is set to launch Killer Ale IPA on March 9, 2019, a bold and distinctly Northwest influenced India Pale Ale brewed to benefit Washington-based Orca Protection & Rescue. Founded in 2018 Continue Reading
SRKW Presentations
Written on March 2, 2019 at 10:26 am, by Tim Dustrude
Protect What You Love: Southern Resident Orca Presentations and Community Discussions Friends of the San Juans will explore the plight of the Southern Resident orcas and engage the community in actions that can help their recovery. Orcas Island – Thursday, March 14, 12 – 1:30 p.m., Orcas Senior Center, 62 Henry Rd. Lopez Island – Tuesday, March 19, 12 – Continue Reading
Know Your Islanders Talk
Written on February 28, 2019 at 5:46 am, by Tim Dustrude
Adam Summers – The Sea: Inspiration for Art and Science Dr. Adam Summers, who runs the Comparative Vertebrate Biomechanics Lab at the Friday Harbor Laboratories, will present a naturalist’s opinion on nature as a source of inspiration for art and science. Monday, March 4 at 7 pm San Juan Island Library Free Refreshments will Continue Reading
What Birds Are These?
Written on February 14, 2019 at 1:28 pm, by Peggy Sue McRae
We received this photo from Ruth Offen, “Just saw this gathering of I think commerants or loons all floating together. First thought it was herring ball, but not. Have you or anybody else seen this sight before?” Click on the photo to enlarge the image and if you know these birds and what they are doing please Continue Reading
Humming Bird in Snow
Written on February 13, 2019 at 5:36 am, by Peggy Sue McRae
Thanks to Richard W. Wright for this great photo (Taken Feb 12, 2019)…
The Eagle and the Hawk
Written on February 7, 2019 at 5:30 am, by Peggy Sue McRae
Thanks to John Miller for this great photo… click to enlarge photo.
#ScanAllStars: Scientists at the UW Labs Scan Sea Stars
Written on February 4, 2019 at 5:35 am, by Peggy Sue McRae
Mo Turner, Ph.D. candidate in Biology at the University of Washington and Cassandra Donatelli Ph.D. candidate at Tufts University are collaborating scanning sea stars. In January they presented their preliminary findings to the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology. The following by Mo Turner, with Cassandra Donatelli is excerpted from February’s Tide Bite, the newsletter of the Continue Reading
Swan Survey Results
Written on February 1, 2019 at 5:47 am, by Tim Dustrude
Here’s a note from Kathleen Foley to all the folks who participated in this year’s swan count. Just thought you might like to see it… Hello swan counters, Thank you for your participation in the 2019 wintering swan count, held last Friday. Thank you as well, to everyone for returning your count forms to me Continue Reading
Snow Geese Sunrise
Written on January 29, 2019 at 10:06 am, by Tim Dustrude
John Miller shares this photo he shot with a drone on Fir Island yesterday morning. Click to enlarge. Thanks for sharing John!
Protect What You Love
Written on January 28, 2019 at 5:50 am, by Tim Dustrude
During Valentine’s week Friends of the San Juans will explore the plight of the Southern Resident orcas and engage the community in actions that can help their recovery. Find out what the Southern Resident orcas need to survive and thrive including how the Snake, Frasier, Columbia, Skagit and other river systems impact the orca; how Continue Reading
Salmon Still Declining
Written on January 18, 2019 at 5:45 am, by Tim Dustrude
State’s New Report Shows Salmon Still Declining: Recovery Projects Funded at Only 16 Percent of Estimated Need OLYMPIA–Despite two decades of efforts to recover them, wild salmon are still declining—and a report released today by the Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office stresses that adequate funding is needed to turn the tide on the iconic species’ future. Continue Reading
Welcome New Baby L124
Written on January 11, 2019 at 7:32 pm, by Tim Dustrude
This just in from the Center for Whale Research… On January 10, 2019, TV stations in Seattle aired live aerial footage of several groups of killer whales in Puget Sound near Seattle, and discerning viewers were able to see a very small whale among them. CWR researcher, Melisa Pinnow, was able to see that L Continue Reading
Local Research Finds New Forage Fish Spawning Beaches
Written on January 9, 2019 at 5:49 am, by Tim Dustrude
Did you know that our local sand and gravel beaches nurture incubating fish eggs? These eggs are virtually undetectable to the naked eye and come from two species of marine fish – surf smelt and Pacific sand lance. These species are among those referred to as “forage fish” for the vital role they play in Continue Reading
Statement from PWWA
Written on December 17, 2018 at 5:44 am, by Tim Dustrude
The Pacific Whale Watch Association issued the following statement… Whale watching and responsible no/low-impact ecotourism is critical to education and conservation efforts that we all are engaged in to protect all whales in the Salish Sea. As the Legislature, the Governor’s Task Force, and the public continue working towards ensuring the safety of the Southern Continue Reading
Inside the Killer Whale Matriarchy
Written on December 12, 2018 at 4:00 pm, by Tim Dustrude
The Center for Whale Research is excited to announce the release of a wonderful 5-minute animation that tells the incredible story of the importance of grandmothers in the Southern Resident orca community. Click the image above to view it. Thank you TED-ED, Darren Croft and Michael Weiss.
In the Mailbag
Written on December 12, 2018 at 5:37 am, by Tim Dustrude
In the SJ Update mailbag we have a letter from Allison Lance… The more diverse an eco-system is, the greater its odds are for survival. Genetic diversity insures robust populations. This applies to Earth’s life forms, which includes humans. In order to ensure our survival we need robust biodiversity. Therein lies the problem, nature is Continue Reading