Topic: Wildlife

Whale Museum Lecture Series Features NOAA Scientists Photogrammetry Study

Written on September 21, 2018 at 6:12 am, by

On September 25, Dr. John Durban from NOAA and Dr. Holly Fearnbach from SR3 SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation and Research will present on “Photogrammetry Study of the SRKWs.” The lecture will take place at 7:00 pm at The Whale Museum.  Dr. Durban leads the Cetacean Health and Life History Program at NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center  Continue Reading

Beachwalkers Wanted! COASST Training Session

Written on September 16, 2018 at 6:15 am, by

On October 13thfrom 11 am to 5 pm, the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) will deliver a free training session in Friday Harbor, WA for citizens interested in surveying for marine debris. The COASST Marine Debris program is focused on the intersection of science, conservation, and communities. Rather than simply identifying debris, the  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

J50 Presumed Dead

Written on September 13, 2018 at 5:45 pm, by

“The message brought by J50, and by J35 and her dead calf a few weeks ago, is that the SRKW are running out of reproductive capacity and extinction of this population is looming, while the humans convene task forces and conference calls that result in nothing, or worse than nothing, diverting attention and resources from  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

Dinner Party at the Whale Museum

Written on September 12, 2018 at 5:46 am, by

The Whale Museum invites everyone to the first annual event, “The Dinner Party,” an elegant fundraiser and auction on Friday, September 14, 6:00 pm, at Brickworks. Proceeds benefit the museum’s mission of promoting stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research.  The evening will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a reception  Continue Reading

Letter from the Port

Written on September 12, 2018 at 5:45 am, by

The Port of Friday Harbor Commission recently presented the following letter to the Governor’s task force. Here it is for you to see… Dear Council Staff, The Port of Friday Harbor respectfully requests that the Pacific Fishery Management Council set aside an allocation of 250,000 chinook salmon from the Fraser River for the endangered Southern  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

River Otters in a Land Without Rivers

Written on September 7, 2018 at 6:15 am, by

Did you know that most of the otters we see around here are river otters? It is true. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) has adapted to our salt water environment. “River otters are semi-aquatic mustelids (the weasel family), and are traditionally thought to be freshwater animals.  However, across both coasts of North America, river otters  Continue Reading

Big Turnout for CWR Grand Opening

Written on August 22, 2018 at 9:03 am, by

Yesterday’s Grand Opening of the new Center for Whale Research’s Orca Survey Outreach & Education Center was attended by a good sized crowd of about 25 – 30 people. Friday Harbor Mayor Farhad Ghatan, members of the SJI Chamber of Commerce and many CWR staff & volunteers attended as well. The Center is located next  Continue Reading

Grand Opening Tuesday

Written on August 20, 2018 at 5:50 am, by

The Center for Whale Research shares this announcement… We are excited to announce the official grand opening of the Orca Survey Outreach & Education Center. And you’re invited!  The grand opening will be held on Tuesday, August 21 at the education center which is located at 185 S. First Street in downtown Friday Harbor. A ribbon cutting  Continue Reading

Harbor Seal

Written on August 16, 2018 at 5:47 am, by

Kevin Holmes shares this photo of a big male Harbor Seal resting on the dock at Friday Harbor (being watched over by animal folks from Animal Stranding Network) after he had been in a fight… Thanks Kevin!

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

J35’s Tour of Grief is Past

Written on August 12, 2018 at 9:52 am, by

This latest news is from the Center for Whale Research… “The ordeal of J35 carrying her dead calf for at least seventeen days and 1,000 miles is now over, thank goodness.” – Ken Balcomb, Center for Whale Research This afternoon at 1407 Pacific Daylight Time, J35 vigorously chased a school of salmon with her pod-mates  Continue Reading

Free the Snake

Written on August 7, 2018 at 5:54 am, by

The following is from the Dam Sense news Room… This piece is in response to Governor Inslee’s Interview with Simone Del Rosario of Q13 Fox on July 26th.  It is meant to serve as a correction of mis-information due to lack of appropriate information. “We can’t wait for that study, we need to reduce the  Continue Reading

Atlantic Salmon Net Pen Summer Lecture Series

Written on August 2, 2018 at 9:36 am, by

UPDATED – The SJ Update has just learned there will be another event here on San Juan Island as well. So – 2 events, One at the UW Labs on August 8, and one on Orcas in Eastsound on August 9th… This past March, Washington state successfully passed a law phasing out open-water Atlantic salmon  Continue Reading