Topic: Wildlife

Southern Resident Killer Whales are Back

Written on September 8, 2017 at 6:00 am, by

Good news from Ken Balcomb at the Center for Whale Research… They’re back! For the first time in more than two months, a large assemblage of Southern Resident killer whale pods has returned to the interior waters of the Salish Sea. This population has dramatically decreased in number in recent years, and this summer was  Continue Reading

Tufted Puffins, Smith Island

Written on September 6, 2017 at 5:35 am, by

Thanks to photographer and naturalist Katie Jones, Spyhopper Travels Photography, for this photograph of Tufted Puffins out at Smith Island.

Whale Museum Lecture: Whales and Shipping

Written on September 6, 2017 at 5:30 am, by

The Whale Museum’s lecture series continues this Thursday, September 7 at 6:30 pm with a lecture by Krista Trounce of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Dr. Jason Wood from Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) Consulting North America (based here in Friday Harbor). They will be presenting on the ship slow down trial that is currently  Continue Reading

Samish Indian Nation Map Honored

Written on August 30, 2017 at 7:45 pm, by

Samish Indian Nation Marine Debris Clean Up Map Honored by Esri Storytelling with Maps Contest 2nd place honor awarded in conservation, environment, and sustainability category Anacortes, Washington – Aug. 30, 2017 – The Samish Indian Nation announced today that its map tracking marine debris clean up in the tribe’s traditional territory has been honored with  Continue Reading

Gaia the Octopus

Written on August 23, 2017 at 5:53 am, by

Researcher Dominic Sivitilli from the University of Washington, has been studying a rare Giant Pacific Octopus that he found in the waters just off San Juan County Park on July 2nd. Her name is Gaia, and Dominic transported her to Friday Harbor Labs to study for the last month and a half. With degrees in  Continue Reading

FHL Tide Bites

Written on August 3, 2017 at 5:43 am, by

What Happens to San Juan Sea Urchins in the Absence of Predatory Sea Stars? – Investigating the Relationships Between Baby Green Urchins, Coralline Algae, and Crabs by Dara Yiu Dara is an undergraduate in UW’s School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences. She first joined Friday Harbor Laboratories as a ZooBot student in Spring 2016, and  Continue Reading

Workshop and FUNraiser for the Center for Whale Research

Written on July 31, 2017 at 5:57 am, by

Center for Whale Research Workshop and Raise A Glass For Research FUNraiser ~ A Whale of a Success The Center For Whale Research held it’s first workshop and auction on July 21st with a focus on Research-Action-Recovery of the local Southern Resident killer whales. The Celebrating Science Workshop filled every seat at Brickworks with 150  Continue Reading

Thank you, Orca Protectors!

Written on July 21, 2017 at 5:50 am, by

130 people and fifteen organizations joined San Juan Islanders for Safe Shipping to march under the banners, “Orca Protectors” and ”Protect What you Love” in the Friday Harbor July 4th parade. We carried a life-size dorsal fin for every living member of J, K, and L pods, plus 7 white “ghost” fins for the pod  Continue Reading

Springer Has a New Calf!

Written on July 18, 2017 at 5:53 am, by

Here’s the latest from the Whale Museum… On June 5th, CetaceaLab spotted Springer (A73) with her second calf off of British Columbia’s north central coast. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) later confirmed the new addition. Springer’s first calf, Spirit was born in 2013. This summer marks the 15th year since Springer was  Continue Reading

Raise a Glass for Research

Written on July 5, 2017 at 5:46 am, by

The Center for Whale Research is hosting an all day workshop followed by an evening event at the Brickworks in Friday Harbor on July 21st. The workshop will highlight the research that has been conducted by the Center for Whale Research over the last 42 years, and how this research can be translated into conservation  Continue Reading

Orca Protectors

Written on June 26, 2017 at 5:47 am, by

In this year’s Fourth of July parade in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, sponsored by the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce, 16 organizations — each dedicated to the protection of the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale — will be marching together showing their shared support of the orcas. Our region’s resident orcas —  Continue Reading

Swallow Nests

Written on June 21, 2017 at 3:53 pm, by

Its summer! Swallows are swooping around catching insects and making their nests in your barn, under the eaves of your house or on the light fixture above your back door. Swallows eat huge numbers of flying insects, including mosquitoes and other biting insects and some that are garden pests, so we all benefit from having  Continue Reading

Orca Sing

Written on June 17, 2017 at 5:44 am, by

Orca Sing 2017, June 24 at Lime Kiln Point State Park, 7 p.m. 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 18th annual and will take place on Saturday, June 24, beginning  Continue Reading

A Banner Day for Island Families

Written on June 7, 2017 at 5:23 pm, by

by Theresa Simendinger In collaboration; the SJ Trails Committee, and Island Rec sponsored the great idea from the Land Bank and the National Park Service of a family event, hiking out to Briggs Lake, for the Family Nature Club on June 4th. On a bright spring-like day, youth leader Ava Martin, 11, and friends set  Continue Reading

Keeping them Wild

Written on June 6, 2017 at 5:53 am, by

Here’s an announcement for you from Wolf Hollow… As spring babies are born, you might be lucky enough to spot delicate deer fawns, furry fox and raccoon kits and little downy ducklings. Baby wild animals are so cute, and sometimes our natural instinct is to get close to them. However, it is much better for  Continue Reading

In Support of Pull Together

Written on May 24, 2017 at 5:50 am, by

Liza Michaelson writes to ask for your support… Family and Friends, Do you LOVE the San Juan Islands? Do you LOVE our pristine beaches and fresh seafood? Do you LOVE the Orca whales who call this region home? Next week, with 3 other hearty folks from San Juan Island, I will be joining a group  Continue Reading