Topic: Wildlife

Wolf Hollow Releases Two Juvenile Bald Eagles

Written on January 6, 2017 at 10:35 am, by

After several months of receiving care at Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Friday Harbor, two juvenile bald eagles have a second chance at life in the wild. With a small group of onlookers attending, Wolf Hollow staff and volunteers released the pair on December 29th at Rasar State Park near Concrete, WA. The eagles –  Continue Reading

Counting Birds

Written on January 2, 2017 at 5:43 am, by

We had a good time out on Saturday counting birds for the Audubon Society’s 117th Annual Christmas Bird Count. More information on counts around the county will be coming soon.

J34 Has Died

Written on December 22, 2016 at 11:53 am, by

Another southern resident killer whale has died! By Kenneth C. Balcomb, Senior Scientist Center for Whale Research We regret having to make a distressing announcement during this holiday season, but we confirm from news photographs and eyepatch photos sent to the Center for Whale Research that the killer whale carcass that was towed to a beach  Continue Reading

Happy Holidays from J-2 (Granny) and the Whale Museum

Written on December 19, 2016 at 5:50 am, by

Did you know that Granny’s estimated birth year is 1911? She is believed to be the oldest female in J, K, and L pods at over 105 years! She is still very active and often breaches. Here are some interesting facts about Granny: She is the matriarch of the Southern Resident Community, known as J  Continue Reading

117th Annual Christmas Bird Count

Written on December 13, 2016 at 5:56 am, by

The San Juan Islands Christmas Bird Count will be on Saturday, December 31st and will be a wonderful way to celebrate the coming of a new year… From Christmas Bird Hunts to Christmas Bird Counts In 1900 ornithologist Frank Chapman along with other conservationists were troubled at the slaughter of birds in the annual holiday event called  Continue Reading

Work Party on Cady Mountain Preserve

Written on December 1, 2016 at 4:07 pm, by

Hello Oakies! It’s hard to believe we’re entering into our last work month of 2016 – thank you for all the pruning, limbing, hauling, and camaraderie this year. Your support is greatly appreciated! The next couple work parties will focus on protecting our little dears from those browsing big deers. When? Sundays, December 11 &  Continue Reading

Committed to Conservation

Written on November 30, 2016 at 5:53 am, by

Local Whale Watch & Wildlife Tour Companies Donate $24,000 to Orca and Salmon Conservation  Friday Harbor, WA – San Juan Safaris and San Juan Island Outfitters, two local whale watch and sea kayak tour companies, are giving back to killer whale and salmon conservation and research. As highlighted by the recent decline in the Southern  Continue Reading

November Haul-Out Survey

Written on November 19, 2016 at 5:56 am, by

This story comes from the Whale Museum’s E-News monthly newsletter… Starting earlier this year, The Whale Museum’s San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network began conducting regular surveys of sea lion haul-outs in San Juan County. Both Whale Rocks in Cattle Pass and Green Point on Spieden Island are popular gathering spots for Steller sea  Continue Reading

UW Labs Tide Bites

Written on November 2, 2016 at 5:50 am, by

Big fish, small pond: An atypical development strategy in a local fish species — no bones, all bulk! by Daniel Geldof Daniel recently finished his undergraduate studies at the University of Washington’s School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences. He attended Autumn quarter 2014 at FHL, and continued his research there through 2015. He visits the  Continue Reading

News from Center for Whale Research

Written on October 29, 2016 at 5:46 am, by

By Kenneth C. Balcomb, Senior Scientist Center for Whale Research J28 was born in mid-winter 1992/93 in or near Puget Sound Washington, and was the first of four known calves born to J17 in the J9/J5 lineage of southern resident killer whales (SRKW – see family tree) inhabiting the inshore marine waters of the Pacific  Continue Reading

Snow Geese

Written on October 27, 2016 at 5:55 am, by

By Louise Dustrude John and I had some time to spare on the mainland Monday and so we decided to see whether, even though it seemed early, the snow geese were back for the winter on Fir Island. We lucked out. It was on the wildlife viewing area on the road west of Conway that  Continue Reading

October is Bat Appreciation Month!

Written on October 24, 2016 at 5:49 am, by

This is from Wolf Hollow’s “Hollow Happenings” With Halloween just around the corner, our minds may be on ghosts and haunted houses full of bats hanging in dark attics. What better time of year to celebrate Bat Appreciation Month? These often misunderstood flying mammals are much more helpful than many people realize. Bats are responsible  Continue Reading

Jim’s Calendar is Out Soon

Written on October 19, 2016 at 5:50 am, by

Captain Jim Maya has this news to share… Dear Friends… I hope this note finds you all well. Our new calendar is out soon! San Juan Islands Wild, 2017… The Photography of James Mead Maya. Here is the cover image. You can order by return email, at www.mayasimages.com and through Facebook, at Maya’s Images. If  Continue Reading

Newts on the Move

Written on October 16, 2016 at 9:02 am, by

Have you seen any Rough-skinned Newts this fall? These little brown amphibians with orange bellies are moving from the ponds and wetlands where they spent the summer into the surrounding woodland where they’ll hide under rotten logs and leaves during the winter months. Sadly their route often takes them across roads where many are squished  Continue Reading

L95 Died From Fungal Infection

Written on October 13, 2016 at 5:49 am, by

Click the link below to see the Center for Whale Research comment on death of L95, a 20 year old male Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) that died from fungal infection following a NOAA dart-tagging this year (2016). Center for Whale Research

Autumnal Animal Adventure

Written on October 6, 2016 at 5:55 am, by

Bring your family out to relish autumn with naturalist Shona Aitken. Shona will lead an exploration into the woods in search of wild creatures. Your child will use their senses to find clues about which animals live there and where they would go to stay dry and warm when the weather becomes cold and wet.  Continue Reading