Topic: Wildlife

San Juan Islands Christmas Bird Count

Written on October 28, 2019 at 5:49 am, by

Note: it’s a little earlier this year… Saturday, December 14, 2019 From Christmas Bird Hunts to Christmas Bird Counts –119 Years of Counting In 1900 ornithologist Frank Chapman along with other conservationists were disturbed at the slaughter of birds in the annual holiday event called the “side hunt”. The team that shot the most birds  Continue Reading

Anna’s Hummingbirds

Written on October 25, 2019 at 5:45 am, by

Story by Richard Wright In the islands we usually associate hummingbirds with the spring and summer seasons. In mid March our small Rufous Hummingbirds arrive from Mexico to breed in our islands and elsewhere in the NW. By mid August most of our Rufous Hummingbirds return to winter in Mexico. Recently, however, another species of  Continue Reading

New at the Sculpture Park

Written on October 21, 2019 at 5:49 am, by

Some new sculpture was installed at San Juan Island Sculpture Park on Saturday, October 12. It is three pieces depicting members of the Southern Resident Killer Whales. Left to right in the photo above are Nyssa (L-84, died 2019), Ruffles (J-1, died 2010) and Scoter (K-25, died 2019) all carved from western red cedar by  Continue Reading

Meet & Greet Saturday

Written on October 18, 2019 at 8:55 am, by

There will be a Meet and Greet event happening in Friday Harbor this Saturday, October 19th at 12:00. Our organization, Orca Protection and Rescue (OPR), is hosting this event to give the public an opportunity to talk with our crew as well as educate them about our mission and future goals. OPR focuses on three  Continue Reading

Court Decision to Consider Orcas

Written on October 17, 2019 at 6:15 am, by

WA Superior Court requires state to reconsider impacts to orcas in Skagit County refinery expansion project Thurston County Superior Court rules on decision from Shoreline Hearings Board related to Marathon Oil’s Anacortes Refinery; environmental groups appealed for failing to consider vessel traffic impacts THURSTON COUNTY, WA — On Friday, October 11, the Thurston County Superior  Continue Reading

Help for the Island Marble Butterfly

Written on October 7, 2019 at 5:48 am, by

State and federal wildlife agencies to work with San Juan and Lopez island landowners to recover butterfly found nowhere else The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is announcing continuation of open enrollment for San Juan and Lopez islands landowners who would like to participate in a voluntary program to help restore Island  Continue Reading

Citizen Scientists Needed for Forage Fish Surveys in the San Juans

Written on October 5, 2019 at 5:50 am, by

Friends of the San Juans is seeking citizen scientists to help conduct beach surveys for spawning forage fish over the next two years. There will be a survey training session on October 26 from 9 am – 1 pm with researchers from Friends of the San Juans and Salish Sea Biological at the Old Town of Friday Harbor  Continue Reading

Annual Gardening Workshop

Written on October 2, 2019 at 10:02 am, by

Need Help Managing “Watchable Wildlife” in Your Garden? Leave this class with a better understanding of how to manage deer and other mammals in your gardens. The San Juan County Master Gardeners are pleased to welcome Dave Pehling, retired WSU Extension Zoologist. Dave will discuss integrated pest management, deterring pests by understanding their needs for,  Continue Reading

Growing Up Gorilla

Written on September 27, 2019 at 9:04 am, by

Growing Up Gorilla with Acclaimed Author Clare Hodgson Meeker at San Juan Island Library On Saturday, Oct 5 at 3 PM Clare Hodgson Meeker will talk about her latest non-fiction book. Growing Up Gorilla tells the true story of a baby gorilla named Yola who lives at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo. At birth, Yola was  Continue Reading

Beach Habitat Enhancement Project Underway on Shaw

Written on September 26, 2019 at 10:15 am, by

During the recent daytime low tides, Friends of the San Juans and project contractor Zach Crosby of Shaw Island Excavation worked to remove large rock and concrete debris from a stretch of beach on Shaw Island. The project will improve spawning substrate in a year-round forage fish area and compliments similar projects completed in 2017  Continue Reading

Joe Gaydos to Receive Film Festival’s Local Hero Award

Written on September 16, 2019 at 5:49 am, by

Friday Harbor Film Festival is delighted to announce that Joe Gaydos will be the honored recipient of the 2019 Local Hero Award for his work as a Senior Wildlife Veterinarian and Science Director for the SeaDoc Society. The Local Hero Award is presented each year to a present or former resident of the San Juan  Continue Reading

Meet Eba the Whale-poop-sniffing dog at SJIMA

Written on September 10, 2019 at 5:46 am, by

Maybe out on the water you saw a dog, in sunglasses no less, on the prow of a small boat and wondered what they were doing. Well, now you can get an answer! Come meet Dr. Debora Giles and Eba at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) lobby and learn about Eba’s job  Continue Reading

Got a whale of a question?

Written on August 16, 2019 at 5:40 am, by

Stop by and chat with one of the Volunteer Naturalists at the Westside Preserve middle pullover south of Lime Kiln, or at Lime Kiln Whale Watch Wall. Happy to answer your questions and share information about the whales and the Salish Sea!! 11am-2pm Saturday 8-17-19 Westside Preserve 11am-2pm Sunday 8-18-19 Westside Preserve 2pm-5pm Sunday 8-18-19  Continue Reading

Return of the River

Written on August 12, 2019 at 5:49 am, by

It’s time for Monday Movie Night again at the Orca Survey Outreach and Education Center (185 S. First Street). The next installment of the series will be a showing of “Return of the River”. This film beautifully documents the story of the removal of the dams on the Elwha River and how the restoration of  Continue Reading

Islands Heartbeats SJI

Written on August 9, 2019 at 5:48 am, by

  An unforgettable photographic journey through the natural wonders of San Juan Island, Washington. Written and photographed by Julie McIntire Corey. This is the must-have book of the summer! Islands Heartbeats is 272 pages with 330 spectacular photographs and stories that will make your heart beat. JulieC is one of those rare individuals that can  Continue Reading

Got a whale of a question?

Written on August 9, 2019 at 5:46 am, by

Stop by and chat with one of the Volunteer Naturalists at the Westside Preserve middle pullover south of Lime Kiln, or at Lime Kiln Whale Watch Wall this weekend. Happy to answer your questions and share information about the whales and the Salish Sea! 12pm-5pm Friday 8-9-19 Westside Preserve 11am-5pm Saturday 8-10-19 Westside Preserve 11am-2pm  Continue Reading