Is It Time To Forgive SeaWorld
It’s easy to cast SeaWorld as the villain but are they just supplying what the market is demanding?
Resting California Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) at La Jolla Cove in southern California.
A Quick Visit to the San Diego Museum of Natural History
Rich in both culture and history, San Diego seemed the perfect place to hide from the Pacific Northwest ‘Snowmageddon’.
Making our way threw the snow in order to get to the trailhead that takes us over Scotts Bluff and eventually Toleak Beach,
Despite Record Snowfall A Successful Beach Survey
Tides and weather are the keys to whether we have can conduct a successful bird survey. Tides are predictable; the weather has been anything but this year.
After enduring 4 days of storms trying to get enough beach to survey for the COASST project we finally had to call it quits. However we were rewarded with this beautiful sunrise the last day.
Winter Storms Creating Havoc with COASST Surveys
We haven’t had quite the cold weather we usually get but the wind has been remorselessly beating up Washington and playing havoc with our attempts to get to our beach for a COASST survey
Of course, you'd expect to see some fishing debris; but this much? also look closely and you'll see much more than just fishing debris.
Changing the Way We Think About Plastic
Approximately nine million tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year—the equivalent of five plastic grocery bags stuffed with plastic trash on every foot of coastline around the world.
Although the creek is closed to fishing, you can fish the mouth of the creek.
Big Fish in a Little Stream
Anyone who lives in the Pacific Northwest is familiar with the migration of the different species of Salmon. What did surprise me recently was the the size of the water these amazing fish are willing to attempt swimming up to breed. My childhood handmade sailboat wouldn’t float in the amount of water we’re talking here?
A Glaucous-Winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) is our bird #302. Photo Credit: Steve Weileman
First Beach Cast Bird Found
I really don’t want to think about the number of miles or the total elevation lost and gained that were traveled to find our first bird but it finally paid off with the discovery of our first bird (and second) to document for the volunteer COASST program.
Theresa collecting our traps from Site 277.
A Summer Hunting the Green Crab
This was only our second year for this site, and actually our first full year. Last year we had a late start as we waited for the permits to make their way through the system. I mention this because it makes is somewhat difficult to come up with any hard conclusions regarding the data.
Sunset over James Island. This was our view from Basecamp. Helped make up for the grueling hike to the beach.
Third Survey at Toleak Beach
The trail was heavily overgrown compared to our first trip out in early May. I felt Theresa’s absence like a weight on my back. Bending down for a better look I saw yet another bit of cougar scat. Unlike the previous trip this was obviously not fresh but that didn’t keep my head from constantly swiveling as I started up the trail to Scott’s Bluff.
Don bringing in the first trap of the season from Titlow Beach.
Monitoring Traps Back In The Water At Site 277
It’s hard to say what’s going on, but for our first time out to Site 277 we certainly found much less in our traps this weekend with 2 traps totally empty. Is it the time of year or is something else going on?
