Fisherman Bay Project Update

Lopez Island Beach Watchers and other volunteers, working with Russel Barsh and Kwiaht interns, have completed their first season of Fisherman Bay surveys.

Intern Anne Harmon organized several fish-seining expeditions during the summer to gather data on the species and quantity of fish at different locations in and just outside of the bay. Volunteers quickly counted, measured, and then released the fish collected in the net. While it likely that the surveying protocol will be significantly revised in the future, these preliminary outings helped volunteers to sharpen their identification skills for the different fish species, as well as to become better acquainted with different areas of the bay. Most encouraging was the realization that there were still quite a few fish in the bay, in spite of water quality issues.

The bird surveys conducted by Kelley Palmer-McCarty, (see newsletter article from earlier in the season,) continued all summer. Working with a corps of Beach Watcher volunteers, they set up the spotting scope weekly at seven locations around the perimeter of Fisherman Bay, identifying and counting the species and quantity of birds at each. It was soon evident that the more everyone learned about the behavior of the birds, the more they were also gathering information about the fish. The surveyors observed what the herons, terns, ospreys and gulls were eating, how often their attempts at catching prey were successful, and where in the bay they focused their efforts.

When Kelley returned to Western Washington U. in the fall, Amanda Wedow and Charlie Behnke took over the surveys for Kwiaht; these continue to be a weekly event on Lopez and are open to everyone. (The schedule is posted monthly on www.lopezrocks.org .) Charlie (2009 Beach Watcher) and Amanda are recent graduates of Evergreen College and both have a strong background in ornithology. The summer surveys had made it obvious that a better spotting scope was needed, and with help from Kwiaht and donations from a number of volunteers, a new scope was put into use in November, just in time to observe the many varieties of ducks that are regularly congregating on the bay.

A Fisherman Bay Marine Health Observatory steering committee consisting of Kwiaht staff, some Lopez Beach Watchers and other community members, has been formed to discuss the work completed so far, and to set goals and make plans for 2011. How to involve the community more in the work being done is the major focus of the group, and plans are being made for a community outreach “Day on the Bay” on April 2^nd, 2011. Save the date! and watch the newsletter for more information.