Annual Pass Now Required to Visit WA State Parks

There has been some negative publicity about the $30 annual pass now required to visit WA State Parks, but if this new law had not been passed to create much-needed revenue, Lime Kiln and Moran were apparently among the parks slated for closure. You can purchase the "Discover" Pass at the first park you visit this year. You can also buy it on line, though the cost is $5 higher. Check the SP website for details: http://www.discoverpass.wa.gov/ Note that the pass is vehicle-specific, but there is apparently an option to cover multiple vehicles in a household.

News from Indian Island

First of all, THANK YOU for helping "show the flag" and manage some 800-1000 visitors to the island this past week! The survival and fledging of all three Black Oystercatcher chicks can be taken as a measure of success of our efforts so far this summer. We also have some very cool data. At least three more nudibranch species were observed last month, and our mid-June fishing found the largest proportion of gravid male pipefish we have ever seen.

Unfortunately, our eelgrass survey last week does suggest a gradual decline in inter-tidal (-1.0 feet) eelgrass density over the last three years. We need to flag this for discussion, and pay especially close attention to the eelgrass survey in July 2012. If there is another year of decline, I think we need to bring this to the attention of the community. Sad, but this is, after all, what monitoring is for...

A head's-up about upcoming July activities. The next round of low-tide activities will fast be upon us! July 13 and July 14 we are scheduled for our annual bivalve census. We dug two square meters in 2010 and there was a general feeling that we should aim for a larger 2011 sample, in particular to confirm what appeared to be a lack of recruitment of steamers (Protothaca staminea). I'd like to aim for 10 square meters! That means getting at least THREE teams on the beach to dig and measure clams. A team can be just two people, a shovel, and a data sheet, so we should be able to manage it-- and I will bring two students to help as well. I've also asked the OMSI Science Camp to help with shovelling on July 13, but let's not count on that.

July 15 is fishing. And July 16 is an DOUBLE outreach day. The tide will be low enough around 9 on that to walk out to the island around 11 am to 1 pm, and we also have a booth reserved for the Indian Island MHO at the Farmer's Market (the Stewardship Network space). We can use the booth for show and tell, to distribute a few more of our bookmarks and trifolds, and to recruit more local support and volunteers. Photos and displays, anyone? What shall we show off? And while we should ensure one or two volunteers on the beach for outreach that day, we also need at least a couple of people to staff the booth. I will be available for the beach or the booth or a little of both. Who else would like to give this a whirl?

The late June tides have been even "flatter" than the May and early June tides, so we can (and should) start earlier than I had originally suggested. July 13 was originally scheduled for 10 am, and I think we could get started an hour earlier, digging for bivalves closer to shore. Ditto on July 14, so let's see if we can get underway around 9 am on Wednesday and 9:30 on Thursday, and still work just about 2 hours each day. Fishing July 15, why don't we try to be on the island setting the net by 11 am. And for Saturday outreach and Farmers Market, let's just follow the Farmers Market hours.

Thank you, all, for what continues to be a productive summer of discoveries and (small but real) successes!

Russel.

Indian Island Update

Friday, July 1 was a busy day. Many wonderful volunteers and lots of visitors to Indian island including many with young children who loved the chance to turn over rocks.

The eel grass count may be done..check with Ellie.

Please note that the best start time for Indian Island is about one half hour before the time scheduled.

In other news, there is now a hotline for calling in algal blooms. The number is 468-4869

(468-ITOX).

Toxic Algal Bloom

We are seeing a double algal bloom around Orcas Island this week. The visible reddish-brown stuff is mostly Noctiluca which isn't known to be toxic but we are also seeing a lot of Heterosigma mixed in with it.

Heterosigma can kill fish especially captive fish which can not get away from it.

Noctiluca sometimes generates bioluminescence so if you go out on a dark night and disturb it you may see a ghostly glow.

Dr. Vera Trainer from the Marine Biotoxin Group, Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle has come out to the islands to monitor the bloom.

Stranded White-sided Dolphins at Campbell River, BC

This is a great story and video on the successful efforts by 50-60 people in Campbell River, BC, who responded to save four stranded white-sided dolphins on June 28.

First, read the story: http://www2.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=5020305

Then see the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5Ap4rNUhes

Octo-Mom Giving Birth in Puget Sound

Just in case you did not hear/read about Octo-Mom--here is the story/video. You have to see this: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/fieldnotes/2015374366_video_eight-armed_moms_give_their_all_in_puget_sound.html This video depicts a female octopus' effort to nurture and protect her eggs over a seven month period.

Impending Disaster - Extinction of Some Marine Species

Here is an interesting article and video from ABC News discussing the possible extinction of some marine species due to a myriad of stresses on our oceans.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/marine-species-face-mass-extinction-report/story?id=13893627

Celebrate Granny's Birthday at Lime Kiln Park on July 2

Come celebrate the estimated 100 year birthday of J2, Granny !!!

The Center for Whale Research is hosting a celebration of the estimated birth year of J2, one of the oldest females in the southern resident killer whale population. Based on J2's apparent age at the inception of the Orca Survey study in 1976, she is estimated to have been born in 1911 making 2011 her 100th year, and although we do not know her exact age she is likely the oldest living whale among J,K, and L pods. This celebration marks 100 years of evolving interaction between humans and killer whales in the ecosystem now known as the Salish Sea.

The event will celebrate the estimated century long life of J2 and will provide more about the obstacles she, and all the SRKWs have faced in their struggle to survive the changing world.

Bring a picnic lunch to the park, and enjoy an afternoon of music by the Kevin Carr Family Band followed by a talk from Ken Balcomb, director of the Center for Whale Research.

There will be children's games and activities provided by Jeff Hogan's Killer Whale Tales. The Salish Sea Association of Marine Naturalists (SSAMN ) will also be hosting an informational booth offering tips and opportunities to foster stewardship of the Salish Sea environment on which the killer whales depend. Additionally, the Center for Whale Research Information Station will be open to provide education about the local killer whales and the Orca Survey project.

J2 100th Birthday!
WHEN: July 2, 2011, 1:00 p.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE: Lime Kiln Point State Park, San Juan Island
WHO: Hosted by the Center for Whale Research and supported by:

•Kevin Carr Family Band
•Killer Whale Tales - Environmental Science Though Storytelling
•SSAMN - Salish Sea Association of Marine Naturalists
•Orca Network - Connecting whales and people in the Pacific Northwest

Because of limited parking, please consider car pooling or using San Juan Transit.

Saving Luna in Smithsonian Magazine

Please check out this video and article on Luna in the recent Smithsonian magazine.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/video/Dont-Touch-the-Whale.html

Puget Sound Starts Here New Campaign Kick Off

The Puget Sound Partnership is taking aim at "dog doo." Today the Puget Sound Starts Here campaign launched a viral video campaign to raise public awareness about dog waste.

"Dog Doogity" features Martin Luther McCoy, musician and actor, who has collaborated extensively with musicians like The Roots and Cody ChesnuTT and appears as one of the six lead characters in the 2007 Beatles musical Across the Universe in the role of "Jo-Jo," who reflects Jimi Hendrix. Please share with your friends, family and appropriate contacts.

http://pugetsoundstartshere.org/scoop-poop/

Whale Museum Lecture - The Viability of the SRKWs

The Whale Museum continues its Science Lecture Series on Wednesday, July 6 at 7:00 pm with Dr. Astrid van Ginneken of the Center for Whale Research. Astrid will discuss the future viability of Southern Resident killer whales with regard to matriline structure, paternity, and effects of boats on whales.

Astrid M. van Ginneken, M.D. Ph.D., has been involved in the annual photographic Orca Survey by the Center for Whale Research since 1987. Since she became co-principal investigator in 1994, she set-up methods for collection of behavioral data and designed the Center's research database. This is Astrid's 25th year with the Southern Resident community of orcas and she still continues her field and database work with great enthusiasm.

She is the author of the orca novel “Togetherness is Our Home.”

2011 Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

Formerly called the Georgia Basin/Puget Sound Research conference, this conference will be held on October 25-27, 2011, at the Sheraton Wall Centre in Vancouver, BC. The conference focuses on issues pertaing to the health of the Salish Sea. For more information click on their webiste: www.salishseaconference.org

Orcas has a New Online Newsletter Contributor

Please welcome Shelly Kinner, BW Class of 2011, who will contribute news and happenings from Orcas. If you have something you would like Shelly to post, please email her at rbkinner@gmail.com

Salmon Recovery Board Volunteers Opportunity

The Salmon Recovery Board has a restoration project at Neck Point on Shaw Island. This will involve the transplanting of vegetation from one site to another on Shaw. The work is scheduled for July 29 and 30. Since the work will be in an intertidal marsh, each volunteer should bring boots, garden gloves, trowel and a shovel. This is a great opportunity to help our salmon.

For more information, contact Tina Wyllie-Echeverria at tinawe@fidalgo.net

Online Newsletter Reading List

If you are looking for some summer reading, don't forget to check out the reading list at the bottom of the newsletter. New titles have been added.