Wildside

Weekly

November 30, 2022

CREATURE FEATURE

Touch Tanks at the Tree Lighting

Saturday, December 3rd

5-7pm, Skansie Brother's Park

Learn about the incredible sea creatures that call the Salish Sea home amidst the festivities of the annual Gig Harbor Tree Lighting and visit from jolly ol St. Nick! You will be invited to plunge your hand into the chilly salt water to pet some local sea life, or simply take a look. Either way, enjoy learning more about the adaptations that animals like leather stars, tube worms, tunicates, or hermit crabs have to survive in the Puget Sound from our fabulous volunteer team and staff! Ocean5 will be joining us with cocoa in compostable cups so when you're done warming up, bring your cup back our way so it can be disposed of correctly. Bundle up and join the fun- we are planning to be on the roof deck which is ADA accessible.

IN THE FIELD

Winter Beach Monitoring - the season continues!

Winter is HERE with woozier snow fall! Break out the foul weather gear, put new batteries in your head lamp, and join Harbor WildWatch for an exciting night (or nights!) of community science at the beach. During the winter monitoring months, it just so happens that the lowest tides are during the dark of the night which adds an adventurous twist to our monitoring procedures. Hence, the need for a headlamp. Winter Beach Monitoring is also a great excuse to visit your favorite beaches at night when parks are normally closed. Having extra assistance during these nighttime events makes an incredible difference in our ability to collect information about the organisms living on the beach. Remember, you don't have to have a science background to participate, nor are you required to stay for the entire duration of the typically 3 hour program. Mark your calendar for any or all of these upcoming events (see below) and come do some science with Stena and Mike Behrens!

Because this event is a mix of only the best conditions, COLD, DARK, and WET, here is a list of items to think about having with you: Headlamp, rain coat, rain pants, rain boots, fleece or wool layers, toe warmers, hand warmers, neck gator, hat, gloves, thermos of warm beverage, adventurous attitude!

Since these events are at night, PLEASE RSVP - You can email Stena or RSVP to the Facebook Events.

Thursday, December 8th

8:45 - 12pm Old Ferry Landing at the Mouth of Gig Harbor: There is very little parking at this location, so we recommend the angle in, public parking on Harborview Drive past the Soundview Drive intersection (near Tides Tavern). The Old Ferry Landing is a short walk to the end of Harborview Drive - meet in the upper area at the scheduled start time. The path down to the beach is not maintained, please use caution. Once you reach the beach, the monitoring site is to the left (facing the water).

Friday, December 9th

10-1am Purdy Sand Spit: Our monitoring site is about midway across the Purdy Sand Spit, near the lone madrone tree. There is public parking on West end of the spit but it's closer to park along the road. Please use caution when entering and exiting your vehicle. There is a small scramble over the cobble to get to the beach. Our site is near the old pilings on the public side. Meet on the roadside at the scheduled start time.

STEWARDSHIP TIP

Salmon Walking Tours

Get to know the unique lives of Pacific Northwest salmon during this exciting guided tour. Taking place during salmon spawning season, participants will likely see live salmon as they migrate upstream to their natal grounds. Topics discussed include:

Salmon species and their life-cycle
Native, non-native, and invasive plants
Threats to salmon and their habitat
Stream health and water quality
Traditional use of natural resources by Indigenous People

Meet near the new Our Fisherman, Our Guardian carving in txʷaalqəł Estuary Park at the scheduled start time:

December 3, 2:00pm

MARK YOUR CALENDAR*

Salmon Walking Tours

View spawning salmon and learn all about the struggles they face on their epic journey from Gig Harbor, to the Pacific Ocean and back. Meet near the new Our Fisherman, Our Guardian carving in txʷaalqəł Estuary Park.

December 3, 2:00pm

Touch Tanks on the Pier during the Tree Lighting

Skansie Brothers' Park. December 3,

5-7pm

Winter Beach Monitoring

Join the Harbor WildWatch team for special night access to various beaches in the South Sound. You don't need a science background to help us collect meaningful data out on the beach but you will need layers and a headlamp, although we do have some to share.

Please check the facebook events for full event details and to RSVP.

Dec. 8, meet at 8:45pm Old Ferry Landing

Dec. 9, meet at 10pm Purdy Sand Spit

Dec. 21 meet at 7:30pm Kopachuck State Park**

Dec. 22 meet at 8pm DeMolay Sand Spit

Dec. 23 meet at 8:15pm Sunrise Beach Park

Dec. 26 meet at 11pm Narrows Beach Park

Pier Into the Night

While you stay warm and dry on the dock, our divers use an underwater video camera to live stream what they encounter below the surface. Staff biologists and trained volunteers identify the sea life that appear on the 10-foot screen in real time.

January 7, 5pm @ Jerisich Dock

February 4, 6pm @ Maritime Pier

March 4, 7pm @ NEW LOCATION TBD

Skansie Visitor &

Interpretive Center

Open Wed - Saturday, 10-4pm

3207 Harborview Drive • Gig Harbor

Pending Volunteer Availability on Weekends - want to become a volunteer? Email Stena!

Salmon Observation Station

Write your salmon observations down whenever you view the creek. Now through December, Donkey Creek Park.

*Check website and Facebook event details for possible changes.

**Discover Pass Required for State Parks