Lizzy Tully, Cody Cordle and Daniel Briggs take part in a nightime beachwalk sponsored by Kwiaht and Indian Island Marine Health Observatory team earlier this year at a night-time low tide.
Indian Island is the focus of marine science activities conducted by Kwiáht, the Center for the Historical Ecology of the Salish Sea and the Indian Island Marine Health Observatory teamt this Wednesday, March 23. On Sunday, March 27 Kwiáht will hold its annual meeting on Lopez Island.
On Wednesday March 23, citizen scientists are scheduled to fish at 2 p.m. Russel Barsh, founder of Kwiáht and key organizer of the Indian Island Marine Science Health Observatory, says, “Depending on the weather and wind, I’d like to get one set in the eelgrass, and then one set closer to shore.”
The group will reconvene at the Library by 4 p.m. for a refresher class on identifying key indicator species. Barsh will “provide a PowerPoint chock-full of photos, and we can discuss the key distinguishing features to look for when you find them in the field.
“Everyone is welcome to watch the the fishing. The refresher class is aimed at our volunteers… although I wouldn’t really turn anyone away, space permitting!”
“Thanks to Nancy and Steve Alboucq, we will have a set of three insulated, aerated buckets for the fish we decide to set aside for measuring. I’m working on … a net pen, which may or may not be ready for March 23… but will be much more important when the weather gets warmer.”
Kwiáht’s Annual Meeting is Sunday March 27 at the Lopez Library (it will be on Orcas in 2012), and the Fisherman Bay Marine Health Observatory hosts the first annual Day for the Bay event: field trips to see seabirds and rare plants, followed by lunch. The Day for the Bay starts at 9:30 a.m. at Woodman Hall.
On the horizon, efforts will begin to publish a single, concise, nicely illustrated annual report on the health of the islands’ marine and terrestrial ecosystems, including data from all five place-based marine monitoring programs on Orcas, Lopez, SJI and Waldron. Barsh will be seeking sponsorships from businesses and local philanthropists … ” so that we don’t depend on grants for this crucial collective outreach to our communities!”
(More information about the Indian Island Marine Observatory is available at www.indianisland.info)
