West Seattle wildlife: Jellies put on a Seacrest show

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Stopped by Seacrest this morning just for a quick bit of sunshine and view … The West Seattle Water Taxi was getting ready to take off, and kids out on the open deck were shouting about jellyfish. Took a closer look, and what you see above is what we saw … the water, on closer look, thick with jellies.

Like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike … not in shape nor in size … but they’re beautiful to watch. As is the Water Taxi, in its own way … Sunday schedule today:

Melissa Ann – usually serving Vashon (which has no WT service today) – is on the WS route for the holiday.

Dennis Cheasebro May 29, 2012 (2:14 am)

Very worrying. Jellies out-compete other animals when the water’s oxygen content is low and nutrients are high, due, typically, to pollution. Incidents are proliferating around the world.

seewhatsealionsstart May 29, 2012 (6:11 am)

Very cool!

Essey May 29, 2012 (9:10 am)

Lots of jellyfish aren’t really a good sign, like Dennis said. They may look cool, but they’re actually bad news when they show up in a large smack like this. They’re the cockroach of the sea.

WSB May 29, 2012 (9:13 am)

Have heard that from multiple people and am working on a followup today, if I can find the right local expert(s) … TR

Three Ninjas May 29, 2012 (10:50 am)

I saw them too, and was simultaneously amazed and concerned. It looked like the Hubble deep field photo, only with jellies instead of galaxies.

patt May 29, 2012 (11:32 am)

In high school for Mr Lindy’s Biology collections I got 10 points for phylum and 5 points for species for one of these (or the other way around) If you mix sugar in water till the sugar won’t dissolve, the jellies will not collapse. (they won’t be alive either) Very cool, but not a good sign.

seewhatsealionsstart May 29, 2012 (10:46 pm)

Thanks to you all for accurate info. I just assumed it was a “nursery” of sorts.

WSB May 29, 2012 (10:56 pm)

P.S. I found an actual Western Washington jellyfish expert whom I hope to talk with tomorrow. But her first answer – via voicemail after I e-mailed her – is that NO, this is NOT necessarily a bad thing. So everybody reserve judgment till we find out more … By the way, we went by Seacrest again this morning. Still some jellies here and there but nothing like what we photographed on Monday; I’m glad we got it on camera for posterity! – TR

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