Next Whale Trail event set: ‘Harbor Porpoises in the Salish Sea’

(Photo courtesy John Calambokidis)
Your next chance to join The Whale Trail and friends in learning about local marine life is one week from tonight. From TWT’s Donna Sandstrom:

Harbor porpoises were once commonly seen throughout the Salish Sea. After falling to record lows, sightings are on the increase. Is the population coming back? Scientists recently gathered to discuss what we know – and don’t know – about these elusive animals. What is their range? What do they eat? Like their cousins the orcas, harbor porpoise are an indicator species for the health of Puget Sound. How are they doing?

Join us for on March 28 at C & P Coffee for the next Orca Talk, featuring John Calambokidis, founder and director of Cascadia Research. John and his colleague Jessie Huggins are leaders in the transboundary effort to assess and monitor the health of the harbor porpoise population in the Salish Sea. John is a renowned biologist who directs long-term research on the status, movements, and underwater behavior of blue, humpback, and gray whales. In 2010, John conducted the necropsy on the gray whale that stranded on Arroyo Beach in West Seattle.

The event is scheduled 6:30-9 pm, $5 suggested donation, tickets available at brownpapertickets.com. Along with the guest speaker and The Whale Trail, Donna adds, “The event also features updates from Robin Lindsey (Seal Sitters), and ‘Diver Laura’ James (tox-ick.org and Puget Soundkeeper Alliance), and photography and art from Judy Lane and Mike Russell.”

5 Replies to "Next Whale Trail event set: 'Harbor Porpoises in the Salish Sea'"

  • JackSpara March 21, 2013 (12:27 pm)

    Argh…me thinks you’ve been a bit deep in Davey Jones Locker…it ain’t the Salish Sea…Puget Sound until further notice matey.

    • WSB March 21, 2013 (12:54 pm)

      The Salish Sea usage refers to the connected waterway that INCLUDES Puget Sound, but is not limited to it. See endless references on Google.

  • panda March 21, 2013 (2:19 pm)

    Ahhh, well if it’s on the intermets it must be true. Hmmm, coined in 1988 by some biologist. :) I’m going to start making up names for things too. Alki is now named Venice Beach. Has a nice ring to it.

  • let them swim March 21, 2013 (4:24 pm)

    On AIS Charts Salish Sea is south of Victoria, Vancouver Island and until AIS charts differ, I’ll stay with AIS. Puget Sound is Puget Sound.

Sorry, comment time is over.