Back again, and I want to talk octopi

I was at the Seattle Aquarium at a hosted event of the NW Science Writers Association, and since I didn't see alot of people there I knew- first group event I'd attended - I decided to talk beaches and critters with the volunteers. Since I am a beach naturalist, I can talk their language about starfish, craps, groupers and the like.

But the most fascinating creature of the night, that night, and any other for me was the octopi in an dual tank. The male was white and sleeping in his, while the female, a pretty color of coral, then white, then pink and back to deep red, was having a great time checking out her tank and slipping her tentacles through the holes where the male's side began and her's ended.

The volunteer said that come valentine's day, they'll let the two check each other out, to see if romance blooms. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. If I was an octopus, I'm not sure I'd be so eager to find my forever love, since that's sort of what it is.

They are terminal breeders, so once they mate, the male, apparently dies quickly and then the female hangs around for a few weeks, and then dies as well (or is it months?).

I did learn that they smell with their suckers (didn't know that), and could operate all their arms independently (their intelligence made me swear off calamari).

Taking a holiday break

To retool a bit. From now on, this blog is going to focus on the passion I have of the month, and that alone. So next up, raptors. I'll see you in a week or so. Think of raptors in the Kent Valley or eagles down at PLU.

See you then. Barbara

Endangered Sparrows?

Really? I had to read this twice to believe it. Apparently, sparrows are dying out in England, because everyone is paving over their front yards, and therefore reducing the insect population the birds need to feed they young, which often starve to death. Here is a video, and here is the link to the story.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7739102.stm

Changes in the smallest organisms mean big changes for the big ones

Came across this on my yahoo account feed. Apparently fresh water is traveling through the artic to the atlantic ocean for the first time in 800,000 years. And it means big changes for the phytoplankton, which of course, means big changes further up the food change for both oceans.

Such as our orcas starving to death, because they can't get enough salmon.

Marbled Godwits at Willipa Bay

This just in from the Seattle Times if you wish to go bird watching. Sounds fun!

Photo for Jeff Larsen.

Biodiversity abounds

Despite our best effort to stamp it out in the oceans. Take a look at this newest marine census!

Love the Boston Legal about the salmon

I was going to post a rather grim report about farm salmon in Canada nuking all the wild stock up there, but how about this instead? If you haven't already, watch the recap of Boston Legal from this week about the election, fish, sex and mad cow. It's great.

There's a wonderful exchange between Denny and Allan regarding why Denny is voting for McCain.

Allan presses Denny, so Denny finally deadpans that it's to save the wild salmon stocks in Canada.

Huh?

"Yes, you see if McCain wins, many Americans, smart Americans will move to Canada, and they'll figure out how to save the wild salmon."

Obv., McCain didn't win, so the Canadians are going to have to figure out how to save their own fish.

Spotted owls still struggling to hang on

Not that I've seen either here, in Kent Wa. Maybe a great horned owl or screech owl, but no barred. However, it seems that the spotted owl, according to this article, isn't losing ground due to loggers, but the naturally agressive competitors for space, the barred owl.

On a related note, squirrels. I often see the Western gray squirrels dumpster diving at PLU. But yesterday, I had to doublecheck, a red squirrel, the less agressive cousin, ran across the parking lot.

Prepping for winter. Be kind to the animals

I'm writing this and staring at a bag of birdseed, sitting at my feet. The feeders are empty and I feel a twinge of guilt. So, tomorrow, before I head off to PLU, the feeders will get filled.

Here is a great blog and a great post on how to be kind to the critters in our back yard during the winter, which here, seemed to start this weekend with blasting rainstorms that knocked all the leaves off the trees.

Think about the hummers this time of year

Those who are hanging around, as well as those on their long journey to South America. Here is a great Seattle Times article on that point on bird feeders. (I always thought you needed the red color to attract them, but apparently not.

Photo from The Seattle Times.

Baldies and bats

Was working at my desk on the PLU campus Monday, and looked up and caught sight of a mature bald eagle flying overhead. Then I went back to work, but kept hearing something that sounded like baldie chatter, so I looked again, and lo' there was said baldie on top of a fir tree, talking away to its mate, I think, who was in another tree. Apparently they come to campus each winter to feed on our dumpster diving squirrels, and the pet hampsters that get dumped on campus grounds.

On to bats, I came across this video on msn, and thought you might like to see it. Bats!! Love those bats. And if you're not into bats, how about vampire moths?


History of Halloween: Bats

Orcas take a hit

I was dismayed to see both of these stories Saturday morning, about how seven orcas, including the baby, are now assumed dead. And the reason, they probably starved to death because there were not enough salmon to eat.

Now before anyone uses this as an excuse to shoot the sealions again (which I believe orcas do hunt), think about why there aren't enough salmon in the food chain. And it's not because of the sealions.

Photo from the Seattle Times.

Hunt for a raccoon and a stray kitten

A New Tribune reporter was busy driving up and down five-mile drive this week in Tacoma, looking for a posse of raccoons that apparently has adopted a grey kitten. It's a great read, and you have to know this guy. Gruff on the outside, softy on the inside. Think grumpy santa claus.

I keep checking back to see if they found the kitten. However, it seems that someone keeps feeding these raccoons, because they are all approaching mike for a handout. Here are some interesting facts I found on raccoons while browsing google.

Update: Just checked the blog again, and apparently KOMO TV (where my hubby works) tracked down the story, the cat and its raccoon family. It's not been adopted.

Photo from KOMO TV

Eagle above, grab the lizard

Was looking above our house on Scenic Hill in Kent yesterday, and up above was a baldie slowly circling around. It was great to see, but then I remembered who was sunning herself out on the back deck: Our lizard India. So I told Jennifer to go get her before we saw her flying off in the eagle's talons. She did, and wouldn't you know, it seemed the eagle lost interest in our house and glided off toward the cemetery, and rabbits.

Ph and whales sonar

It seems that aside from arguing over whether dropping bombs in the ocean would affect the whales' sonar system, there's another point to be made, the changing Ph of the ocean might make it harder for them to communicate

Check out this blog.

A man and his stream

My hubby is actually part of the local Trout Unlimited Chapter and know this guy, profiled today in the Seattle Times.

If we all just did our bit, persistently over the years, I think we would have salmon back in our streams again, and many other critters too. I think I might walk down to Mill Creek Park and take a look around this weekend.

Photo by the Seattle Times.

Giant , rare salamander spotted nearby

Take a look! This guy was spotted just about 20 minutes north in Newcastle. Very cool.


Rare giant salamander sighting

Crow commute, it's still happening

Stopped by the Taco Time on Meeker and low and behold, I caught the last of the crow commute up the Kent Valley. At 5:43 pm to be exact.

Does anyone know where these hundreds of crows roost each night?

Bird art

The New York Times has a great piece, and multi-media presentation on bird art today. It's worth the read.

Of course this parakeet comes from the galleys of Mr. Audubon.

Still time to catch the swifts

I plan to head up that way for my 30th class reunion (go Cascade High School, class of 78), but I will try to swing by Monroe while I'm up there this weekend, so see if there are any swifts left on the tail end of this migration.

This Seattle Times package is very nice.