SEA STAR SURVEY CONSTELLATION MARINE RESERVE AND CONDO PILINGS 6-3-15

SURVEY RESULTS:
Constellation Marine Reserve- Alki Seattle (entire park down to minus 2.2ft. tide level):
Pisaster ochraceus (Purple Star)  78 healthy and 19 with SSWD (all with SSWD had low to moderate levels, none were disintegrating)  The images show the level of SSWD on individual Purple Stars.
Two small Sunflower Stars were seen both being eaten by gulls....SSWD was not seen on either but it was hard to tell.

Condo pilings south of Constellation Marine Reserve:
Pisaster ochraceus (Purple Star)  35 healthy and 4 with SSWD - again low to moderate level and none disintegrating.
Largest star had ray (arm) length of 6 inches which is near maximum size for this species.
The pilings under the condos is the only area where large Purple Stars are seen in this area.
It may be that being out of direct sunlight and in a cooler habitat has allowed some of these stars to survive the SSWD epidemic.

Survey results show that the level of SSWD is down from 2014 when infection rates were above 80% in the area.  Many Pisaster o. have been lost over the past 2 years.  The count of Purple Stars in 2011 prior to SSWD for Constellation Marine Reserve was 609.
While this is good news it does not mean SSWD is on the way out.....only time will tell.

SSWD = Sea Star Wasting Disease

Purple Star (Pisaster o.) with SSWD

Purple Star (Pisaster o.) with SSWD

Purple Star (Pisaster o.) with SSWD

Gull with Sunflower Star

Damaged small Sunflower Star (gull damage)

Large Purple Star on condo piling

Purple Stars on condo piling

Purple Star with SSWD on condo piling

Large Purple Star on condo piling

Purple Stars on condo piling (large one with SSWD on upper arm)

Purple Star with SSWD on condo piling

Small Purple Stars (healthy) on condo piling

Condos south of CMR

Purple Star with SSWD - CMR

SEA STAR WASTING DISEASE SURVEY UPDATE 6-2-15

A count of Pisaster o. was done 6-2-15 on the south side of the breakwater just south of Constellation Marine Reserve West Seattle.  A total of 95 Pisaster o. were observed and all appeared healthy.  This compares to a count of 92 healthy and 1 sick Pisaster o. done for the same area on May 17th 2015.  So there appears to be little change in the number or health of the stars on the south side of the breakwater.  In 2014 over 90% of the observed Pisaster o. on the breakwater were suffering with SSWD.  So today's count gives us some hope that for this specific area we may be seeing the end of SSWD.....but that remains to be seen as summer progresses.
An attempt was made to count Pisaster o.  under the condos on pilings but tidal and wind conditions made that impossible.  In May a number of large Pisaster o. were seen on the pilings but a count was not conducted.

South side of breakwater south of CMR

Purple stars on breakwater

Purple star on condo piling

Condos south of CMR West Seattle

SEAL SITTERS FLIPPER FEST MAY 31 2015

A host of environmental organizations from the Northwest participated in Flipper Fest at the Alki Beach House on Sunday.  Both Government and NGO organizations participated.  Nearly 600 people attended this highly successful environmental education and general fun event.  A number of local businesses and organizations provide items for a successful fund raising raffle.  Dozens of organization staff and volunteers made sure visitors were will provide with information and answers to questions concerning the work of the participating organizations.  Many visitors were families and activities were provide to both entertain and educate the children.

GULL WARS

WHY THE MOST HATED ANIMALS OF GULLS ARE GULLS

AH....NICE FLOUNDER FOR LUNCH

LITTLE SANDY BUT SURE SMELLS GOOD

NOW JUST NEED TO GET IT DOWN BEFORE THE #@$%^%& TEEN AGERS ARRIVE

GOOD NOBODY AROUND

FORGET IT CROW!



OH CRAP!

LET GO OF MY FLOUNDER YOU *&^*%$

GIVE IT BACK....GIVE IT BACK!



SCHMITZ AND ALKI BEACH ROAM 5-20-15

From cool and cloudy to warm and sunny at the beach today.  A minus 2.2 ft. tide exposed some interesting marine life.  Enjoyed the company of a lovely lady from Chicago...Sue who was visiting Seattle and checking out marine life.  I was happy to see that she got her very first introduction to a Moon Snail. 
 I noted that there were a few dozen (no actual count) Purple Stars on the condo pilings south of Constellation Marine Reserve.  There were three that had very low level of SSWD (Sea Star Wasting Disease).  Most of the stars were full adult size with a few smaller ones.
One strange thing:  Shells of a dead clam were firmly wedged in the clay hole of a Piddock Clam.  It took sometime to wiggle the shells out of the hole....it turned out to be shells of a Butter Clam.
I can only surmise that the Butter Clam ended up in the hole as a juvenile and grew up inside the hole....and died there. Never seen anything like that before.

Sue from Chicago introduced to Moon Snail

Thickclaw Porcelain Crab Pachycheles rudis
 

Thickclaw Porcelain Crab with eggs

 

Piddock Clams in clay

Monterey Dorid - Sea Lemon

Mottled Anemones - Purple Star - Keyhole Limpet

Purple Star on condo piling

Purple Stars (one with low level SSWD - lower right)



Mystery clam shell in Piddock hole



Not a Piddock but a Butter Clam shell