6/14 Pelicans, Tacoma waterways, Grovers Cr Preserve, WA climate, ECHO, slug video

American white pelicans, Parksville BC (Peter Koughan/CBC)

Squadron of American white pelicans spotted across Vancouver Island
A squadron of rare American white pelicans has been spotted across Vancouver Island over the last few weeks.  "They have been spotted all over the Island in the last 10 days or so," said Birder Ann Nightingale. "Everywhere from the Victoria golf course over Prospect Lake, Tofino, Parksville, Cowichan Bay — really travelling over the Island." Nightingale said the pelicans could be developing a new migration route. (CBC)

Tacoma’s Cleaned Up Waterways Need Legislative Attention, Advocates Say
Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent over the last few decades to clean up toxic pollution from the region’s industrial past. In Tacoma, a prime spot for manufacturing and processing is the waterfront area in the center of town. The City of Destiny no longer suffers from the notorious “Tacoma aroma” of its past. But some of the less-visible cleanup work is vulnerable because of budget cuts before the state legislature. Advocates from two environmental groups have been hosting boat tours of the Tacoma waterways, to call attention to how far the city has come in cleaning up its pollution. Bellamy Pailhorp reports. (KNKX)

‘This land has had an amazing transformation’
Brothers John and Doug Helton have many memories of helping their grandfather Edward Niemeier clear brush on the old stump farm he bought in the late 1940s. They remember wandering the property as young boys in search of old fragments of yellow and blue blasting wire — a reminder of the dynamite that was used to dislodge big, old-growth stumps…. The Helton brothers inherited the land in 2000 and considered options for its future. Having previously worked with conservation groups in both Washington and Montana to conserve land, it was an easy decision for them to sell their 80 acres to Great Peninsula Conservancy to protect forever. Now part of the conservancy’s 280-acre Grovers Creek Preserve, the land is home to bear, beaver, steelhead, coho, cutthroat trout, and countless birds. (Kitsap Daily News)

Washington’s biggest businesses aim to fill climate void left by Trump
It’s rush hour in Wallingford, and commuters are stepping off a bus, closing up their laptops and heading into the evening sun. It’s not public transit. It’s a Microsoft Connector bus. The buses eliminate nearly 12 million miles of driving a year, saving stress and exhaust. The fleet of white and green buses is one of Microsoft’s more visible efforts to lower its impact on the global climate. John Ryan reports. (KUOW) See also: Seattle City Council Wants Puget Sound Energy to Stop Using Coal-Fired Facility  A resolution sponsored by Mike O’Brien upholds the Paris climate accord goals and takes it a few steps further. Hayat Norimine reports. (SeattleMet)

ECHO Program Aims to Reduce Impact on Whales From Vessels in the Salish Sea
With more heavy vessel traffic going in and out of the Salish Sea, the greater likelihood of whales being hit. J34 was struck and killed late last year; an endangered fin whale was killed this Spring. Environmental engineer and project manager Krista Trounce discusses how the Vancouver BC Fraser Port Authority-led ECHO (Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation) Program is working to understand and manage the impact of shipping on Salish Sea whales. Certainly an important topic for ports, shippers and whale watchers. Krista speaks on June 22 at 7 pm at Dakota Park Place Building, 4303 Dakota Place SW, Seattle. Advance tickets at http://bpt.me/2974083
 
If you like to watch: 'Cute' slug unlikely star of viral timelapse video
As viral animal videos go, slugs may not appear strong contenders alongside furry classics like sneezing baby panda or massaging kittens. But they clearly have their fans — as demonstrated by the 2.1 million views a munching B.C. slug has garnered on Facebook in the past few days. Lisa Johnson reports. (CBC)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  238 AM PDT Wed Jun 14 2017  
TODAY  S wind to 10 kt becoming SE in the afternoon. Wind waves  1 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of showers.
TONIGHT  SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5  ft at 10 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the evening then  rain likely after midnight.

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