7/2 Canada jay, urban salmon, BC ferries, Chittenden locks, Timmy Couvillion

Canada jay [CBC]

Canada Jays Are Bold Residents of the Mountains
Formerly known as the Gray Jay — and nicknamed the Camp Robber or Whiskey Jack — the mountain-dwelling Canada Jay seems to crash your picnic even faster than hungry ants. The fluffy, long-tailed jay will escape with any edible bits it can get, which it will store for the long mountain winter by sticking those bits to the side of a tree using its super sticky saliva. (BirdNote)

This kayaking researcher is learning the secrets of Seattle’s urban salmon
Salmon researcher Kerry Accola is standing on the docks at Seattle’s Bell Harbor Marina on the edge of Elliott Bay. “There's salmon right there. You can see them,” she says, gesturing toward a nearshore abyss. The setting sun reflects off the water’s surface, making it difficult to see anything more than bits of trash. But Accola sees salmon. The Washington Sea Grant fellow knows what to look for after spending four months snorkeling this waterway with the University of Washington’s Seawall Project research group, in its effort to enhance and monitor salmon habitat along the newly renovated Elliott Bay Seawall. Hannah Weinberger reports. (Crosscut)

BC Ferries installs infrared cameras to help protect whales from ships
Special thermal infrared cameras have been installed at a British Columbia Ferries dock in the Gulf Islands as a pilot project to help prevent ships from hitting whales. This is especially important in helping protect the endangered Southern Resident orcas.  The special cameras are installed on the dock in Sturdies Bay on Galiano Island. The confined space of the Gulf Islands and rise in marine traffic has dramatically increased the chances that boats will hit or endanger humpbacks and killer whales.  Craig McCulloch reports. (KNKX)

On July 4, Puget Sound's Most Beloved Water Feature Turns 102 
If you're planning to attend the Seafair July 4 fireworks show on Lake Union, take a short westward detour to say happy birthday to one of the state's most famous landmarks — the Hiram A. Chittenden locks in Ballard. The Ballard locks, the busiest in the U.S., turn 102 years old on July 4. The locks are the most important link for boats and spawning salmon between Puget Sound, Lake Union, and Lake Washington (and the Cascades beyond). Neal McNamara reports. (Patch)

Golden Gardens Park safe for swimming, fishing again after sewage spill
The beach at Golden Gardens Park is back open after a sewer overflow, just in time for the warm weather later this week. Seattle health and utilities officials banned water activities there last week after an estimated 165,000 gallons of sewage spilled into the water just north of the beach. Water tests Monday showed that the water is once again safe for contact, according to Seattle Public Utilities. Asia Fields reports (Seattle Times)

Timmy Couvillion’s invention is helping contain a 14-year gulf oil spill
Timmy Couvillion first saw the oil plume at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico more than two months ago, but the memory still makes his skin crawl. His small marine construction company had been hired by the U.S. Coast Guard for its biggest job in years: containing the longest offshore spill in American history. To prepare for the work, his crew dropped a submersible robot 450 feet below the ocean surface to view the source of the pollution through its cyclops eye. The pictures it sent back were chilling. Darryl Fears reports. (Washington Post)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  830 PM PDT Mon Jul 1 2019   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM PDT TUESDAY   
TUE  W wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. SW swell 3 ft at 20 seconds. A slight chance  of showers in the morning then a chance of showers in the  afternoon. 
TUE NIGHT  W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. SW swell  3 ft at 19 seconds.




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