11/23 Great horned owl, killer whale calf, low rainfall effects, prescribed burns, BC fish farm ban

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Great horned owl [in oil, Tony Angell]

Moonlight
Artist and naturalist Tony Angell writes: "While exploring a local Cascade forest one night in early spring, I could hear a pair of great horned owls exchanging calls back and forth through the woods. Like any curious naturalist, I headed in their direction to investigate the conversation..." Read more and help support not-for-profit, in-depth community reporting. (Salish Current)

Killer whale calf seen swimming near San Juan Islands
A killer whale calf, who whale researchers said is no more than a few weeks old, was seen swimming with Bigg's killer whale T37B Harald over the weekend. Alex Bartick reports. (KOMO)

Low rainfall leads to an odd and changing year for salmon, killer whales and people
Chris Dunagan writes: "It has been an interesting year for observing the behavior of Southern Resident killer whales, chum salmon and humans in the Puget Sound region. Weather played a significant role. Two weeks ago, all three pods of endangered orcas spent four days together in Puget Sound, something we have not seen in years. Chum salmon, which the whales feed upon in the fall, appeared to be on a stop-and-go migration schedule because of the unusual rainfall pattern. And, as always, the activities of people must be noted within this ecological context." (Puget Sound Institute)

Studies show prescribed burns key to forest resiliency
Scientists discovered one type of treatment is key to forest resiliency: prescribed burns. They also said forest managers can harness wildfire to do the work of prescribed burns for them. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

Will B.C. be next to ban open-net fish farms?
A UBC study published Friday found 7O per cent of samples taken from salmon waste from fish farms in B.C. and the U.S. showed genetic traces of a virus that can harm wild salmon. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Catch the Current here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  256 AM PST Wed Nov 23 2022   
TODAY  S wind to 10 kt becoming SE 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 8 ft at 14 seconds subsiding to 5  ft at 14 seconds. A slight chance of drizzle in the morning. A  slight chance of rain in the morning. 
TONIGHT  SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 5 ft  at 12 seconds.

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