11/9 Ptarmigan, Bigg's killer whales, Elwha fishery, carbon capture, politics of names

White-tailed Ptarmigan
[John Hill/Creative Commons]

White-tailed Ptarmigan Lagopus leucura
White-tailed Ptarmigan are small, tubby grouse, snow-white in winter and twig-brown in summer. They’re famous for being virtually invisible when they stand still against the windswept rocks, low shrubs, and snowbanks of their high-mountain habitat. They nest above timberline in the alpine tundra of western mountains, and are the only birds in North America that spend their entire life cycle in these very high elevations. Their feathered feet and dense plumage enable them to walk on top of snow and even roost inside snowbanks. (All About Birds)

Bigg's killer whale sightings in Salish Sea reach all-time high
The Orca Behavior Institute says this is the ninth year out of the last 10 that the record has been broken. Darron Kloster reports. Video by Alanna Kelly. (Times Colonist)

Fishery on Elwha rewards tribe’s long push for river restoration
The banks of the Elwha sprawl and meander now. Just up from the river mouth west of Port Angeles, there are braided channels that crisscross the river basin. Soft sediment is underfoot on the walk through the water in waders, crossing sandy islands that didn’t exist before dam removal. “Yeah, I mean, the river is completely different than we remember it — than I remember it,” said Vanessa Castle, who grew up on this river with her extended family. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Heirloom Opens First U.S. Direct Air Capture Plant
The technique is expensive but it could help fight climate change. Backers hope fast growth can bring down costs. Brad Plumer reports. (NY Times)

The politics of names
David B. Williams writes: "I have long been fascinated by place and species names, the stories they tell, the stories they hide, and the stories they erase. For far too long, though, the bestowing of such names was primarily controlled by white men, who often honored themselves, their friends or family, or their patrons. Because these men were usually visiting or encountering the landscape/plant/animal for the first time, they had minimal connections to what they named and were often blind to the deeper stories of longtime residents." (Street Smart Naturalist)

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

Donate Today and Your Donation Will Be Doubled. Thank You!

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  244 AM PST Thu Nov 9 2023    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON    
TODAY  SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 4 ft  at 9 seconds building to 7 ft at 8 seconds in the afternoon. A  chance of rain in the morning then rain in the afternoon.  
TONIGHT  SW wind 15 to 20 kt becoming W 5 to 15 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 10 ft at 13 seconds  building to 12 ft at 13 seconds after midnight. Rain in the  evening then showers after midnight.

--
"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email mikesato772 (@) gmail.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told