2/7 Merlin, Tribes 101, tire chemical, BC birds, waste fine, loggerhead turtle, killer whales, 'Bird Alliance of Oregon,' farming octopuses

 

Merlin readying for takeoff [Gregg Thompson]

Here Come the Merlins
Smaller than a pigeon — but fierce enough to knock one from the air — are the powerful, compact falcons known as Merlins. Climate change is pushing ranges of many birds farther north, but more and more Merlins have been nesting farther south, in towns and cities across the northern United States. (BirdNote, October 15, 2022)

Editor's note: We were sad to learn from BirdNote that biologist and photographer Gregg Thompson passed away. Gregg's photos and Birdnote stories with those photos have graced many a News and Weather posting. We will honor Gregg with a week of his photos and BirdNote stories. A donation to BirdNote would be an appropriate gesture to recognize Gregg for his art and spirit.

Today's top story in Salish Current: The monster of the deep

Tribes 101: About the Native nations that share geography with Washington state
In upholding treaties as part of the “supreme Law of the Land,” the Boldt Decision of 1974 reaffirmed treaty law and tribal sovereignty — concepts still not universally understood. Richard Arlin Walker reports. (Salish Current)

B.C. groups request review of tire chemical linked to salmon deaths
Peter Ross, senior scientist at Raincoast Conservation Foundation, says the mystery of coho dying in urban waterways had persisted for years, until a 2020 study uncovered the role of a particular chemical used in tire rubber.(Canadian Press)

Environmental groups celebrate court ruling as a win for at-risk birds in B.C. and beyond
Court case was launched against backdrop of old growth logging protests on Vancouver Island. Jordan Omstead reports. (Canadian Press)

Protecting Canada's at-risk birds nests not enough: court
Canada's decision to protect nests instead of the critical habitat of 24 at-risk bird species — including the threatened B.C. marbled murrelet — was 'unreasonable,' ruled a federal court. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist)

Coquitlam company hit with pollution abatement order, recommend fine
The facility, which collects waste from municipal, commercial, institutional and industrial sites, is located directly north of the fish-bearing Pitt River. Patrick Penner reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Loggerhead sea turtle found at Pedder Bay
The turtle, typically found much farther south, was rushed to the Vancouver Aquarium suffering from hypothermia. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Why are these killer whales increasingly showing up in the Salish Sea?
Traditionally, "resident" orcas have lived in the Salish Sea. They're the orcas we associate with the waters around Seattle. But another variety, "transient" orcas, have generally hung out along the West Coast, away from the interior territory of the locals — at least, that's the way it used to be. Transient orcas, aka Bigg's killer whales, appear to be sticking around the neighborhood more often. Dyer Oxley and John O'Brien report. (KUOW)

Former Audubon group changes name to ‘Bird Alliance of Oregon’
Portland Audubon has changed its name to the “Bird Alliance of Oregon,” in the latest example of a local chapter to do so because of John James Audubon’s views on slavery and his desecration of Native American graves.  (Associated Press)

Octopuses are clever. Their fans aren't happy with a plan to farm them for food
Octopuses are capable of sophisticated tasks, from solving puzzles to decorating their dens to remembering people's faces. So when a company in Spain announced that it wanted to commercially farm octopuses to harvest them for seafood, the plan sparked an uproar. Bill Chappell reports. (NPR)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  236 AM PST Wed Feb 7 2024    
TODAY  NE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 7 ft  at 14 seconds. A chance of showers in the morning then a slight  chance of showers in the afternoon.  
TONIGHT  W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 8 ft  at 14 seconds. A chance of showers in the evening.

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"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.



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