3/19 Yellowlegs, Nooksack salmon, BC Herring fishery, early wildfire, WA wildfire code, BC farm drought, wildlife 'running wild'

Greater Yellowlegs [All About Birds]

Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
Often referred to as a “marshpiper” for its habit of wading in deeper water than other sandpipers, the Greater Yellowlegs is heftier and longer-billed than its lookalike, the Lesser Yellowlegs. Greater Yellowlegs are seen mostly during migration, as they pass between nesting grounds in the mosquito-ridden bogs of boreal Canada and wintering territories on marshes across the southern tier of the United States. With its flashy yellow legs, sturdy bill, and deliberate gait, it cuts a dashing, often solitary, figure on mudflats from coast to coast.  
(All About Birds)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Olympia oyster comeback impact goes beyond the menu and the shooter glass

Lummi Nation gets $10 million to save endangered Chinook salmon
A federal grant will allow Lummi Nation biologists to conduct habitat restoration in the Nooksack River basin and study how that affects Chinook salmon egg-to-fry survival. Lummi Nation is receiving $9.8 million for its South Fork Nooksack watershed project, part of more than $32 million awarded last week to Indigenous tribes in Washington state to fight the effects of climate change. Robert Mittendorf reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Herring fishery is wrapping up around Vancouver Island
The annual herring spawn is wrapping up this year and it appears “pretty encouraging” on the west coast of Vancouver Island and in the Strait of Georgia. This year’s total catch for herring for the entire coast has been set at 9,251 tonnes, up somewhat from the previous year. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

B.C. officials warn of early, 'challenging' wildfire season
Government and wildfire officials in British Columbia are warning that the province could see an early and active spring wildfire season due to persistent drought conditions that have left soil parched and snowpack levels low. Officials say early outlooks indicate a "high probability" of above normal temperatures across B.C. in the coming months, but added that drought and wildfire conditions this year will depend on the actual weather in the spring and summer. Moira Wyton reports. (CBC) 

Update to Washington’s wildfire building codes gets ditched
The tightened fire protection rules were scheduled to take effect last week. But after lawmakers approved a bill to limit them, regulators cast the codes aside. Laurel Demkovich reports. (Washington State Standard)

B.C. to provide $80 million to help farmers cope with drought
Rancher Werner Stump said spring is usually a "season of optimism" for farmers in British Columbia, but worries linger after unprecedented drought last year and another dry season looming...He said that is why farmers in B.C. are grateful to learn the provincial government is investing $80 million to help them manage, collect and store water for crops and livestock. (Canadian Press)

Romantic ideas of wildlife 'running free' during COVID-19 lockdown overblown: UBC study
Lead author lead author Dr. Cole Burton says there was a lot of variation in how animals moved around during the pandemic. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  244 AM PDT Tue Mar 19 2024    
TODAY  SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft  at 12 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 13 seconds.

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