4/2 Western azalea, honeybees, blocked timber sale, orca calf, BC pipeline, fecal warnings, orcas in winter

 

Western Azalea [Native Plants PNW]

Western Azalea Rhododendron occidentale
Occidentale means western; so Rhododendron occidentale, literally means, “western rose-tree.” It is sometimes called Pacific Azalea or California Azalea. Western Azalea is native to the coasts of central and southern Oregon and California, in the Umpqua Valley, and the Siskiyou and Sierra Mountain ranges. There have been some anecdotal accounts in the Puget Sound region. Western Azalea grows rapidly to about 9-15 ft. (3-5m) and is long-lived. It grows in moist, open woods and streambanks. [Native Plants PNW]

Today's top stories in Salish Current: Community Voices / First four games doth not a season portend; Artist’s Corner: “The First Warm Day of Spring”

Western honeybee colonies at risk of collapse, WSU study finds
One of nature’s most important keystone species is working itself to death. Colonies of honeybees — crucial pollinators for a wide variety of plants and cash crops — are at risk of collapse because of climate change, a recent study by scientists at Washington State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture found. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

WA timber sale blocked as judge orders climate change study
Washington state can’t auction an East King County forest for logging without first analyzing the local project’s climate change impacts, a judge ruled last week, blocking the controversial timber sale and putting officials under pressure to change how they evaluate public lands for harvesting. Daniel Beckman reports. (Seattle Times)

Stranded orca calf remains in B.C. lagoon, breaching at regular intervals
The two year-old orca has been alone in the lagoon near Little Espinosa Inlet since March 23 when its mother became trapped by the low tide and died on the rocky beach. (Canadian Press)  Watch: Experts use AI in orca calf rescue attempt Marine biologists are employing AI tools in an attempt to rescue a two-year-old orca calf that's still stranded in a lagoon off the coast of Vancouver Island. (CBC)

Frustrated with government, Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs wavering on support for B.C. pipeline
As tensions in northwest B.C. persist over pipelines, court-ordered injunctions and police enforcement, Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs demand government respect and dialogue. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Human poop pollution targeted in new B.C. early warning system
A molecular PCR test will be developed to distinguish between human and animal fecal pollution in the Salish Sea. The results are expected to reduce beach closures and shellfish contamination. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist)

Watch: New research aims to learn about orca habits in winter
Researchers off Vancouver Island use new, non-invasive ways to gather evidence to solve the mystery of what B.C.'s killer whales get up to in the winter. (CBC)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  232 AM PDT Tue Apr 2 2024    
TODAY  SW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft building to 2 to 4 ft in the  afternoon. W swell 5 ft at 12 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 5 ft  at 11 seconds.

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