10/21 Golden-crowned sparrow, oil tanker terminal, SRKW population, Alberta separation, Medicaid cuts.

Golden-crowned sparrow [Gregg Thompson]

 

Golden-crowned sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla 
The Golden-crowned Sparrow has bright breeding plumage with a bright yellow crown flanked with bold, black bars. Golden-crowned Sparrows are most commonly considered a migrant and wintering bird in Washington, and are one of the most common wintering sparrows in western Washington, especially on the coast and up the Columbia Gorge as far as Lyle. (BirdWeb)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Whatcom County’s Kidney Moonshot: A goal within reach

Elbows up in Washington state over Canada’s proposed oil tanker terminal on border
Critics searching for leverage against pipeline project that would carry 1M barrels of oil a day to waiting supertankers in British Columbia. Tom Banse reports. (Washington State Standard)  ‘A whole order of magnitude greater’: San Juan responders prepare for unprecedented megatanker traffic. Sam Fletcher reports. (Salish Current) 

Southern resident orca population inches up, but still low
The latest census of the critically endangered orcas found 76 as of July 1, up from 74 during the same period a year ago. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist) 

Alberta Gives Its Answer: ‘The Separation Stuff Is Crap’
Voters soundly reject pursuing a split from Canada. But anti-immigrant proposals were winning. Leah Hennig reports. (The Tyee) 

WA hospitals anticipate losing billions in revenue from Medicaid cuts
New work requirements take effect Jan. 1. Healthcare leaders say this will affect all patients, not just those on Medicaid. Jake Goldstein-Street reports. (Washington State Standard)

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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  202 PM PDT Tue Oct 20 2026    
WED  E wind around 5 kt, backing to NW in the afternoon. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 11 seconds.  
WED NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: NW  2 ft at 5 seconds and W 5 ft at 11 seconds.

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