A Crabby Christmas Tale

‘Twas a Saturday Homecrew, 

like almost all others

Hustle and bustle, 

with scrubbers and buffers

The siphons all strung, 

out and about

The tanks to be cleaned, 

inside and out.

The gloves were pulled up,

all over their hands

Attempting to keep clean, their fingers from sand.

And Danae with her scrubber, 

and me in accord

Had just begun the process 

to maintain the tanks we adored.

When at the staff door, 

we all heard such a clatter,

We rushed over to find 

what was the matter.

When what to our 

wondering eyes we did see,

But a man holding a crab 

as big as can be.

The question arose to 

what that was in the lab,

and I knew in a moment, 

it was a dead Puget Sound King Crab.

More rapid than waves, 

the curiosity came

As we quickly exclaimed, 

and called them by name: 

Now Maddie, now abalone, 

Now sculpin, Now Inky

On Pisaster, On Solaster, 

And even, on you, dear Pinky

To the top of the tanks, 

To the sides of the walls

Now splash away, 

splash away, 

splash away all

For those who haven’t seen

 this wonderful sight,

This isn’t the Science Center’s 

only crab delight.

The color it lacks, 

it’s pigment is missing

An albino Dungeness 

is worth reminiscing.

Families alike spring to your sleigh, 

and give us a visit

Open the weekend after Christmas, 

Come see our wonderful exhibit!

You shall hear us exclaim, 

doors open and lights shining bright

“Happy holidays to all, 

science is such a delight!”

By AmeriCorps Volunteer: Shannon Phillips

Losing a good friend: Michael J. “Moh” O'Hanlon

Photo credit: Tiffany Royal

PTMSC’s staff and volunteer community has been mourning the loss of long-time friend volunteer Moh O'Hanlon. Moh passed away on Friday, November 29^th, the day after his 71st birthday. 

Moh was a fixture at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center Marine Exhibit. Garbed in his English seaman’s cap and PTMSC octopus t-shirt, Moh would greet visitors into the exhibits and explain the rules. Moh was passionate about marine science and even more so about sharing that passion with others. Over the years, returning visitors have asked for Moh since their experience with him was so memorable.

Moh had a love for folk music and often played the harmonica in the PTMSC exhibits. His knowledge of fish was extensive and he would spend hours ID-ing the different animals that appeared in the tanks, and educating visitors. He began logging volunteer hours in 2000, and over the course of the past 13 years, racked up over 5,000 hours --- an extraordinary achievement.

Moh represents the true spirit of volunteerism at the PTMSC – he committed himself to our mission of Inspiring Conservation of the Salish Sea, and made it his personal mission to reach as many people as possible. In the summertime, he could be found here nearly every day. If Moh were here, I know he'd say "there's no place I'd rather be!" We have lost an irreplaceable friend ~ thank you Moh for your spirit and all your years of service! 

A potluck (with music of course) to celebrate Moh's life will take place on Saturday, January 4th at 2pm in the PTMSC Marine Exhibit, out on the pier. More information and details will be provided as they develop.

- Claudia Padilla, Volunteer Coordinator

Two PTMSC staffers are part of a national study circle with the National Network of Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation

Jean and Chrissy observe pteropods in the Ocean
Acidification lab at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center was awarded a grant in the summer of 2013 for Jean Walat, program director, and Chrissy McLean, marine program coordinator, to participate in a six month study circle with the National Network of Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI). 

“Through the program, we are grappling with how to help the general public not only better understand the issues, but also how to communicate what can be done through collective action,” said Walat. Their first session was at the New England Aquarium in September, then Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in October and for the final piece, they will travel to Salt Lake City’s Hogle Zoo in December.

Between these travel sessions, Walat and McLean have been working on applying new interpretation strategies to PTMSC exhibits with the goal of engaging visitors in civic action to support collective climate change solutions.

“It’s been exciting to participate in the NNOCCI study circle with zoos, aquariums, and science centers from across the country,” said McLean. “I am inspired by the cutting edge information we are learning about climate change science and the most effective ways to share this information with the thousands of students, guests and volunteers who come to PTMSC each year.”

A NNOCCI Study Circle is a cross-disciplinary learning group made up of peers with expertise from fields of professional interpretation, climate and ocean sciences and communications and cultural sciences. Through a series of facilitated in-person meetings, webinars, conference calls and practical activities, participants build knowledge of ocean and climate science and communications and cultural sciences. They apply lessons learned to communications or educational opportunities in the context of their work environment through several cycles of development, practice, sharing and reflection.

“NNOCCI has provided so much feedback about the ways people react to environmental information that we’re looking at all of our programs and exhibits with new eyes, and this will definitely inform our programming in the future,” Walat said. “But probably the most valuable insight that we gained is matching the scale of the environmental solution to the environmental problem. For large scale issues like climate change, collective action at the community, regional, national and international levels is essential.”

McLean added, “Port Townsend is an amazing place and we are really innovative when it comes to supporting climate change solutions in our community. From our robust farmers market to our walkable and bike-able town—we have the perfect platform to inspire responsible stewardship and civic action in so many people who come to visit. Together we can make a big difference.”

NNOCCI is a collaborative effort led by the New England Aquarium with the Association for Zoos and Aquariums, the FrameWorks Institute, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Monterey Bay Aquarium, the New Knowledge Organization in partnership with Penn State University and the Ohio’s Center for Science and Industry. With support from the National Science Foundation Climate Change Education Partnership program, NNOCCI’s goal is to establish a national network of professionals who are skilled in communicating climate science to the American public.

Share the Joy of the Salish SEAson

Tired of the shopping frenzy? Looking to reduce the carbon footprint of your gifting?

Consider making a gift in honor of your loved ones as a way of sharing the Joy of the Salish SEAson.  

Here is what your gift can buy:

·         $10 - runs tank for a month to study how to help endangered pinto abalone recover

·         $25 - supplies a volunteer to test tissue of marine mammals for harmful plasticizers

·         $32 - supports one “seal sitter” to educate the public and protect a stranded seal pup for one day

·         $64 - feeds the aquarium animals for a week

·         $125 - scholarship for a summer camp experience for a low-income child

Simply click here to Share the Joy of the Salish SEAson

Narwhals: Arctic Whales In A Melting World

Join us as we welcome Todd McLeish, who will present his latest book on narwhals (also known as sea unicorns) titled Narwhals: Arctic Whales In A Melting World.

Saturday, December 7
4:30pm
Natural History Exhibit

$5 members
$7 non-members
FREE for youth

Watch a preview video:


Learn more about Todd McLiesh's book at toddmcleish.com.

Seabird Rescue!

Look what the storm brought in! 

My new friend and I go for a truck ride.

Life at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center is largely unpredictable, and often chaotic. Inspiring conservation of the Salish Sea is a BIG job and it turns out there are A LOT of ways to do it. Today I helped save a seabird and I'm writing this blog to inspire you to save future ones- and their homes too. 

This striking penguin-like seabird in my lap is a Common Murre. Earlier today a woman braved the wind and rain to bring the bird to us in hopes we would be able to help. She had found him (or her) on a nearby beach, unable to fly and looking tired. We have no idea how to care for birds, but we know someone who does! We called our friend Cindy Daily at Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue (360-379-0802), who's always eager to save a feathery friend. 

While we waited to hear back from Cindy, Chrissy and I went about finishing up our tasks. After all, we had not allotted time in our schedules for bird-sitting and still had to clean up after a day full of harbor seal necropsies (more on that later). We planned to leave the bird in a box lined with a comfy towel, but he kept poking his head out the top and attempting to escape. It was time for Plan B. I tucked him into my jacket and whispered sweet nothings to him as I went about putting things away. 

Getting cozy.

Too soon, Cindy called and it was time to bring my new friend into rehab. We met at the Safeway parking lot to make the exchange. I fought back the urge to ask 'can I keep him?' (it wasn't easy). Instead, I asked what she thought had happened, since I couldn't see any obvious injuries. I was startled by what she told me.

On windy days when the seas get really wavy, contaminants in the water get stirred up. Some types of contaminants, like petroleum or vegetable oils, destroy the insulating capacity of bird feathers. If a seabird like our Common Murre swims through an area with these types of contaminants, they risk death by hypothermia because they can't keep warm. Sometimes a 'de-insulated' seabird winds up on shore, usually cold and exhausted. However, with time, food, and TLC, rehabers are able to save these birds. But only if people bring them in! 

Here's what you should do:

1. If you suspect a bird is 'de-insulated', capture it! It should be fairly easy. Use a towel, blanket, or jacket to cover him up and keep that sharp beak away from your eyeballs. If the bird flies away at a million miles a minute, it probably wasn't de-insulated.
2. Put the bird in a box.
3. Call Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue at 360-379-0802. You could do this first if you are unsure what to do in-the-moment.

Of course the ideal solution to this problem would be to remove all of the troublesome contaminants from the ocean so that seabirds (and everything else) wouldn't be threatened by their presence. Maybe that's not possible, but it's sure worth shooting for.   

Farewell wild one. I forgive you for jabbing me.

Baby steps. Today we helped save a seabird that had been hurt by something people did. Sure, it's not a big difference in terms of the Salish Sea, but it's a big difference for this bird. Thinking about the small things we accomplish on a daily basis allows me to sleep peacefully at night. 

I have high hopes for our little black and white amigo. Thank you mysterious lady who brought him in, huddled in your blanket. You've inspired me!   


*Special note: Cindy Daily is a licensed reahabilitator. It is illegal for the general public to posses a wild bird except for short-term care prior to transporting it to a rehab facility. 

 

Here's a pigeon we brought to Cindy's rehab center a couple weeks ago.
 He had an injury to his neck and crop, but is recovering nicely! 

Thanks for reading!

Danae Presler
AmeriCorps
Marine Mammal Stranding Network Educator

   

   

Gift Shop Sale + Both Exhibits OPEN Thanksgiving Weekend

Friday, November 29 through
Sunday, December 1
Noon to 4 p.m.  

The Marine Science Center Annual Gift Shop Sale tradition continues with a big holiday sale on Thanksgiving Weekend. Both exhibits (Natural History Exhibit and Marine Exhibit) will be open all weekend.

Volunteer Gift Shop Manager, Janine Scott, has greatly expanded our collection of "green" gifts and books for both kids and adults. All merchandise is at least 15% off, with larger savings on some items.

Gift memberships to the PTMSC and gift certificates in any amount are also available.