Mama Loves the Beach!

Sounds of Hope . . .

2011-11-17T11:25:00.000-08:00

Asante Children's Choir is back in Sonoma County! They will be singing and performing at the Bodega Bay Church on Bay View Street in Bodega Bay, this Sunday, November 20th at 10:00 am. Don't miss this opportunity to watch and listen to this amazing group of children from East Africa. Make a day of it, come out to watch Asante and then out to Bodega Head for whale watching!

From their Facebook page:

Music genre: African/Christian/Cultural/Rap Hometown: East Africa

Biography	The East African region has overcome incredible challenges to be where it is today. Now 24 children are traveling the world telling this story.The Asante Children’s choir is made up 24 very talented children ages 9-12 . Most of the children in the choir are orphans. Some come from homes devastated by HIV/AIDS. The choir presentations are a great source of healing and encouragement for the children. The children perform in churches, schools, and other public places raising awareness about the issues that Africa faces today and giving thanks for the great steps that have been made.
Current Location	East Africa

Biography

The East African region has overcome incredible challenges to be where it is today. Now 24 children are traveling the world telling this story.The Asante Children’s choir is made up 24 very talented children ages 9-12 . Most of the children in the choir are orphans. Some come from homes devastated by HIV/AIDS. The choir presentations are a great source of healing and encouragement for the children. The children perform in churches, schools, and other public places raising awareness about the issues that Africa faces today and giving thanks for the great steps that have been made.

Current Location

East Africa

Website	http://asantechoir.org

Asante Children's choir at Doran Beach 2010 ~ photos by Darris Nelson

Enjoy the music, the energy, the beauty of hope and love . . . come to Bodega Bay Church on Sunday, November 20th and celebrate life with the Asante Children's Choir!

Click here to get directions to Bodega Bay Church

xxoo

The End of Summer . . .

2011-10-15T23:00:00.000-07:00

Some things I'll miss, some things I won't . . .

Godwits and gulls

Red tide

Sea weed, horses, crowds and summer fog

Forgotten dog poop bags

Summer beach weddings

Hillbilly horseshoes (played with big washers)

and fun guys who make me laugh . . .

Summer beach trash

Leaving gifts of firewood for campers

Dogs and their people

'Banjo'

Polite dogs (and their people)

Driftwood sculptures

Bright summer night beach walks

Brilliant sunsets

Llamas

and their people . . . Skansen Llama Farm (www.skansen.com)

Meeting new friends ~ 'Surfrider' beach clean up with (awesome!) AMEC crew

Bodega Bay Farmers Market ~ Daniel Byerbri, Owner, Byerbri Olive Oil (outstanding olive oil!)

'Sunny'

'Sunny' and her boy

1998 ~ 2011

Bodega Bay Surfers . . .

2011-09-28T13:07:00.000-07:00

Six foot tide, big curly waves and 90 degree temps bring out the surfers

Tracking wildlife on the Sonoma Coast . . .

2011-09-21T12:54:00.000-07:00

Marbled Godwit and Willet. Bodega Bay Winter Migration ~ Photo by Tom Reynolds

Bobcat at Spring Lake ~ photo by Tom Reynolds

A big draw for people who visit and live on our Sonoma Coast is the vast open space, rolling tree studded hills, abundant creeks and waterways, and bountiful wildlife. Those of us who live here and hike the hills regularly, often don't think about the diverse population of wild creatures that live among us. One of the animals that call the Sonoma Coast home is the often maligned mountain lion.

Photo from Felidae Conservation Fund

In August, a blog reader left a comment about a mountain lion sighting in the Bodega Dunes Campground here in Bodega Bay, CA. I responded to the comment by contacting Zara from The Felidae Conservation Fund and tracker Jim Sullivan. My email to Jim prompted him to go out to Bodega Dunes and check the site for tracks.

The following is Jim's email response to me:

"Darris:

I went out to the Bodega Dunes campground yesterday and spent an hour and a half walking around the perimeter and some of the densely vegetated areas in the center. I found tracks and scat of bobcats, coyotes, raccoons and foxes, but no sign of a cougar. I talked to one of the maintenance people and he hadn’t heard about the incident...and thought he would have. There is plenty of good habitat there in which a big cat could hide. But lots of people camping out there have dogs, which I suspect would make it undesirable for any but a very young, hungry cat. Usually when there is a cat around, the dogs bark more or less all night. (There have been lots of sightings east of the highway, so I don’t have any problem imagining a cat in that area.)

Your story about the raccoons is relevant...they make a horrendous scream and lots of people have confused that noise with cougar screams, including me when I was younger. Your contact mentioned that they saw deer tracks going through the campsite...if you do make contact with them, try to get them to describe these tracks...normally tracks from deer who are not frightened will be fairly evenly spaced and not more than a couple of feet apart. If a cat was chasing a deer, the tracks would be clustered in a gallop or pronk pattern, with quite a bit of space between groups of 4 prints.

(Incidentally, the ranger I talked to told me an interesting story. He was in the bar at the Tides restaurant (Friday evening, I think) and everybody saw a buck trapped in the mud out in the middle of the bay, just standing there. After about an hour or so the tide came in enough to float it, and it swam away.)"

Note: 'pronk' means to "jump straight up" similar to a kangaroo.

I haven't heard back from the reader who left the comment. They indicated that they moved from the campsite they occupied. Jim offered to talk with the person and had more questions about what they saw and heard.

JIM SULLIVAN is a 4th generation Sonoma county native, lifetime naturalist, with a degree in Biology. He graduated from Notre Dame, studied in Vienna, UC Santa Barbara and San Francisco State, as well as on going studies at SRJC and SSU. A long time environmental and social justice activist, he served 4 years in the Infantry and was instrumental in launching the Natural Foods Movement.. He is a retired Landscape Contractor, an award winning Plein Air landscape painter, and an internationally certified tracker. If you're interested in working with Jim, he can be contacted through his website: Animal Tracking and Bird Language. Jim offers: animal tracking, guided tours, bird language, species hikes, workshops and consultations.

I highly recommend a tracking experience with Jim Sullivan. A couple of years ago Jim took my family and a friend out for a day of tracking. Jim is an engaging and interesting person with a curious and playful spirit. The day was fun and rewarding for all of us.

Osprey eating breakfast ~ photo by Tom Reynolds

Bountiful Bodega Bay Farmers Market!

2011-09-07T10:29:00.000-07:00

The first annual Bodega Bay Farmer's Market was a big hit! 14 vendors set up tables and some vendors were surprised how quickly they sold out! It was an opportunity for locals and visitors to connect and shop. A great community event!

Every Sunday at the Bodega Bay Community Center, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm until October 30th, 2255 North Highway One, Bodega Bay, CA. The event offers fresh produce, meat, eggs, live music, food concessions, and more.

Call (707) 377-4151 for more information.

Michael Bundy, BBCA Board Member & Sue, manning the BBCA membership table

Family fun!

Susan Brady & Sister-in-law, Misty of Freestone Ranch

Susan & Misty with another ranch hand due soon!

Susan Brady is ranch manager, along with her two sons, Justin & Jacob, at beautiful Freestone Ranch phone: 707.876.4610 website: http://freestoneranch.com

Freestone Ranch is nestled in a beautiful valley between the town of Freestone and Valley Ford. The Ranch offers Grass-fed beef, pastured chicken and eggs for sale. They also offer tours of the ranch by appointment.

Beautiful fresh produce

Headed home with romaine and kale!

Carson Hunter & Jen Larsen, owners, Carson's Catch

My husband bought a piece of 'Carson's Catch' smoked salmon. He said, "this is the best tasting smoked salmon I've ever eaten; moist without being too 'wet', flavorful but not overwhelming . . . a perfect balance."

Wild caught, flash frozen, Alaskan salmon

Carson't Catch ~ phone: 707.217.8842

Published in 'Outside' magazine

Hydrosols and massage candles

a gift from my husband

Sara (and son) with veggies, wool from Bodega sheep, and flowers all from Bodega Pastures

Jams, jellies and jewelry


Skin Rituals by Christel Runyan ~ natural & organic skin care & cosmeceuticals

Christel is a licensed esthetician located in Bodega Bay ~ phone: 707.377.4151

'Buzz Saw' livened up the day with great music

A bumper sticker I can appreciate . . .

Thank you to all of the volunteers who worked so hard to bring this farmer's market to our Bodega Bay community!

Grand Opening for the New Bodega Bay Farmers Market

2011-09-03T10:10:00.000-07:00

When: Sundays from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm

Where: Bodega Bay Community Center 2255 Highway One Bodega Bay, CA 94923 on the Community Center grounds by the bell tower

What: Local farmers and vendors gather with their fresh produce and items for residents and tourists alike.

GRAND OPENING DAY FOR THE NEW FARMERS MARKET IN BODEGA BAY!!! LIVE MUSIC* FOOD* BEVERAGES*

The farmers market event was created to support local farms and businesses as well as provide funds for the Bodega Bay Community Association.

For more information or vending opportunities please email us at farmersmarketinbodegabay@gmail.com

Eat your VEGGIES!

Just for fun . . . (thanks Donna xxoo)

Mountain Lions Live Among Us . . .

2011-08-31T20:25:00.001-07:00

Koda, photo courtesy of
'The Felidae Conservation Fund'

A few days ago I received the following anonymous alert from a reader of this blog:

"FYI, we stayed at Bodega Sand Dunes Campground Friday night and had a frightening close call with a mountain lion at 3:15 AM. After feeding the baby my wife left to visit the restroom without a flashlight. She had onlt taken a couple of steps when a cougar "screamed" at her no more than 25 feet away (sounded like less than 10). She froze and it screamed at her again. To me it sounded like a warning to stay away - a very scary warning that sends shivers down your spine. I called out to my wife who unfroze and dashed back into the tent. We were escorted out of the site as we were quite shaken. I wasn't overly concerned for the safety of my wife and I, but know that small children may be in danger so we left. I am an avid outdoorsman and have been my entire life (first backpacking trip at 6 months old), but those screams at my wife are still haunting. Best I can tell is the cougar was stalking a deer that was walking through our campsite. The cougar was down wind of us and deer footprints went right by our tent the opposite direction. My wife unwittingly opened the tent door and started walking towards its hiding place that wasn't far away and sent the warning screams at my wife. I have always wanted to see a cougar, but hope the next one we see uses better manners and says "please" and "thank you." :) We love the area and will be back again (just at a less remote camp site). Nice to know it is even more natural than I anticipated with even Mt. Lions."

After reading this I immediately contacted two people whose knowledge and professionalism I greatly respect. They are professional tracker, Jim Sullivan, and 'The Felidae Conservation Fund' Founder, Zara McDonald. I will write a follow up post featuring comments and tracking information from Jim Sullivan. Zara McDonald is the author of today's guest post.

photo courtesy of 'Bay Area Puma Project'

The following is a Guest post by Zara McDonald, Founder of 'The Felidae Conservation Fund'

Zara McDonald and sedated cougar
photo courtesy of
'The Felidae Conservation Fund'

"For many people, it can be disconcerting to realize that the beautiful wildlands we so enjoy around the Bay Area also serve as habitat for mountain lions (also called pumas or cougars). After all, the mountain lion is a fierce killer that can eat a human for dinner without a second thought, right? Well not exactly. The last time someone was killed by a mountain lion in the Bay Area was over 100 years ago, and it wasn't as a meal (a bite from a lion resulted in rabies). Though rarely seen, mountain lions live among us, and if we were on their menu, a lot more of us would be ending up as lunch."

'Pilar', photo courtesy of
'The Felidae Conservation Fund'

"Lions prefer to move and live in the wildest landscapes where their natural prey is abundant, but development and fragmentation of habitat has changed movement and dispersal patterns in lions. So we are seeing them more than was typical in the past."

"The Bay Area Puma Project (www.bapp.org) is working to change the fearful perception of mountain lions. The project partners are working hard to get the word out that the mountain lion is very rarely a danger to humans."

"Mountain lions are a ethereal animal that plays a critical role at the top of the food chain and are a keystone species in our local ecosystems. The mountain lions presence in the habitat is essential for maintaining the health and balance of the natural world we so enjoy. (Their mere presence lowers the risk of deseases such as lyme disease because lions feed on deseased and weakened prey)."

photo courtesy of 'The Felidae Conservation Fund'

"The Bay Area Puma Project was created because rapid human development in the region is threatening the very existence of healthy puma populations, and if we lose them, the health of our environment will go into decline. We urgently need to change this course, and find healthy ways for humans to co-exist with pumas, and all wildlife."

"The Puma Project has already fitted 26 cats with tracking collars in the Santa Cruz Mountains, including 4 puma kittens, and is currently expanding the research to the East Bay and North Bay. More information about mountain lions, as well as a list of upcoming talks and events, can be found at Felidae's website: www.FelidaeFund.org".

Field team in Pakistan, photo courtesy of
'The Felidae Conservation Fund'

I asked Zara, "What inspired you to establish 'The Felidae Conservation Fund?"

Zara McDonald, photo courtesy of
'The Felidae Conservation Fund'

"I was done with pre med and was moving away from medical school plans toward wildlife ecology, with a special interest in the role wild felids play in the ecosystem. I was an ultra marathoner at the time and had 2 separate sightings at the end of long runs, one very close, within 6 months of each other, in the Marin headlands. This was about 8 or 9 years ago.
A lion’s head popped out of the riparian at eye level to me and about 5 feet away. I stopped running and we stared each other down. I was struck by the beauty of the animal and how natural it looked in the landscape. It seemed to look right through me. I felt like an intruder, and although I was scared, I knew he was going to walk away, and 15 seconds later he turned and left as quickly as he appeared. My life was changed from that moment on, in a powerful, and at the same time a subtle way that grew as time passed. The memory haunted me, and I held it close. Yet I knew I needed to do more. It seemed to fit well with my direction and over the next 2 years with encouragement from friends and colleagues, I started Felidae. Our mission is to advance the awareness and conservation of wild felids and their habitats all over the world."

Zara and villagers, photo courtesy of
'The Felidae Conservation Fund'

Thank you Zara for generously giving your time and information, and for your critical work in saving big cats the world over.

For more information, events, photos, videos and audio about mountain lions and other big cats go to these outstanding websites:

CLICK HERE for the 'Bay Area Puma Project' website

CLICK HERE for 'The Felidae Conservation Fund' website

Have you ever had a sighting or an encounter with a mountain lion? Tell us, we'd love to hear your story ~

Marine Mammal Center Releases 4 Harbor Seal Pups . . .

2011-08-29T13:13:00.000-07:00

On Friday, August 12, 2011, I received an early morning call from Marine Mammal Center volunteer Phil Warren inviting me to witness the release of four harbor seal pups. I wasn't able to attend the release but Phil generously sent the following narrative of the day's event.

All of the photographs were taken by Tami Pearson, a Marine Mammal Center volunteer.

The 4 harbor seal pups released were:

Antonio (m), admitted 4/30/11, rescued at the mouth of Estero San Antonio near Dillon Beach

Yorkshina Pudding (f), admitted 5/1/11, rescued at Pudding Creek Beach in Mendocino County

Sulis (f), admitted 6/7/11, rescued at Carmel River State Beach in Monterey County and

Zoeroo (m), admitted 6/20/11, rescued in Point Lobos State Reserve in Monterey County

All the pups had been separated from their mom and were anywhere from a few days old to a few weeks old when rescued. Moms abandon pups for a variety of reasons. Sometimes first time moms give birth away from a rookery and don’t quite know what to do with the pup. In other cases, pups may be parked on the beach while mom feeds and people and/or dogs may deter mom from picking up the pup. Antonio and Yorkshina Pudding spent longer than usual at The Marine Mammal Center because they didn’t seem to get the hang of eating fish as quickly as others. Prior to release, each pup has to pass ‘fish school’, demonstrating that it has the ability to catch and eat live fish.

Harbor seals gather in rookery areas, like the rookery at the end of the Russian River. When not in the rookery area, they tend to be more solitary. When pups are released, some of them seem to hang out with each other for a while and others just swim away without looking back. I don’t think the release bonding lasts very long and evidence from satellite tagged pups indicate that they quickly go their separate ways.

The colored plastic “caps” are for visual identification only. They also have numbered orange tags on their rear flippers. Occasionally we put satellite transmitters on the pups, but they cost several thousand dollars and are not recoverable. The “caps” and satellite transmitters fall off when the seals molt, the flipper tags are permanent.

When the general public encounters a marine mammal, the proper course of action is to observe from afar. If it appears that the animal is sick or injured, gather as much information as possible about the animal and its location and call the Marine Mammal Center (415-289-SEAL). We have trained volunteers all along 600 miles of California coastline prepared to respond to evaluate and, if necessary, rescue the animal. AND…bring your family and friends to visit the Center in the Marin Headlands (Sausalito), open 7 days a week, 10AM-5PM.

A tremendous heartfelt thank you to Phil and Jean Warren for their devoted rescue efforts of our sick and injured Sonoma Coast marine mammals, and for keeping me up to date about the critters and the goings-on over at The Marine Mammal Center.

A huge thank you to Tami Peterson for giving me permission to post her poignant photographs. They tell a beautiful story beyond what words can express.

And to all of the volunteers at The Marine Mammal Center ~ thank you, thank you, thank you for all you do!

Click here for more information about The Marine Mammal Center

This post is dedicated to the memory of King Neptune.

RIP big guy . . .

King Neptune, an adult male California sea lion, begins recover at The Marine Mammal Center for a gunshot wound injury.

Photo credit ~ The Marine Mammal Center

Foggy Days of Summer . . .

2011-07-14T10:30:00.000-07:00

Fisherman ~ photo, dbn

June was a mix of misty, foggy days and bright blue sunny skies with a bit of rain . . .

Visiting White Pelicans in June ~ photo, dbn

Rock art ~ photo, dbn

We collected a fair amount of beach trash so far this summer. Lots of full doggie-do bags that I didn't pick up . . .

Beach trash ~ photo, dbn

Hauling beach trash ~ photo, dbn

DHL bag found on beach ~ photo, dbn

Beach trash ~ photo, dbn

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Midway Movie Trailer

There are only a handful of films that I've seen in my life that have moved and inspired me. Having only viewed the trailer, I am certain 'Midway' will be one of those movies I will never forget . . .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael Fishbach narrates his encounter with a humpback whale entangled in a fishing net. This well done video captures the final release of the whale who graced it's saviors with quite a show of breaching and tail slapping! Fishbach and Gershon Cohen founded The Great Whale Conservancy to help and protect whales.

The Great Whale Conservancy (GWC) is a joint program of two premier projects of the Earth Island Institute: the International Marine Mammal Project and the Campaign to Safeguard America’s Waters. Their focus is "to protect blue whales along the Californa coast from ship-strike caused injuries and death." The blue whale is the largest animal species to have ever inhabited the Earth. The global population prior to human predation has been estimated at 350,000 individuals. Today that number is ~10,000. For more information click on The Great Whale Conservancy (GWC).

Thank you to sister Kimberly for sending this my way . . . xxoo

Sparkling clear blue skies! ~ photo, dbn

Fireworks Over Bodega Bay Harbor . . .

2011-07-02T22:43:00.000-07:00

Hands Across the Sand . . .

2011-06-24T14:13:00.000-07:00

JOIN "Hands Across the Sand" gathering at Doran Beach Park on June 25th from 11-1. For more information on the history and purpose of the event visit

http://www.handsacrossthesand.com

Locally:

“Hands Across The Sand” Event Opposing Offshore Drilling & Supporting Clean Energy

Doran Beach, Bodega Bay 11:00 Speakers 12:00 Join Hands followed by Beach Clean-up

Meet at whale Sculpture across from Coast Guard Station

$6 day use parking fee is waived if 4+ passengers per vehicle (or if you have a Regional Parks pass, bless your heart!)

The Sonoma Coast Chapter of Surfrider is hosting the event. This event is an opportunity to express opposition to offshore drilling and promote clean and sustainable energy. There will be speakers from Defenders of Wildlife (Richard Charter, Executive Director), Ocean Conservation Research (Michael Stocker, Executive Director), Sonoma County Board of Supervisors (Efren Carrillo), Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations (Zeke Grader), Tom Roth (Chief of Staff for Sen. Noreen Evans) and Bill Kortum (Coastal Activist) .... prior to participants forming a line in the sand and joining hands. There will also be a beach clean-up and we will be joined by "the bag monster" to bring awareness to the issue of single use plastic bags and plastic pollution in the ocean.

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors is giving the Gold Resolution on June 21st and declaring June 25th as "Hands Across the Sand" day in Sonoma County.

Please visit the Sonoma Coast Surfrider website www.surfrider.org/sonomacoast

There is a link on the website to the chapter facebook page " Sonoma Coast Surfrider" that will post updated information on the event.

Here is a video of event highlights

At this time Doran Beach is the only location for Sonoma, Marin, and Mendocino Counties. "Hands Across the Sand" will be a great opportunity to meet with like-minded folks.

'Hands Across the Sand' 2010 ~ photo, db Nelson

This is a great event to show your support for energy alternatives, no offshore drilling, and your commitment to our coast. Please bring a bag, or two, or three to pick up trash.

Thank you!!

xxoo

Stars of the Sea . . .

2011-06-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

sea treasures ~ photo, db Nelson

My cousin, Lauri, lives in Alaska. She's a California native who moved to Alaska over 25 years ago. Her lifestyle fits her self-reliant nature perfectly. Lauri lives by the sea and walks the beach nearly every day photographing Alaskan sea life and wildlife. She is compelled to know about her surroundings and the creatures that inhabit her shared haven. After reading my last post, Lauri brought to my attention that 'sea star' is the correct name for what I mistakenly identified as 'star fish'.

I grew up calling these invertebrates 'star fish' and just about everyone I know does the same. So I was compelled to find out why the name change and learned so much more on Buzzle.com:

Facts about Sea Star

Sea stars are echinoderms that exhibit radial symmetry and possess tube feet for locomotion. These marine creatures, though often called Starfish, are not fish. They lack blood and brain, and have two stomachs for digestion. They even possess the unique ability to regenerate their lost arms…

Sea Stars ~ photo, Buzzle.com

Sea stars are star-shaped invertebrates living on the rocky sea floor. There are about 1800 known living sea star species that are distributed across the globe. The greatest variety of these are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific. Some other regions where they are widely found are the temperate regions of Australia, the cold-temperate waters of the North Pacific (California to Alaska), and the tropical East Pacific regions. These marine creatures can be sized from ½ an inch to over 3 feet in diameter and can live up to 35 years. Leather Star, Vermilion sea stars and Cushion stars are some of the common sea stars along the Pacific coast.

Sea star is not a fish

Sea stars are often referred to as starfish, however, the point to be noted is that the sea star is not a fish, which is why marine scientists have preferred to change its name from starfish to sea star. Sea stars and fish come under Kingdom Animalia. However, since fish are vertebrates, they belong to phylum Chordata, and sea stars along with sea urchins, brittle stars, feather stars and sea cucumbers come under phylum Echinodermata. Echinoderms exhibit a radial symmetry, which means that their arms radiate from a central disk outwards. Echinoderms are also characterized by tube feet, an endoskeleton that is made up of ossicles and plates in their body wall (may be large or microscopic).

Click Here to Learn More About the 'Sea Star' on Buzzle.com

“People protect what they love”
Jacques~Yves Cousteau

photo, Darris B. Nelson

beach trash ~ photo, Darris B. Nelson

photo, Darris B. Nelson

beach trash ~ photo, Darris B. Nelson

The Unseen Costs of Pollution . . .

Suja Lowenthal is an enormous asset to her city and an inspiring activist for our oceans. I was so moved by Long Beach Vice Mayor, Suja Lowenthal's passionate presentation I wanted to share it with you . . .

Vice Mayor of Long Beach, CA Suja Lowenthal, discusses the growing economic costs of collection and disposal of plastic – the externalized costs of plastic pollution.

"Change starts with each of us"
Suja Lowenthal

Fact:
The true cost of cleaning up garbage:

2.2 million dollars to clean up Long Beach coastline.
20 million dollars invested in cleaning up pollution just in Long Beach alone.

Low tech trash clean-up: Catch Basin Debris Diverters ~ ‘Treatment Train'. Helps to keep trash out of our oceans.

"Cleaning up pollution is a very lonely endeavor."
Suja Lowenthal

Fabian Cousteau TEDxGreatPacificGarbagePatch

Talking Points from Fabian Cousteau's TED talk:

LESS THAN 5% OF ALL SINGLE-USE PLASTICS ARE RECYCLED!
Oceans ~ our life support system . . . our world’s circulatory system
oceans encompass 99% of our worlds total biodiversity
they house almost 95% of the worlds life
80% of garbage in the ocean comes from land-based sources, mostly single-use plastic
creating a ‘plastic soup’.
There is a gyre in every ocean
2.4 million pounds of plastic is dumped into our ocean every HOUR!
We are losing 1 million apex predators every year just to plastics

“People protect what they love” Jacques~Yves Cousteau

One thing you can do today to stop the flow of plastic into our oceans is to STOP BUYING ALL SINGLE USE PLASTIC.

REDUCE, REUSE, recycle . . .

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fog under the Golden Gate ~ photo, Darris B. Nelson

trash picker ~ photo, Darris B. Nelson

S.F. night sky ~ photo, Darris B. Nelson

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Researchers have discovered a rare white porpoise in the San Francisco Bay.
ABC video of rare white porpoise in S.F. Bay

The discovery is thrilling environmentalists, who were already excited to see any harbor porpoises coming back after they disappeared decades ago.

On any given day, dozens of harbor porpoises are swimming right under the Golden Gate Bridge.

Bill Keener knows many of them by sight. In the last two and a half years Keener and a team of observers have photographed more than 200 individual porpoises.

link: Golden Gate Cetacean Research

The porpoises do not have names, but they do have code numbers. There's handsome SFB 78 with a rugged scar, the dutiful mother SFB 34 with her jet black calf and SFB 179, whose tail may have been bitten by a shark. Harbor porpoises are about five feet long, roughly half the size of a dolphin. They lived in the San Francisco Bay for thousands of years. But in World War II, the military strung a net across the Golden Gate Bridge and placed mines around the entrance. They were blocking enemy submarines, but the porpoises were blocked too.

The nets and mines were eventually removed, but as the bay got more polluted, the porpoises did not come back. That is until 2008, when Keener's colleague first spotted some near Sausalito.

"It was very exciting," Keener said. "And it wasn't just one animal, it was mothers with calves, so we knew there's family groups, and they are coming in to feed."

Keener is an environmental lawyer and former head of the Marine Mammal Center. He and a handful of other experts now have a permit to study porpoises and figure out why they would return to an urban waterway full of boat traffic.

"It could be the bay is cleaner and there are more fish," Keener said. "The bay is in a particularly productive period right now and that's very good and to have naturally animals come back into an area is pretty unusual." And even more unusual was a photograph Keener took April 30 of a rare white porpoise.

"It appears to be the very first white harbor porpoise ever recorded from the Pacific Ocean," Keener said.

In the last 100 years scientists have only documented six other white harbor porpoises anywhere in the world. The team is hoping this one will come back. And if it does, it's likely to be visible again from the Golden Gate Bridge.

"It's one of the best places in the world to do porpoise research because unlike going out on a boat where you disturb them by your very presence, they don't know you are on the bridge," Keener said.
Observers note the animals' scars and coloring to figure out who is who in the porpoise world. The porpoise photos reveal a rich social life with lots of interaction.

Researchers believe one reason the animals are thriving is what is happening under water. Along the Northern California coast there are three marine sanctuaries protected by the federal government.
"All of the animals, including the corals on the bottom, the worms in the mud, as well as the porpoises, it all cascades into being more positive for a healthier environment for all the animals," Gulf of Farallones Marine Sanctuary spokesperson Jan Roletto said.
Casual observers can see some of that, including porpoises and a lot more, just by walking out on the Golden Gate Bridge.
"It's a fantastic platform to view wildlife and I think local people don't realize that," Keener said.

Harbor porpoises have also appeared in other areas around the central part of San Francisco Bay. Anyone who sees one, either a porpoise or a dolphin, is asked to report it to the Cetacean Research Group.

Written and produced by Jennifer Olney

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=8139355

Blue Sway . . .

2011-06-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

sea stars ~ photo, db Nelson

waiting for high tide . . . ~ photo, db Nelson

tide pooling ~ photographer, Barbara Denham

National Geographic ~ Bodega Bay Tidepools

'Brimming Pools' is a featured article in National Geographic this month. Along with beautiful photographs by David Liittschwager, writer Mel White takes us on a journey of Bodega Head Tidepoos. Guided by Sarah Ann Thompson, a marine biologist from the Farallon Institute in Petaluma, White describes his experience:

The rocks and pools here create an abundance of opportunities and host a diversity of life to rival any rain forest. Pisaster is just one of scores of species that have adapted to innumerable micro-habitats with a seemingly endless variety of physical shapes and lifestyles. One little worm can shoot a harpoon out of its head to stab its prey. A limpet tends and guards its own farm plot. A seaweed releases acid for defense when it's injured. A nudibranch (which looks like a gussied-up slug) eats poisonous creatures and implants stinging cells under its own skin to repel predators.
Why all the aggression? It's simply the result of lots of plants and animals competing for resources in a highly productive but limited space. In nature, as in real estate, location is everything, and the intertidal zone is Park Avenue.

White also gets an education about sea creatures from Erik Sanford, a biologist with the Bodega Marine Lab. White tells us:

So there's the magic. Eric Sanford is holding, in one hand, representatives of more than one-fourth of all the animal life on Earth: nine phyla on one rock. In comparison, the entire land surface of the planet, from Poles to Equator, is home to only about a dozen phyla.

Sanford is actually a little crestfallen because he can't find a peanut worm, an odd thing in the phylum Sipuncula that would give us an even ten. The thrill would have been strictly numerical, though. I've already seen a peanut worm, and it has all the aesthetic appeal of used chewing gum. (I must admit, however, that the one thing it does, it does very well: extending a hydraulically powered, tentacle-tipped proboscis several times the length of its body to grab tiny bits of drifting dead stuff. Sanford calls it "this crazy sort of Dr. Seuss-like thing.")

This article is a great way to learn a bit more about our precious and unique coast. For more information contact the Bodega Marine Lab for a tour. Public drop in tours are available Fridays, 2-4 for groups less than 10 people.

Thank you to our own (future) Bodega Bay Veterinary Hospital for bringing this to our attention.

Previously Unreleased track, 'Blue Sway' Written Nearly 20 Years Ago Dedicated to Linda McCartney . . .

'Blue Sway' music video

Paul McCartney recruited award-winning surf filmmaker Jack McCoy to create a music video for his previously unreleased track "Blue Sway." Written nearly 20 years ago, McCartney's never-before released song, "Blue Sway," is available for the first time on the bonus audio disc of the special edition of McCartney II. The music video created by McCoy is also featured on the bonus DVD included in the set. McCartney II will be released on June 14th by MPL and Concord Music Group.

Jack McCoy has been capturing the surfing vision in a truly unique way. Using a high powered underwater jet ski, the filmmaker found that he was able to travel behind a wave, creating underwater images that have never been seen before.

Over the past couple of years, McCoy set out to capture footage for his surf film, A Deeper Shade of Blue. During the editing process, McCoy put one of his surfing sequences to a song off McCartney's The Fireman album. A mutual friend, Chris Thomas, saw the footage while visiting McCoy in Australia, and when he returned to the UK he gave McCartney a copy of the sequence.

"Paul was pretty stoked with what I'd created. He immediately thought my images might be suitable to go with his unreleased song "Blue Sway." said McCoy.

McCoy spent the next six weeks creating the music video, while also working full days on making A Deeper Shade of Blue. McCoy compiled and edited footage that he filmed off Tahiti's Teahupoo reef to create what became the "Blue Sway" video.

"When I saw Jack McCoy's underwater surfing footage put to the soundtrack of "Blue Sway" I was blown away," said McCartney.

"Blue Sway" won 'Best Music Video' at NYC BE FILM Short Festival this past May, and the video will be featured as part of Surfrider Foundation's summer PSA campaign. Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's oceans, waves and beaches.

For more information about the McCartney II : http://paulmccartney.com.
For more information on Jack McCoy's A Deeper Shade of Blue: http://adeepershadeofblue.com
For more information on Surfrider Foundation: http://surfrider.org.

Too amazing not to repost . . .

Our Beautiful Bodega Bay . . .

2011-06-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

Kick butt kite-boarder . . .

This guy was so much fun to watch! He went all-out - flying down the beach faster than I could shoot! He was obviously having a blast as evidenced by his hootin' and hollerin' . . . I should've shot a video but I got so caught-up in watching him I was just enjoying the moment and not thinking about much else. . .

Great informational messages about alternatives to plastic and rethinking plastic waste . . .

No More Plastic!

Beach trash ~

Beach trash ~ cheap plastic toy & bait container . . .

The Nurdle hurdle . . .

Plastic 'Nurdles' ~ photo credit: onemoregeneration.org

What's a Nurdle?

by Charles Moore, Founder of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, onboard the Esperanza

Plastic is now everywhere. When locating plastics anywhere in the environment, scientists have little difficulty fulfilling the age-old saying, "Seek, and ye shall find."

But where do plastics come from? Most plastics are made from the natural gas portion of our petroleum resources. The gasses, like ethylene, are purified and turned into plastic by the use of polymer catalysts, which link ethylene molecules together to make polyethylene. Polyethylene plastics make water bottles, clothing fabric, and Tupperware as well as thousands of other products. So how does the polymer get to the processor who makes the goods for the consumer. The answer is “nurdles.” Over 250 billion pounds of nurdles are shipped around the world to plastic processing factories every year. Nurdles are plastic resin pellets that represent the most economical way to ship large quantities of a solid material, that is, in a pelletized form.

The pellets come in rail tank cars, and at 20-25,000 per pound, there are about a billion of them in each tanker. So many have escaped over the last half century during the transfer from rail car to factory by vacuum hoses, washing during rainstorms from rail sidings to the sea, that nurdles now represent about 10% of the litter counted on beaches worldwide.

In surface trawls for plastic particles aboard the Greenpeace vessel Esperanza, nurdles have been found in every trawl. The plastic industry itself is the biggest single source of plastic particles in the environment.

More beach trash ~

Kite boarder at sunset . . .

HAPPY WORLD OCEANS DAY! . . .

2011-06-08T14:30:00.000-07:00

Beach trash

SB 568 by Sen. Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) would prohibit food vendors and restaurants from dispensing prepared foods to customers in polystyrene foam beginning Jan. 1, 2014.

foam in cigarette butts . . .

This is legislation that cries out for support. Much of the trash we collect from the beach is foam. Most often foam makes it's way to the ocean via storm drains and is then tossed around in the sea, broken apart and fragmented by wave action. Eventually these foam pieces end up as miniscule particles that to sea life, appear to be food. On any given day on our beautiful Northern California beaches one can pick up thousands of tiny pieces of foam along the break line in the sand. Surprisingly, if you look very closely at the tide line you will see the tiny beads of foam.

Wisegeek.com
What are Polystyrene beads?

Polystyrene beads are the tiny bits of expanded polystyrene that are used to create, among other things, the familiar stuffing of beanbag chairs and stuffed toys. They are used to create the loose, protective packaging material that is commonly called "packing peanuts." Polystyrene itself is a thermoplastic material that exists in solid form at room temperature and melts when heated. It is a recyclable material, but many recycling facilities are not equipped to process these "number 6" recyclables. Local recycling facilities can confirm to residents whether or not polystyrene can be discarded with paper, glass, and aluminum recyclables for curbside pickup.

The most common form of plastic, solid polystyrene is a hard, colorless plastic that is semi-rigid and limited in flexibility. It can be processed as a transparent material or infused with artificial coloration. Disposable picnic cutlery, model vehicles, smoke detector casings, reusable "doggie boxes" that are gaining popularity with chain restaurants, and DVD cases are everyday examples of the myriad uses of solid polystyrene.

The "beans" in beanbag chairs are made of polystyrene beads, also called polystyrene pellets, and are an example of foamed polystyrene. Packing peanuts, home insulation, and foam drinking cups are further examples of foamed polystyrene. The polystyrene beads in a beanbag chair will eventually need replacing; although they aren't biodegradable, they will become flattened and begin to break down as they are crushed and air is squeezed from the foam. As with other polystyrene products, local recycling authorities should be contacted if curbside pickup of this material is not available. Polystyrene is typically manufactured in one of three forms: extruded polystyrene, expanded polystyrene foam, and extruded polystyrene foam.

Produced by Dow Chemical, extruded polystyrene foam insulation is sold under the trademarked brand name of Styrofoam®. Like other products that have become so commonplace that a brand name has become a generic term (e.g., Q-Tips, Kleenex, Popsicle), Styrofoam® is often used as a catchall word to describe other foamed polystyrene items. The polystyrene used for beanbags and packing peanuts is not extruded polystyrene foam (XPS), but expanded polystyrene foam. In addition to furniture stuffing and packing peanuts, expanded polystyrene beads are also used to create the custom-molded packing material that cushions fragile objects for transport.

chunk of foam beach trash


A lot of the foam we retrieve is from boats; foam 'bumpers', floats and foam coolers. Foam is a fairly ideal product if you want something to float, cushion or insulate.

foam filled tire

SB 568 focuses on polystyrene food containers. It's a good place to start. Eliminating foam is critical for the health of our oceans.

California Senate votes to ban foam takeout containers
Sandwiches, milkshakes and other food items frequently packaged in foam takeout containers will have to be packaged in other materials under a bill that cleared the state Senate on Thursday. SB 568 by Sen. Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) would prohibit food vendors and restaurants from dispensing prepared foods to customers in polystyrene foam beginning Jan. 1, 2014.

Expanded polystyrene foam, commonly known as Styrofoam, is a lightweight plastic that, when littered, is often carried from streets through storm drains into the ocean. It accounts for 15% of storm drain litter, according to the California Department of Transportation. It is the second-most-common type of beach debris, according to a study by the Southern California Coastal Water Quality Research Project.

Fifty California jurisdictions have already banned foam takeout food packaging, including Huntington Beach, Santa Monica, Malibu and Ventura County.
"There are all these jurisdictions in California that have to control trash and reduce their discharges of trash to waterways, and they're having a hard time complying because foam litter is so hard to control. That's the reason for this bill," said Miriam Gordon, state director of Clean Water Action, a national advocacy group that sponsored SB 568.

"I introduced this bill not just to solve an environmental problem that plagues our state but also because it's a job booster for California," Lowenthal said. He added that many California companies are making alternatives to polystyrene takeout packaging, including compostable materials, aluminum foil and paper.

SB 568 passed on a bipartisan 21-15 vote. The bill is headed to the Assembly this month, with a floor vote by the end of August.

Click here to find your representative
Write and/or call your Assembly Member and let them know you are a constituent and ask that they vote 'yes' on SB 568 to ban polystyrene food containers. Your letter or phone call need not be lengthy. This is a critical step in getting any piece of legislation passed.

Your representatives represent YOU! YOUR VOICE MATTERS! Call or Write today.

I am in District 1, my Assembly Member is Wesley Chesbro.

50 "D" Street, Suite 450
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Tel: (707) 576-2526
Fax: (707) 576-2297

I spoke with one of Mr. Chesbro's very helpful staff personnel, 'Gail', this afternoon and asked her to add my name to the list of people who are in support of SB 568. Gail recommended that constituents in Mr. Chesbro's district (only) use his website:

Wesley Chesbro, 1st District Assembly Member

and click on 'Contact Us' to send a message. This is a direct route to get your opinions read by Mr. Chesbro and staff. You are limited to 200 characters so if you have more to say send a written letter directly to his district office in Santa Rosa.

Your voice is critical to the health of our coast and to the health of our earth. Thank you for taking the time to make a difference. xxoo

beach poppies

Beach trash ~ Entangled rope

my beach buddy . . .

Beach trash ~ oyster bag

I carried this oyster bag made of plastic, 2 miles down the beach . . . I would have carried it 20 . . .

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Just for fun . . .

The Owl and the Pussycat

Midway . . . Hopeless Tragedy or Catylyst for Change . . .

2011-05-31T07:45:00.000-07:00

Seeing these photographs of dead albatross full of plastic on Beth Terry's website, Fake Plastic Fish now called, My Plastic Free Life, changed my life forever.

Chris Jordon, Photographer

I would never again stroll on the beach without picking up trash. I would never again look at the tide break and mistake tiny pieces of plastic for sea life. I would never again buy something in plastic and feel OK about my purchase.

I have lessened my use of plastic drastically but I have a long way to go to be plastic-free. As a matter of fact, it may never happen. Plastic is everywhere in my life. My printers, my telephone, my contact solution, the tags on my cats . . . even my camera. The list is endless. It may not be realistic for us to become truly 'plastic free' in our culture today but I do believe we can have a drastic impact just by being aware of the mess we've created thus far in the name of cheap and convenient.

If everyone of us picked up some trash every time we stepped outside it would make a difference. If everyone of us was intolerant of littering and it became an immense social stigma, it would make a difference. If everyone of us purchased an item in glass, or cardboard or something that is truly being recycled, instead of plastic, it would make a huge difference. If everyone of us was aware of the overwhelming destruction plastic has on our environment, we could make a difference.

Disconnect left lying on the beach . . .

Picturing Excess . . .

I added another video that Chris Jordon created for TED Talks. In this powerful 11 minute talk, Chris shows his photographs that represent 'excess' in our culture.

Chris gets his message of cultural excess and disconnect across beautifully using a universal language ~ pictures. I don't see the need to expand too much here on his message as he has done such a beautiful job.

If you're enjoying this blog, consider leaving a comment, I'd love to hear from you via this blog . . . thanks!

I'm a Climate Scientist . . .

2011-05-20T07:30:00.000-07:00

I'm not a scientist but the folks in this rap video are and they have a strong message about global warming . . .

WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE

'Hungry Beast' has created a 'clean' version of this song but personally I think we need strong language about this issue. So here it is . . .

CLICK HERE to buy this version of the song on iTunes

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Beach Hike . . .

Tide pooling

Beach trash . . .

threw this crab pot high up on rocks a week ago . . .

We found this crab pot but had nothing to pull it with so we stashed it up high on rocks with the intention of coming back with a rope to pull it down the beach.


crab pot filled with trash lashed to a sheet of steel

We pulled this trash for two miles down the beach. My husband carried it over boulders we climbed to get from beach to beach.

We had to drag it through a tunnel that was about three feet tall . . .

Somewhat ironic to find this beer bottle among the trash I retrieved from a cave . . .

What's the oddest beach trash you've picked up?

Bodega Bay Wildlife . . .

2011-05-19T19:07:00.000-07:00

seals & gulls near Diekman's Market

I leapt out of the car to get this shot so it's not the best photo but captures something many people never see.

Doran Beach Castles and Kites Day . . .

Kites ~ Tom Reynolds, photographer

Castles and Kites entry ~ April 23, 2011

Petaluma entry

twisted shark humor . . .

nose humor

Doran Beach Dragon ~ Castles and Kites Day

Valley Springs, CA sand artists

Orca whale ~ Photo from National Geographic

I didn't get a photograph (had ya there for a minute though didn't I!) but I spotted two breaching Orca whales just beyond the breaking waves. There were other whales swimming along with them, possibly Gray whales. Uncommon to see whales at all at Doran Beach but to see Orca's is rare indeed.

Bobcat-Spring Lake ~ Thomas Reynolds, photographer

This bobcat wasn't photographed in Bodega Bay but it's such a great shot! These guys are roaming all over our coastal hills but are rarely seen. Wildlife photographer and park volunteer, Tom Reynolds, told me he and a friend spotted this bobcat off the trail at Spring Lake, sunning on a rock.

Spring Lake beaver ~ Tom Reynolds, Photographer

An avid bird-watcher and photographer, Tom is photographing wildlife all over Sonoma County everyday. He generously shares his photographs with me and frees me up to share them with you.

Immature Great Horned Owl ~ Tom Reynolds, Photographer

Osprey, eating breakfast ~ Tom Reynolds, Photographer

Peregrine Falcon ~ Thomas Reynolds, photographer

A Beautiful Day to Die . . .

2011-05-19T12:11:00.000-07:00

The beach was nearly abandoned. On days when rain threatens we often have the beach all to ourselves.

sun bleached snail headed for a puddle

puffy white clouds against blue sky

Cumulonimbus

rain over the ocean

About these clouds from Wikipedia:
Cumulus clouds are a type of cloud with noticeable vertical development and clearly defined edges. Cumulus means "heap" or "pile" in Latin. They are often described as "puffy" or "cotton-like" in appearance. Cumulus clouds may appear alone, in lines, or in clusters. Cumulus clouds are often precursors of other types of clouds, such as cumulonimbus, when influenced by weather factors such as instability, moisture, and temperature gradient. Cumulus clouds are part of the larger category of cumuliform clouds, which include cumulus, cumulus congestus, and cumulonimbus clouds, among others.^[1] The most intense cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds may be associated with severe weather phenomena such as hail, waterspouts and tornadoes.


enjoying the waves with no one around

Beach trash

Other than the trash we hauled in, we were enjoying our surroundings until we noticed a disturbing site. We counted four dead birds within about a mile of beach. This gull death was a particularly sad site to see.

Seagull with salmon hooks in gullet

line is in the birds beak

The bird was entangled in fishing line. It took two of us to pull the fishing line and hooks out of the bird. I was shocked when I saw the enormous hooks this bird had swallowed. It's difficult to know if it was the hooks in his gullet or the fishing line that mangled his body that was the cause of his death.

Scenes From 2011 Salmon Creek Artwalk . . .

2011-05-02T14:05:00.000-07:00

Artist ~ Lillian Lehman

'My Many Faces' ~ Artist, Lillian Lehman

Artist ~ Lillian Lehman

Artist ~ Jerry Kermode

Artist/wood-turner ~ Jerry Kermode

Artist ~ Carolyn Horan

Raku Mask ~ Artist, Carolyn Horan

Add caption

Artist ~ Patty Pieropan-Dong

artistic fence in Salmon Creek

Silk Scarf ~ Artist, Nora Daniel of 'Color Muse'

Fisherman's Festival and Artwalk Weekend . . .

2011-04-26T15:24:00.000-07:00

photo credit: Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival

38th Annual Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival

The Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival is Saturday, April 30th and Sunday, May 1st, 10:00 am until 5:00 pm, at Westside Park on Westshore Road, Bodega BayThe Bodega Bay

The Festival boasts:

Live Music
Entertainment
Wine Tasting
Beverages
Local Cuisine
Food Booths
Crafts Fair
Exhibits
Children's Events
Raffle Prizes

Special events include:

Golf Tournament
(707-875-3538)
Wooden Boat Challenge
Boat Parade
Blessing of the Fleet
Big Art Tent
w/ Original Art

* Schedule:

Saturday, April 30

10:00 Wooden Boat Challenge BEGINS
10:00-11:00 Tomales High School Pan Band
11:30 US Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demo
11:30-1:45 Moonalice
1:30-2:00 Wooden Boat Challenge RACE
TBD Parade of Pets and Llamas
(2:15 gather @ Info Booth)
2:00 - 5:00 Unauthorized Rolling Stones

Sunday, May 1

10:00-11:00 The Emily Tessmer Band
11:30 Boat Parade & Blessing of the Fleet
11:30-2:00 The Thugz
2:00-5:00 Wonder Bread 5

Ongoing Performances, Demonstrations, etc.
Check with the Information Booth for details on:
Kids Corner • Capt. Jack Spareribs • Kite Flying demos
CHP and Sonoma County Sheriff helicopter landings
US Coast Guard in the harbor

Leashed Pets Welcome!
Free Parking
Handicap Accessible
Admission: $10
seniors $8
kids under 12 free

A fun time for the whole family and a great way to spend the day in Bodega Bay.

Salmon Creek ArtWalk

'Shell Man' by Lillian Lehman ~ photo credit: Salmon Creek Artwalk

1 mile North of Bodega Bay, the Salmon Creek Artwalk is also a 'must see' event. Follow the signs as you head out of town, Salmon Creek is on your left. If you end up at Salmon Creek Beach you've gone too far.

From the website:

Studios open to the public 10am - 5pm
Salmon Creek Village admission is free
1 mile north of Bodega Bay on Hwy 1

Come celebrate our ELEVENTH YEAR!
We are proud to have been a
Part of the Sonoma Coast Art Scene For 11 years!

There is something for everyone at the Salmon Creek Artwalk; sculpture, textile art, pottery, and paintings in various mediums. Talk to the artists and purchase their work directly. An event not to be missed.