Preserve the Reserve

Quartermaster Harbor and the shore of Maury Island are classified as an aquatic reserve. Aquatic Reserves are areas that are seen as extremely important places for spawning, foraging, and resting for fish, vertebrates, and birds alike! The Maury Island Aquatic Reserve is one of 7 in the Puget Sound. However, it is seen as one of the harder ones to regulate. This is because the reserve is also home to a large number of recreational boaters. This just presents an extra challenge of ensuring that the public uses the water and beaches correctly. 

     The biggest threats to the reserve are man made pollution, new construction of docks or bulkheads, and loss of native vegetation. We all can understand the reason why docks and pollution would be good to avoid, but the native vegetation is just as important to preserve. This native vegetation provides housing for insects that the fish and birds eat, and shading for the nesting grounds during hot days. These two things combined could completely ruin a spawning ground altogether. So, it is important for us to protect these areas for our natural ecosystem. 

To learn more about our Aquatic Reserve visit: https://www.aquaticreserves.org/the-reserves/maury-island/about-the-reserve/

The Mighty Mountain

Mount Rainier is a peak of exorbitant beauty. The Mountain, which is a part of the Northwest Ring of Fire, is an active volcano, but the last recorded eruption was over 150 years ago. Some mountains are formed by one large explosion or event that creates the feature we see, but Mount Rainier is different. The mountain has been formed through thousands of years of lava and mud flow. Throughout time these layers continually built upon each other to create the mountain. 

     Rainier is estimated to have once stood at over 16,000 feet above sea level. However, 5,700 years ago Mount Rainier erupted, causing the mountainside to collapse and it now stands at 14,411 feet above sea level. Thip eruption caused a mudflow called the Osceola Mudflow. Many of the towns built around Mount Rainier are built atop this mudflow. Scientists do not know exactly when might erupt like this again, but as an active volcano it could be at any time. 

Squishy but Deadly

If you have ever been swimming or boating around the Puget Sound you may have seen one of these along the way. The Lion’s Mane Jellyfish is the largest jellyfish species in the world. Though they are large, their sting is relatively mild for us humans; However, the fish that get caught by their tentacles are not as lucky. Furthermore, their tentacles have been measured in at 120 feet long! That makes them very hard to evade. Most Lion’s Mane Jellyfish prefer to float alone unless there is a storm or other disturbance that brings them together. Interestingly, these jellyfish tend to thrive in environments where there is large amounts of human activity. This is because we often do not fish for them, and their large predators tend to stay away from areas where. Humans are present. 

For more information on Lion’s Mane Jellyfish visit: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/marine/jellyfish/lions-mane-jellyfish

Bald Eagles

     Bald Eagles are one of the most recognizable birds in the United States. While they do not thrive in many places in the USA, we do not have that problem here on Vashon Island. In a study conducted by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife there were a reported 840 occupied nests in the state in 2005 (Stinson Et. Al, 2007). Though their numbers are considered stable now, they were not always this strong. In the 1950’s the Bald Eagle population in Washington was completely wiped out due to a harmful chemical pesticide called DDT. Luckily, the use of DDT was banned country wide in 1973 and the population of Bald Eagles began to steadily grow. By the end of the 1980’s there were only 104 mating pairs in the state. Compare that to the 840 in 2005 and you can see how well they have bounced back. 

Photo Courtesy of Caroline Matter.

      Vashon Island is a premier location for mating bald eagles to make their large, 1,000 lbs nests. In the same study conducted by Stinson Et. Al (2007) They found that 97% of bald eagle nests were within 3,000 ft of a large body of water. This is because they are opportunity hunters who often fish in the waters around the sound. They are also known to be the bullies of the sky. Due to their large size, weighing in often around 10 lbs and boasting a 6 ft wingspan, they often steal food from other scavenging birds who do the hard work for them. It is amazing to see these birds soaring above our heads here on the island and hopefully their numbers continue to stay steady so we can experience the majesty of these birds.

For more info on the Washing Department of Fish & Wildlife’s study you can visit: https://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/10-bald-eagles

Nifty Drifty

     Along our shores there is an abundance of driftwood to be seen. In some areas, the wood has piled up to become a natural playground of sorts. Though the wood looks as if it is just sitting on our shores, it actually serves a very important purpose. Driftwood is essential for many plants and animals. Plants, just like any tree, grow plentiful on driftwood. In addition, animals use it for shelter and herons even leave eggs in the wood for protection. 

     Secondly, driftwood is essential to shaping our shorelines. As wood hits up against the shore, it naturally carves out corners and edges. This naturally reshaping of the soil is essential to maintaining the ecosystem. Driftwood is beautiful and an important aspect of our Northwest Ecosystem. 

Staring at the Sun

On a late summer’s day in the Sound one of the best activities of all is watching the sunset. When the sky is clear, our sunsets here rival those of Hawaii, California, or really anywhere warm! Many people attribute a bright sunset to man made pollution and dust, and while this is somewhat true the actual reason is a little different. 

     Our eyes will see blue and violet light more clearly because they have a shorter wavelength. Particles in the sky react to this wavelength much more readily. However, as the sun sets there is more air, and more particles, to pass through. This means that the shorter wavelength blue and violet get scattered out before reaching our eyes. Thus, the red, orange, and yellow rays push through and create the vibrant sunsets we see! This process is named scattering. 

For a more detailed description of the process, visit:  https://www.spc.noaa.gov/publications/corfidi/sunset/

One of Vashon’s Mascots

The seal density in south Puget Sound is among the highest in the world, and they are the most commonly seen marine mammal in the region. They are present year-round and most travel less than 60 miles from their birth site in their lifetime; Therefore, the seals surrounding Vashon Island are genetically distinct from those located in the northern Puget Sound and Hood Canal. They have excellent eyesight in and out of the water and their whiskers are capable of feeling vibrations in water movement to detect both predators and prey. Local seals can dive to a depth of more than 300 feet but typical dives are less than 150 feet, lasting between 4 and 6 minutes. Most hunting will occur within a few miles of their haul out site where we see them out of water. Locally pupping occurs between late June and September making for good pup watching through the summer paddling season.  

Learn more at: https://www.sealsitters.org/marine_mammals/harbor_seals.html

A Musht Know Fact

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Artist Conk (ganoderma applanatum) is a tree-growing mushroom present year round on Vashon. Several cultures, most famously the Japanese, have used this mushroom as canvas for drawing for centuries. It is not poisonous, but its woody texture keeps it from being a commonly foraged mushroom for eating. However, due to its intense mushroom flavor, it is often boiled in water to extract the flavor for cooking and it is a common ingredient in traditional Chinese medicinal products.

An artists work done on a large slice of an Artist Conk mushroom.