Getting Wild on the West Side

A popular Vashon Adventures kayaking route is up the west side of the island through the Colvos Passage. Departing from Lisabuela Park and covering roughly 8.5 miles north to the Vashon Ferry Dock, it is a great trip for those looking for a little more adventure. A variety of sea mammals have been observed including orcas, sea lions, Dall’s porpoise, harbor porpoise, river otters and seals. On this trip for 6 guests, we had a huge male California Sea Lion rise just feet from the boats before this lunch stop at Fern Cove. What a Day!

Colvos Passage notes:

1. The name Colvos was selected by Captain Charles Wilkes in 1841 during the United States Exploring Expedition to honor George Colvocoresses, a midshipman for the expedition.

2. The house at Fern Cove once belonged to Dr. Belle Baldwin, who became the first woman physician in the state in 1912.

A Ferry Tale

What is the one thing that we, on Vashon Island, have in common? Ferries. Whether they are used for your daily commute or an occasional foray into the city, we rely heavily on our ferry system. It can be frustrating when the ferries are down, but thus far we have not had it as bad as islanders at the end of 1940’s. Prior to 1948 the ferries were run through a private company, the Puget Sound Navigation Company. The company was forced into a shutdown during a strike in 1947. During the period of the strike vashonites were forced to find their own solutions for getting off of the island. This resulted in them creating their own ferry system which became the first, and only, King County Ferry District.

During the ferry district’s first year in service, the captain of the Puget Sound Navigation Company attempted to land a ship at the dock to continue providing service to Vashon Island. As he attempted to dock he was met with 25 angry vashonites equipped with pool cues, ax handles, and other tools to push the ship away from the dock.. They successfully kept his ship from being able to tie up and the Puget Sound Navigation Company never provided another ship to Vashon. This ferry district was in place for three years, and it ran with relative success. It eventually was dissolved in 1951 when the State of Washington created their own ferry system, which is still the same system we use today. Ironically, they provided service to Vashon using ships they bought from the Puget Sound Navigation Company. 

For a more detailed account of the Vashon ferry debacle visit: https://historylink.org/File/3731

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

Dockton Docks

One of our favorite spots on the Island, Dockton Park offers an amazing place to have a picnic with the family or get your toes wet in Quartermaster Harbor. However, did you know that it used to be far less peaceful than it is now? Just down the way from where the dock is now, Quartermaster Harbor was home to one of the largest dry docks in all of the Puget Sound. The dry dock was 325 feet by 102 feet and was able to carry and hold multiple large ships at once. Though built and housed in the harbor since 1892, it eventually was moved to Seattle in 1909.

     At the same time, the Martinolich Shipping Company was building boats in Dockton. Their company started operations in Dockton in 1905m, and they were one of the largest employers for Island men at the time. They built and launched many ships successfully, but one of the most famous stories on Vashon was of one of their failed launches. After construction, they launched a boat by the name of Florence J. Almost immediately the ship tipped over and sank into the water. Though the boat was recovered, the story still lives on. The company eventually ceased operations in Dockton in 1929, but they continued making boats elsewhere until 1974. 

List of boats made by the Martinolich Shipbuilding Company: 

• http://shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/small/martinolich.htm

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/

Sea Star Wasting Disease

One of the most talked about issues in the Puget Sound, and along all of the West Coast, is the phenomenon of sea star wasting disease. The current die off of sea stars was first recorded in 2013, and by the end of 2014 an estimated 80% of purple sea stars had died along the Oregon coast and into Washington. The actual cause of the disease is still largely speculation; However, the two likely causes are a sea star related densovirus and/or the warming ocean temperatures around the globe. Sea star wasting disease takes hold of it’s host and moves rapidly. The disease begins by causing lesions and tissue decay of the sea star’s ectoderm. This eventually leads the arms separating from the main body of the sea star. This process can takes only a few days to occur, meaning that the number of sea stars rapidly decrease when exposed to it.

It should be noted that similar die offs have occurred in the past. Though none of them were as lethal as this one has been, This shows that there is potential for the sea stars to make a rapid comeback. Furthermore, In the past few years there has been a notable amount of juvenile sea stars appearing which is a good sign for the future.

For more information about sea star wasting disease you can visit these links:

• https://marine.ucsc.edu/data-products/sea-star-wasting/

• https://www.oregonocean.info/index.php/sea-star-wasting-disease

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