Indian Island: birds, beaches and marine science at the Tides of March

Submitted by Kwiaht.

Where did the giant sunflower stars go? Are “red tides” growing more frequent? Do forage fish spawn in Fishing Bay? What birds nest there?

These and many more questions will be addressed as Kwiaht celebrates 17 years of science and stewardship at Indian Island with this year’s Tides of March marine science event at the Episcopal Parish Hall, Saturday afternoon March 15, from 3:30- 5:30 pm. Attendance is free and family-friendly, as always.

This year’s event adopts a special focus on birds, with a slideshow presentation by Orcas artist and ornithologist Kim Middleton on “Birds in the Indian Island ecosystem.”

The island’s rare, sensitive black oystercatchers are not the only birds that rely annually on Fishing Bay for feeding and nesting. “Sea ducks,” cormorants, loons and gulls, osprey and bald eagles, herons and “hummers” and swallows make Indian Island their summer home. Birds feed, fertilize and re-seed the island, contributing to the ecology of its beaches, tide pools, eelgrasses and wildflower meadows.

This year’s program also includes Kwiaht’s annual ecosystem-health monitoring report for Indian Island and Fishing Bay, as well as a unique underwater video of a “deep dive” into the island’s south reef: a realm of giant octopus, schools of iridescent squid, sunflower sea stars and dainty sea slugs that are rarely seen above the tides. Refreshments will be served with a buffet of music and songs by Sharon Abreu and Michael Hurwicz.

One goal of this year’s event, according to Kwiaht director Russel Barsh, will be recruiting additional volunteer docents to help communicate with thousands of summer minus-tide visitors to Indian Island. Docents also get to count and measure fish, dig clams, check nesting birds and hunt for hidden sea stars!

Bring your own marine science questions to the March 15 event, and consider joining the Indian Island stewardship team for a summer of practical, hands-on science on the beach.

More event details at info@kwiah.

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