April 28th - May 4th 2014

By -

Daily Low Tides

Monday, April 28th
-0.6 @ 6:49 AM

Tuesday, April 29th - Shift canceled due to truck being in the shop
-0.8 @ 7:34 AM

Wednesday, April 30th
-0.8 @ 8:17 AM

Thursday, May 1st
-0.7 @ 8:58 AM

Friday, May 2nd
-0.4 @ 9:38 AM

Saturday, May 3rd
0.0' @ 10:18 AM

Sunday, May 4th
0.4' @ 11:00 AM


Notes from the week

Good negative low tides in the early morning usually means lots of school groups scheduled to visit Haystack Rock, and this week was no exception. Staff and volunteers provided educational programs on tide pool ecology, biodiversity, adaptations, bird life, and much more for six groups throughout the week. Thankfully the weather on those days was sunny with little wind, but as the end of the week approached the clouds, rain and wind returned. We and our highest visitor count on Friday, with 56 people in the intertidal at one time during the shift

The Twelve Days of Earth Day celebration wrapped-up Monday evening with a closing ceremony featuring the documentary Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time. We're already looking forward to next years festivities!


Creature Highlights

Birds
  • Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) - Adults and a juvenile were spotted hunting the cliffs and area surrounding Haystack Rock this week, though we didn't see any birds taken as prey. *Exciting News* Two adults were seen mating on top of Haystack Rock!
  • Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala) - seen throughout the week on the North side of the rock amongst the boulders.
  • Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)
  • Western Gull (Larus occidentalis) - observed a pair mating.
  • Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani)
Mammals
  • Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) - seen in the water
     Marine mammals are seen occasionally in the water around Haystack Rock. They are not a common sight like at other off shore islands around the state because the Rock is not a good haul out area. This time of year you may observe seal pups on the beach, though. It is important to remember that this is normal behavior. The mother leaves the pup on the beach while she is foraging for food at sea. Seals are shy animals and may not return to their pups if there is a lot of human activity around the young animal. Please make sure to give pups lots of space and do not disturb them. If you're not sure if an animal is stranded or believe an animal is in danger, contact the Marine Mammal Stranding Network at (503) 728 - 6211 or the Oregon State Police.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Nudibranchs in the Tidepools

By -
Image
Nudibranchs, also referred to as sea slugs, can frequently be spotted in the tidepools at Haystack Rock. There are many species of nudibranch, most having outstanding markings and colors. The nudibranch feed on bryozoans, hydroids and sponges and it's color can be changed by the food it eats.   The nudibranch has a pair of sensory projections on their head, called rhinophores, which allow them to smell and taste. Virtually all nudibranchs have some form of eyes but they are not well developed and in most cases are little more than a pigment spot in the head near the rhinophores.  The nudibranch breathes through gill projections which extract oxygen from the seawater. The Pacific Northwest has more than 200 species of nudibranchs. The Opalescent Nudibranch ( Hermissenda crassicornis ) could be called 'showy'. It is found from Alaska to Baja, California and can grow to two inches in size. At Haystack Rock, it can be found in the sandy bottom of a tidepool. It is slender wit...
Read more

What Is That Foam?

By -
Image
Visitors to Haystack Rock were recently greeted with an intertidal covered with a brownish foam and, naturally, asked 'What is That Foam?' The foam has been prevalent up and down the north Oregon coast during the last week, evident both in the surf, on the beaches and in the intertidal zone. Sea Foam on Cannon Beach, Spring 2014 Photo Courtesy of Carolyn Propst The foam is not pollution but is created by microscopic phytoplankton. Phytoplankton are one-celled organisms that are at the bottom of the ocean's food chain. Diatoms are the most common form of phytoplankton on the north Oregon Coast. The phytoplanktons contain a fatty-like material, called cytoplasm, that holds them together. When the phytoplanktons die, the cytoplasm 'glue' the individual skeletons together. This creates layers that trap air within the ocean water, increasing the surface tension and creating the bubbles. When there are a lot of phytoplankton more of them die creating even more ...
Read more