By: Caroline

A beautiful day again and they are off with binoculars and notebooks in hand to do a bird and mammal count aboard the inter-island ferry that cruises between San Juan, Shaw, Orcas, and Lopez islands. Participants used methods developed by the Pelagic Ecosystem Function apprenticeship taught each fall at UW-FHL to identify and quantify birds and mammals along the “transect” run by the ferry.

Bird and Mammals Survey Timelapse

After their return, participants worked for several hours on their project development and management skills, reexamining their storyboard for their shared photo project on the creatures of the intertidal zone. The good news with digital photography is that you get a lot of great shots. The bad news? You end up with a lot of pictures!

After a great deal of sorting and discussion, the crew narrowed down the point of view of the shots they were looking for, the scope of the project, and identified key tasks and individuals to work on the script, sequencing, and music. It was fun that everyone had an iPad to work with! Thank you UW Friday Harbor Laboratories for sharing your equipment for this project!

At 4:30pm we were each allocated funds to cover food and rides… It’s off to the San Juan County Fair! Bunny races, livestock, amazing frisbee catching dogs, agricultural products, fire safety, a booth for Spring Street International School (!), a food court full of world flavors as well as homemade pie and elephant ears… Good fun. A favorite is the annual Trashon Fashion show in which islanders of all ages create and model trash-based clothing highlighting the benefits of recycling!

Will’s apples won First Prize!