Beam Reach

CWR!!

I would like to start this entry by stating that I would like to give Ken Balcomb a hug and say *Thank You* for your 30 years of legwork, figuring out all these little details about the whales so that I get to ask a more interesting question for my Beam Reach project (as well as for the rest of what will become my lifelong research).
But before I get too far ahead of myself…
Yesterday, was Packed! Classes involving math, caused a brain shut down in the AM – been a while since that happened. It’s the management math I had to do for wildlife bio, so I know I can do it, it’s just a matter working slowly and practice. Anywhoo, guest that afternoon was Bob Francis. Interesting lecture about Sustainability. Sustainability is one of those fascinating and immensely frustrating topics that get my jaded self all pissed off and disgusted at the egocentricity of Humanity.
Dinner was lovely, we all cooked – Val and Leslie brought salad, Donna made zucchini lasanga, I made garlic bread (cheesy and regular) and Erin made Apple crisp! The chatter round the table fun interesting and thought provoking. It was nice, and made me miss folks…

Today we went to the Center for Whale Research, and that was pretty darn nifty. They have an absolutely superb system for doing thier photo ID on the computers… I need to really start working on learning these whales… Ken Balcomb gave us a bit of the history of it all,and that was really nice, because he filled in the gaps I had in the USA side of my knowledge (since I’ve always focused on the Northern residents). I’d love to sit down and really chat with him at some point, so hopefully we’ll get another chance to hang out over there.

okie dokie, well that’s about it. Night all! pics soon!
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a little update

So I’m new at this blogging thing so bear with me. We’ve been here now for a week and I still like it! We’ve had gorgeous weather, only one cloudy day and no rain. This weekend was our first real chance to have some time to ourselves.

I spent a few hours Saturday wandering around downtown Friday Harbor. It’s a nice little town, similar to Bar Harbor in the types of shops just on a smaller scale. I was good and didn’t spend too much money. I did find a store that could prove dangerous, King’s Marine and Outdoors store, it has everything from crab traps to nautical charts, to nice patagonia long underwear. They had some nice kayaks for sale and all kinds of cool kayak gear. Not to mention all of the neat books about boats and navigating and local wildlife. I limited myself and bought only a crazy creek camp chair which I’ve been wanting for awhile and it was on sale so I figured what the heck it might be nice to have on the boat.

After returning from town I worked a bit on my proposal and then Colleen, Emily and I went out for dinner. We walked into town and ate at Dos Diablos, it wasn’t the best mexican food but it was fun. Sunday was spent working and procrastinating (which I am very good at). I finished a bit after 8pm just in time to join my classmates for a movie over at G cottage. We borrowed the class LCD projector and hooked that up to a computer and projected it onto a sheet on the wall. It worked great and was much better than all trying to crowd around a single computer screen.

Even in just this first week we have had some great speakers. We had Kari Koski who works with a group called Soundwatch. They go out on the water anytime the whales are around and monitor how well boats follow the “Be Whale Wise” guidelines. If they see a boat that is not they will go over and explain the guidelines to them and give them a brochure that outlines them, it is a really neat program and she offered a different perspective on some of the issues.

On Thursday night (I think) we went and heard John Stern speak about his work. He is the minke whale go to guy and since baleen whales are near and dear to my heart I enjoyed his talk. He’s a funny guy and he knows his stuff. The talk was at the house being rented by the Center for Whale Research for their earthwatch volunteers. It is pretty much at the top and maybe even part way down the other side of Dallas Mtn. It had an amazing view and the sunset was spectacular. The house looks out over Haro Straight and Vancouver Island. It was a fun, casual forum and I learned quite a bit about the rather skittish Minke.

We all handed in our rough drafts of our proposals this morning so that feels good. For me that is the hardest part, getting that initial stuff on paper. Well class starts again in about 5 min. so I suppose I better get ready. This afternoon we are having a guest speaker, Bob Francis who is going to talk about marine sustainability and then he will guide our journal club discussion tomorrow.

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Week 1

It is hard to believe that I have already been here at the Friday Harbor Labs for a full week! This is the first entry and a lot has happened so here goes…

Arriving here was crazy! I got up 3 am east coat time on about 4 hours of sleep (my moms 50th birthday surprise party was the day before) hopped on a plane, a shuttle, a ferry, and a taxi. Once I had arrived sweaty, tired and nervous I got to meet the people I would be spending the next 10 weeks with, what a wonderful chance to make a good first impression… everything went fine. The next days were filled with logistics of the program, getting to know one another, introductory lectures, and tours of the Island. We went to Lime Kiln state park on the west side, heard the whales were coming saw them about a mile out and then they turned around. So we saw them but only as small fins through binoculars. We went to meet Val and his wife Leslie where we got a nice intro to some equipment and current research on the orcas as well as a treat of homemade berry muffins. While there Fred Felleman stopped by and talked to us about the political side of the orcas. It was great to have his perspective and learn some about the role of NGO’s, individuals, and policy in conservation efforts. Another speaker we went to go see was John Stern. After driving up a road I thought would never end, we arrived at a beautiful house just in time for sunset. Dr. Stern was giving a talk to an EarthWatch crew and we tagged along. He is ‘the’ minke whale man as well as quite a character so it was a wonderful trip. Kari Koski the director of Soundwatch came and gave a presentation to us which gave me some more insight into the human impact / boat traffic that could be affecting the whales and ultimately influenced me to change my project to focus more on that topic (as of now I am looking at the masking affect of underwater sounds created by vessel traffic on orca communication). On Friday we did our swim test, and while many of us were dreading having to jump into the cold cold water, it was a sunny 78 degrees outside, so it was rather refreshing (but still chilly enough to make sure and stay out of the water while on the boat). Other non-academic events have been going to see a local production of “The Merchant of Venice”, walking to town, visiting the Whale Museum, going out to a Mexican restaurant for dinner, and having a group viewing of Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

All and all it has been a very exciting and rewarding week. Being in such a beautiful location with a great opportunity to learn even more than I already have… I cant wait for the next 9 weeks.

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Eccentricities.

So ok, this is the only update *actually* from 8/27. Updates abound!,br>

So ok, I *did* see my first orcas at Lime Kiln! Unfortunately the were so far off that they were tiny in my binocs, and it doesnt feel real. So until I can get a recognizable picture, I dont think I’m going to officially count the experience :). Despite the fact that the whales were far off, I saw a couple really cute ducks, two GBHerons, few harbor seals among the kelp (which is quite nifty) and eating fish, as well as a couple harbor porpoises and possibly some Dall’s porpoises! The Dalls I’m also waiting to make official though, haha.
So lets see… this program is intense! We’re in class by 8:30 am, and doneish around 5pm – and even with the couple hours of breaks in between, I’m exhausted and ready to pass out by 10:30pm! The first drfat of our research proposal is due Monday (yes, tomorrow) and I’m feeling good about mine. I’ve already started jotting down some ideas for how I want to collect data and my experimental design and whatnot. multiple hypothesis, null hyp… etc. Whoohoo! <3!
We’ve been meeting some “real live scientist folk” and of course, that’s been cool. Val’s got some pretty cool stuff going on, with his hydrophones and vocalization anylization programs and such – and they’re about to bring Raven into the mix, which will be nice since I’m a little familiar with it.
One of the absolute highlights so far though has really been the evening with John Stern at the temp home of the Center for Whale Research! John was giving his talk on Mikes and he’s really an authority on the topic. I should start by prefacing with the fact that this evening was in a house up and part of the way back down a mountain. But it looked down into the waters of Haro Strait on the west side and across to Vancouver Island… so it was worth the drive. So, the evening was set in this very quirky eclectic house, full of weathered and renoun scientists like Ken Balcombthis alone made my night. I felt like I’d walked into one of Alexandra Mortons stories about the scientist’s frequent gatherings where they all sat down and discussed their work. John is quite eccentric, and it was wonderful watching his presentation. He got very excited about Random walks and Levy’s in the foraging pattern of Mikes, and I have to admit, despite the mathi-ness, it was quite cool. Before we left I got a great DVD/CD with pics, video, id charts and Vocalizations of the S. Res. I can’t wait to start memorizing and becoming familiar with it all. I really hope we have more evenings like this!
Lets see. other news. We’ve started preping meals for each other, and I had the first night. I made Chichen, broccoli, mushroom, fettucini alfredo, and it was very yummy. One of the best I’ve made in a while. (note to self – buy some basil flavored olive oil when you get home). Friday night Emily and Rena made a veggie stir fry with rice and that was delicious too.
Friday we had our rowing orientation and our swim test – we got to dive into nice wram 54 degree water! It was cold, but luckily not as bad as we’d all ramped it up to be, although you wont find me diving back in anytime soon unless I’m in my 5mil suit. There was a harbor seal actually swiming around about 30yards away, and I was kinda hoping he’d come over, but that’s because I’m too foolish to know better.
Friday night was also a really great time – we went to see a free production of Shakespeares’ Merchant of Venice. Apparently, his most controvercial play due to the antisemtic aspects that resound through it. The troupe decided to act it, in a statement of the current state of the world, and the hate that is so rampant (against all religions, races etc). It was very well acted and I enjoyed it thouroughly, probably moreso than I would have it I had read it prior, because then I would not have likely interpreted it the way I did with their preface.
Lastly, yesterday I spent in town. Donna, Rena and I went food shopping, but first we stopped at a farmers market where I had a absolutely delicious Lavender Limeade. After food shopping Rena and I went to the whale musesum (where I bough more orca vocalizations cds, but this time of the N. res) and then went our seperate ways around town. I think I covered most of it, and I found some really neat stores and some lovely galleries which I’ll have to bring my parents to when they come at the end of the program. I had lunch at a great restraunt called Downriggers, shrimp scampi with cheesy garlic bread and a glass of local white zinfandel. Very good, although the wine was a little strong for my taste – but hey, I’m new to white wine. Bought some stunning yarn after than and walked home soon after – picking blackberries along the way. The island is COVERED with blackberries. I picked at least a pound of them and they were wicked good. it’s only about a 20min walk to the labs, which is very nice. I got home and knit up the skein of yarn I bought – it was brilliant, looked like it had litterally been sheared, spun and dyed it was a great mix of very yarn wooly yarn and soft silky locks… it also required size 35needles, but that let me get two squares out of ~34yrds – and then started working on my proposal. I’ve got to finish that up today and then I supose that’ll get posted on the beam reach page… haha.

Ok, hopefully this will be the last riddiculously long (and random) entry :). Bye all!

August 20th, 2006 – San Juan Island

Check in was today, but I’m ahead of myself.
Washington was incredible, beautiful land, water, air, weather, wildlife, people… I love it here. Spent Friday hanging around with Sandy – shopping for my faboo binocs, and other essentials, and dinner at the mouth watering Lobster Pot – where I had the best salmon I have ever tasted. yummmm!Saturday we drove to Belling ham to chill with Suzie – farmers market (and the biggest blackberries I’ve ever seen), yarn stores, and other fun shops. Sunday we were up at the friggin crack of dawn so we could catch the Anacortes ferry to Friday Harbor.
The ferry over was great, so stunning and so peaceful. San Juan Island and Friday Harbor are lovely, the town is so Adorable! We (Sandy, Suzi, Sebastian & I) shopped around a bit and enjoyed some lunch. So nice :).
So back to check in. I’ve got my own room, and it faces the water. nuf said. The two girls I’m living with -Erin from NH (and a SEA sailor who’s also been on Westward!) and Emily from PA are both nice and fun to chat with. The other girls, Rena from LA (who studies owls and can do calls), Peggy from WA (as crazy as me when it comes to orcas!), and Colleen from CO are also cool. My fears about a program of all girls were rapidly calmed. Our main instructors, Jason and Donna seem great too.
I’m so psyched – we’re oing to Lime Kiln tomorrow to hike around a bit – should be loads of fun. I really hope some whales pass close to shore – I’m giddy to see an orca!! Oh my goodness. well I’ll leave you on a cheerful note: I’m pooped and have a headache! (but in a good way!) Time for bed! orca <3! 🙂

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Thoughts on the plane… (different, luckily, from snakes)

8/18/06
So here I am. Flying hundreds of miles an hour towards my new life, figuratively and litterally. We took off through a haze which broke upon the backs of clouds like ice fields into a streak of orange dawn. We raced time and won by an hour, the city of Chicago, shrouded in mist and smog, rose like a castle through gray clouds. We shot back into the sky through a mornign as dark as the dawn I’d left behind and sailed on the wind across to the west guiding the way for the sun to follow. I passed over dry earth cracked and splintered by mountains splattered with snow, and over checkerboard and polka dot fields. The mist above the mountains was opalescent blue and the aura gave the scene a calming power. roads racing through the mountains echoed a topography map – though none seemed to lead to the cities nestled in the valleys…

It is a curious thing, taking these steps. Feeling so ready as I move into the unknown. I know I must exceed the greatest of my expectations.

100 miles out from Seattle two mountains spyhopped above the clouds, showing thier white sides and black edging. Welcome to your new home, welcome to Washington.

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Thoughts on the first week

Scott’s second baby of the month is born and thriving. Cora was born on August 10th and is such a sweet little baby! And now, Beam Reach is one week old and seems also to be vital and thriving. Congratulations, Scott.

And congratulations to Jason and Donna for such elegant and successful directing of this first week of Beam Reach.

Beam Reachers! I sense your energy and drive — it just exudes. You are launched into a unique intellectual and experiential adventure.
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My new life

I spoke with my mom last night for the first time since arriving on the island (minus the imperative ‘yes Mom, I made it and I’m alive’ calls) and her first question was, “So how’s your new life?” After just about a week here on San Juan Island as part of the Beam Reach program, I’m ready to answer that question.

I arrived last Sunday quite exhausted after a whirlwind of a summer and hit the ground running. Monday we spent the day at Lime Kiln Park, one of the best onshore areas in which to view the killer whales that forage along the west coast of San Juan Islands-no whales though, just a few harbor seals, porpoises, and an introduction to the hydrophone system set up at the lighthouse. The rest of Monday and Tuesday were filled with numerous orientations to the Friday Harbor Laboratories and Beam Reach. Wednesday the introductions continued with Dr. Val Veirs, some of his research, his equipment, and his lovely home. While devouring scrumptious homemade muffins by Leslie Veirs, we listened to Fred Felleman, an island local, past killer whale researcher, and adamant whale activist. As the week progressed we focused a bit more on academics, covering concepts of acoustics, resident foraging strategies and prey types, the SoundWatch program, Donna’s research on spatial patterns in southern residents and Jason’s research on African Elephants. From this new information and our own independent research, we’ve all finally decided on a direction for our own research projects.

My priorities for the project were to develop a feasible proposal, incorporate some form of behavior related to the southern residents’ complex and stable social structure, and learn a new technical skill in marine mammal research. After throwing around an number of viable ideas, I’ve decided to compare the unique and stereotyped pulsed calls and tonal whistles to the surface behavior and group spread of the southern residents. In dolphins, whistles are predominantly used in long-range communication to facilitate group cohesion whereas in the northern residents whistles are used in close-range social contact. I’m hoping to be able to detect a difference in call type with respect to behavior.

This weekend we are responsible for developing a rough draft for our proposed projects. Last night we took a break and watched The Merchant of Venice production by the local Shakespearean troupe, and I’ve worked on it a bit today, but also took the opportunity to enjoy the glorious weather and walk into the town of Friday Harbor to pay a visit to the Whale Museum, the local ice cream parlor, and a few little shops along the water. Maybe this evening I’ll take a run along the fire trail and settle down to watch a movie with my classmates.

So this is my new life, living in Friday Harbor, learning the ins and outs of the southern resident killer whales, acoustics, and the Beam Reach program. The next two weeks will be similar-a few classes on research methods and statistics, more introductions to other researchers and organizations on the island, and further development of our research proposals…wish me luck!

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Swim Test

Well today was the day and we all new it was coming: The Swim Test. We first learned how totie some knots, which let me add I am not so good. I got only one of the four or five down pack. Erin is great since she was living on a sail boat for a semester. I think I will stay around her when it’s time to learn again. We then had a little rowing adventure by the dock’s side. Out to a piling and back was the extent of our adventure. Colleen was my partner in the boat and I felt bad for her because I was no good at that either. I didn’t suck, but rather needed a huge improvement. Ok here it comes the swim test. I had first walked out there with my heavy Monterey Bay reversible fleece jacket so I could get nice and hot, then the water would look inviting. Nah! The water still looked cold.

After walking around the dock trying to find a good place to jump off of we found some ladders we could swim to and get out of the freezing cold water. Val and Leslie had joined us and we were very excited to see that Val was going to get in with us. Then I was shocked to see him jump in first. Jason was second to jump in and they were floating around acting like the water was anything but cold (Val was more convincing than Jason). We eventually all went in. Donna and i were the last ones and she suggested we go in at the same time. I had to do it or else I was going to just stand there and stare and the water. Well no one screamed after they jumped in except me. No one heard me since it was underwater and I swallowed a whole chunk of salty sea water and probably some oil from the boats docked there. I raced Donna to the ladder so to get out of the freezing cold waterfirst. Luckily it was a nice 78 degrees and once we climbed the ladder it was warm. Leslie got some pretty get pictures and I can’t wait to see them up on the blogbook.
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Pics

here are a quick glimpse into the area I am at, now can you see how beautiful it is. I hope to add great orca pics real soon.

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