Front Porch: Gray whales spotted at Mission Beach

Published 10:45 pm Monday, February 23, 2009

Maxine Reid and Jerry Solie had a pleasant surprise this past weekend. They were at Mission Beach in Marysville and spotted a gray whale.

“I saw a gray whale by Hat Island,” Solie said. “I saw the spout and also the whale on the surface.”

This appearance of a gray whale in local waters is a little earlier than in past years, he said.

A Pilchuck Audubon Society birdseed sale is coming up, so place an order before March 16 by calling Art Wait at 360-563-0181.

Choose from black Russian sunflower, a wild birdseed mix, a patio mix, Nijer thistle, sunflowers and more.

Pick up orders in Snohomish on March 20 or in Everett on March 21.

WSU Beach Watchers are needed to protect Puget Sound. Classes and field trips cover geology, forestry, birds, marine biology, water quality topics, climate-change science, tribal and farming history, noxious weeds, native plants, salmon, shoreline regulations, intertidal organisms, and more.

You don’t have to live on a beach, or even have beach access, to become a WSU Beach Watcher.

Training begins at 4 p.m. March 24 in south Everett.

Beach Watchers volunteer 100 hours over two years. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Monday.

For more information, visit www.beachwatchers.wsu.edu or contact Chrys Bertolotto at 425-357-6020 or chrys@wsu.edu.