Habituated

I waded through numerous flocks of
birds on Ocean Park beach, this one
made up primarily of Caspian Terns
and Heermann's Gulls (darker) 

I enjoyed watching a pair of Lesser Yellowlegs while
hanging out near a tide pool

The nice weather this afternoon allowed me to visit some of the COASST beaches along the Long Beach Peninsula (WA) to get a sense of the places where these folks survey. Making my way through the long and flat beaches (they aren’t kidding when they say LONG beach), I waded through several impressive gatherings of birds. I’m still getting used to the, shall I say, unpleasant squawk of the Caspian Tern, although they are beautiful birds. After finding a little tide pool, I sat and watched two Lesser Yellowlegs searching for food in the shallow water.  And then I caught myself scanning the sand for any feathers, unusual looking lumps, or out-of-place patches of color. Oh boy, could it be that as I’ve joined several surveys over the past few weeks the COASST mentality is slowing taking hold? Have I become habituated to scan the beach for post-mortem material? Kathleen would be proud!

I'm not sure what this is - but it definitely isn't alive

Ahhaaa! And there it was – a dead bird lying off in the distance on the sand.  Rushing over like a kid in a candy store (I know, not the best metaphor…), I studied the bird with my eyes while taking several photographs. Had I been on an official COASST survey I could have utilized the program tools provided to figure out exactly what this bird was and note its location. I had to wonder what it was, how it got there, and what had happened to it. A strong sense of curiosity takes over when you encounter these birds, something I’ve heard about quite a bit as I’ve visited with COASST members. Today, anyway, I had to leave with little answers – hoping that soon a resident COASSTer would find this bird again and do what they do best – fill in a small but significant part of a much larger puzzle.

Turtle Haven

You can even find
turtles in Susan's yard!

This beautiful piece of embroidery
is one of hundreds of turtles Susan
has collected over many years.

I was fortunate enough to meet a kindred spirit this morning in Ocean Park (WA) COASSTer Susan who shares not only an interest in birds, but of turtles too! I’ve always been drawn to turtles, so much so that I have a tattoo to denote their significance.  Boy was I amazed to see the truly incredible collection of turtles Susan has amassed over many years of collecting. They cover every nook and cranny of her home, totaling well into the hundreds.  But turtles aren’t the only thing Susan has collected over the years. Having volunteered with COASST now for over a decade, she recently surpassed 1400 birds that she has processed for the program. And the numbers continue to climb. Then I remember that Susan is just one of over 800 volunteers across four states. I continue to be amazed at the impressive stats of COASST volunteers, especially when I think of just how valuable that data is as a whole. 

Some of Susan's favorite turtles are those that are hand-made, like this one crafted by her grandson.

Extended Reach

Group of Caspian Terns on Long Beach, WA

There is no doubt that birds like this Caspian Tern
benefit from COASST work. But these guys
are among a wide community of benefactors

By now it is no secret that I’m a bird guy. I’m fascinated by them, inspired by them and enjoy learning more about them. Consequently, I’m definitely interested in the many ways that COASST supports and extends research about birds. However, meeting with Long Beach (WA) COASSTer Paul today reminded me that the information collected and analyzed by the COASST program has benefit and value for many other segments of the coastal community. Paul has an impressive background in fisheries research and management (of all types) on both the east and west coasts and knows the importance of water quality for the industry. He has seen the damage caused by bacteria, disease, and invasive species and understands how high the stakes are when it comes to such threats. Any indicator of water quality is of great significance for these industries. Still connected to the fisheries community, and the people and livelihoods it supports, Paul is a big believer in the services provided by the scientific community (both vocational and avocational types) by maintaining consistent environmental monitoring protocols, whether that involves invasive species surveys, bacterial epidemiology studies, or picking up dead sea birds to evaluate trends and identify problems. Every piece helps keep a pulse on the health of the ecosystems that our communities rely on.  Being a part of COASST is one way for Paul to contribute to that process, a process that reaches far beyond what I imagined.

All Things Connected

Kathleen and her daughter Beth process a Common Murre
during their July survey of Marine View Drive, a survey I
was delighted to be able to join

I wrote not long ago that, for many COASSTers, participation in the program is as much about the live birds they see as the dead ones.  Turns out, the connections people make with other members of our own species is pretty significant too! Conducting several interviews in Ocean Shores, WA today, I quickly found that when it comes to COASSTers in this area, all things are connected. It all started when Kathleen and her late husband joined COASST as founding members many years ago. Kathleen would later recruit Dianna (whose father was a prominent leader in the area years prior) as well as Barbara and Mike, who kept expanding the circle by recruiting friends Don and Dalene (see a post about these two here). There are indeed many more connections here, but I ran out of time to meet them all in one day! Rest assured, however, Kathleen hasn’t stopped her recruitment efforts, she darn near convinced me to move up and join the program myself! Remarkably, every one of these great and committed people used one word consistently today: family. As I discovered in my conversations, COASST is much more than a monthly commitment to survey the beach, however important that may be. Although significant, COASST is more than the birds and the top-notch research and even the beaches themselves. At the end of the day, COASST is also about family.  COASSTer to COASSTer, COASSTer to COASST staff, and COASST (the program) in the community. A collection of folks, strung from the far reaches of Alaska to the warm beaches of California, that share a common purpose, commitment, and yes, even kinship.

Hand-written notes like this one
from COASST staff, congratulating
Barbara and Mike on the completion
of over 130 surveys, are part of what
keeps the COASST family strong

COASST family members like Dianna are active throughout
the communities where they live. Dianna organizes the annual
Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival, coming up April 24-27 2014

Was it a Knot, or not?

Well camouflaged among the dark seaweed along the shore,
this Red Knot was finding all sorts of small invertebrates
among the sandy beaches at Damon Point.

Happened upon another odd bird sighting today that made me question my ID skills once again. Out at Damon Point (Ocean Shores, WA) once more I found a Red Knot searching for food along the shore. Like the Brant, these birds breed and nest in the high arctic, with both eastern and western populations overwintering on the Atlantic coast and along western Mexico. Red Knots will stop over here in larger numbers later in August, but that doesn’t usually happen for another several weeks. Perhaps this little fellow wanted to get a head-start on migration to scope out the best places to find refuge in the winter months. As you can see by my picture, they are well adapted to camouflage among the reddish-colored seaweed along the shore.  I’m glad this Knot was alive, but had it been dead, and had I been on a COASST survey, I would have had my trusty backpack with me, filled with all sorts of really impressive materials that I would have used to walk me through the identification process. Red Knots might easily be confused with other similar sandpipers by sight, but once you measure carefully the wing, bill, and examine the feet of this species, all pieces of the COASST protocol, you’ve got a much more detailed and precise identification.  I’ve been able to see some of the literature and protocols COASSTers use on several surveys now, and I have to say that this material is top notch! I consistently hear from COASSTers how much they appreciate the quality of these resources and after wandering the coasts in search of birds the past couple of days, I can see how such information is an invaluable asset in the quest to collect consistent, reliable, and high quality data.

Exploration: Backyard Style

The Brown Pelican, like these found among a flock of Heermann's
Gulls at Damon Point in Ocean Shores, is a great example
of a bird you aren't going to see unless you're on the outer coast

I spoke with south WA COASSTer Bonnie this morning who travels a good ninety miles from her home to her survey site on the outer coast of Washington every month. Although her interest in birds extends beyond her participation in the program, one of the most compelling reasons for Bonnie to sign up for the citizen science effort was because it would allow her to explore her own “backyard” so to speak. Living inland, COASST provided a reason for Bonnie to make the trek to the outer coast at least once a month, inviting the exploration of a nearby habitat that likely would not have been regularly frequented otherwise. Exploring this neighboring wonder has exposed Bonnie to a host of exciting encounters, including the opportunity to see Black-Footed Albatross, Rhinoceros Auklets, and Tufted Puffins up close. The likelihood of seeing these pelagic birds inland is pretty near zero (at least in the wild). Such a great reminder that there is so much to see and do around us if we take the time to look for it!

Unexpected Sighting

Damon Point is a neat spot as it
allows a perspective of both the
Pacific Ocean and North Bay

My schedule and the weather afforded me the opportunity to walk along nearly four miles of the Damon Point area of Ocean Shores, WA today. Damon Point was once an island that has since grown into a spit thanks to sand accretion (the opposite of erosion). It is one of the best places to view wildlife at Ocean Shores because it is relative isolated and no vehicles are allowed on the beach.  It was cool (low 60s) and windy, but this Important Bird Area didn’t disappoint. At any given time, I could see dozens (I counted 32 at one spot) of Brown Pelican, each with a posse of Heermann’s Gulls chasing behind in hopes of stealing a morsel of fish. Heermann’s Gulls alone are reason enough to come out. Breeding off the coast of Mexico, these birds visit this part of the northwest only after they have finished fledging young (or following a failed attempt), and generally for just a few weeks of the year.

If I were back home, I'd expect any flock of soaring
birds above to be in the vulture family. Here, however,
this flock is primarily comprised of Brown Pelicans

Three Glaucus-winged Gulls
decided to hang out while I rested

An unexpected, lone Black Brant Goose. This bird appears to
be an adult (no buffy wing tips, white sides and full collar)
that has already started to molt.

And then, while taking a brief rest on a piece of driftwood, I noticed some slight movement in the sand above me. I was shocked to turn around and see a Black Brant Goose! I’d never seen one in person and certainly didn’t expect them at this location in late July. The Brant is a small sea goose, surviving mostly on eelgrass found in estuaries and bays.  Unless something is really off, you won’t find these birds away from salt water. Breeding in the high arctic region of Canada, a subgroup of these geese travel to the north- and mid-Atlantic coast to winter, while another group travels along the pacific flyway to Baja, Mexico. Once considered distinct sub-species, the two groups do have unique color patterns - the eastern type demonstrating a light chest, while the western type sports a much darker chest and belly. I hopped on ebird to see how uncommon it was to see this species here at this time of year. Turns out, sightings aren't very frequent in the summer. There have been a few sightings of just a few birds in the June-July time range before, but only a handful. I felt even better about my identification after noticing a recent ebird submission from yesterday at a location just down the road, where two Brant Geese were reported. Perhaps this was one of the two? What a lucky day! 

Heightened Awareness

Ocean Shores (WA) COASSTers Don and Dalene are what I would consider to be ‘uber-volunteers’.  After retirement, they set out immediately to invest in multiple community organizations, engaging in projects they had always appreciated, but never had the time to entertain.   Happening upon COASST via volunteer colleagues, they jumped right in, being assigned one of the more active (in terms of dead birds) beaches in the area (South Taurus). Although Don and Dalene had taken an interest in birds when they first started sailing many years ago, the regular interactions with the coastal environment that are part of the program have opened up even more knowledge and awareness of the natural world. Now, they are tuned in like never before. Don shared of a recent experience on the water where a pair of Peregrine Falcons and their chicks were congregated nearby, the adults engaged in aerial antics, all the while folks passing by unaware of these magical birds in broad daylight.

Beaches in this part of Washington, like this one in the
southern part of the state, flatten out considerably
compared to their northern counterparts. Reminds me much
more of the beaches back home on the East Coast.

Dalene noted a habit she has acquired recently of catching the song of a passing bird in mid-conversation and 'tuning-out' her human counterparts to follow the avian audio train. This heightened awareness isn’t limited to birds, either. These COASSTers are also more attentive to the physical changes of the South Taurus landscape, the subtle shifts in weather, the phenology of bird migration, and the types and impacts of marine debris, especially plastic. Citizen science has allowed Don and Dalene to discover the world around them with fresh eyes, while opening up new avenues of exploration. 

Mundane Beauty

While driving down Hwy 101 through Olympic National Park today to reach my next destination (Ocean Shores, WA), I was able to enjoy much of the full vertical length of the park. No wonder Ken Burns calls these national spaces ‘America’s Best idea’. Although they may seem commonplace in an area like this, the trees that line these forests are quite spectacular. Douglas Fir, Sitka Spruce, Western Red Cedar - all phenomenally adapted species for this environment and all stately, noble trees.  Given the density of such fauna in the Olympics, I sense they are often taken for granted, perhaps even overlooked. And yet they are quite impressive. Starting only as seed specks in overcrowded soil, they fight to sunlight to carve out a small slice of the sky, only then to tap into the soil with elaborate root systems in constant search of water. Photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration – all vastly intricate processes. If only we could ’stop and smell the roses’ a tad more often, I think we’d discover there is much to celebrate all around, even in the seemingly mundane spaces like a tree canopy along the highway. This beauty of the mundane also inspired a late artist I knew briefly named Christopher Martin Hoff. Driving through the forests today reminded me of him. Living not far from here in Seattle, before his untimely death not long ago, Chris was a plein air painter who marveled in everyday landscapes. He saw ‘common’ landscapes with awe. His work still speaks to me about the splendid treasures 'hidden' all around us, as do the trees that call the Olympic Peninsula home.  

Luck with Lavender

Generally growing on westward-facing cliffs, the Broadleaf
Lupine is a native perennial in Washington

Originating in the Mediterranean,
this variety of wild pea is quite
plentiful along roadsides this
time of year.

To my delight, I've discovered that I hit the peak of wildflower season in Washington's Olympic mountains at just the right time! Although there are all sorts of beautiful hues, the color purple seems to reign this time of year. I don't know why purple is so prevalent, but it definitely attracts the bees and butterflies. The contrast that jumps out at your eye between the dark green evergreens and the light purple flowers is stunning. I've highlighted three native and two non-native species below. The color purple is often associated with royalty. How fitting for these regal landscapes.

The native Common Fireweed gets it's
name not because of it's color, but
because it is often the first to return
after a fire.

Common foxglove, although
a non-native, is not considered
a threat to native flora

This open meadow at the top of Olympic National Park's Hurricane
Ridge is covered in delicate native purple flowers called Harebell

Memorable Wreck

Although Corvids like these American Crows are always
monitoring the beaches where they live, it is nice to know that
COASSTers across the Pacific Northwest are on the look-out too!

I spoke with WA COASSTer John this morning who monitors outer coast Beaches 1 and 2 about his approximately five years with the program. With a background in informal science education and formal public education (he is currently a high school science teacher), John is a big believer in citizen science as a way to integrate place-based learning into the science education curriculum. One of his most memorable experiences with COASST involves a 2009 algal bloom that created a significant wreck on his beach. Typically finding very few birds, John remembers conducting a survey during the bloom period where he found nearly forty birds in one walk. This event is a shining example of the tremendous value of the COASST program. COASSTers along the Washington and then Oregon shores first noticed large wrecks of dead birds at an unusual time of year in 2009, with many live, yet weakened birds coming onto shore when they weren’t supposed to.  A major bloom of Akashiwo sanguine, a type of non-toxic algae was determined to be the cause of the massive bird deaths. This species of algae produces a soap-like foam that diminishes feather waterproofing, reducing the ability of the birds to fly and fish and eventually promoting hypothermia and death.  Surf Scoters were hit especially hard. Because COASSTers were among the first to notice the changes on beaches across the Pacific Northwest, volunteers were able to quickly partner with other organizations like NOAA to assist in documenting the event, and, in many cases, rescuing and rehabilitating affected birds. A prime example of why COASSTal eyes and ears provide such value to this area and the birds that call it home.

Wildlife Kind of Day

While in the Port Townsend area of WA today, I had the opportunity to stop by a number of neat areas around the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge. Of particular note were at least four Cooper’s Hawks that filled the woods at Clallam County’s Robin Hill Farm. These guys were too fast for pictures, but several other birds, and one mammal, crossed my path in time for these snapshots.

Although these Savannah Sparrows breed in this region of the
country, they will overwinter in the Southeast,
including South Carolina

Once described by John Muir as 'by
far the most interesting and influential
of the California sciuridae', the Douglass
Squirrel lives in the coniferous forests
of the Pacific Northwest

The largest of North American thrushes, this juvenile
American Robin can't resist the tasty berries that are
abundant in Washington this time of year

This Cedar Waxwing, a year-round resident of this area,
was busy feasting on just-ripened wild blueberries

COASSTal Education

While out at COASST beach McCurdy Point this morning, I stumbled upon this piece of marine debris under the welcome sign in the North Beach County Park parking lot. COASSTers Marilyn and Vicki hauled this large block of Styrofoam off the beach and decided to use it for an educational tool for other beach visitors. What a neat idea!

Audible Landscapes

Marilyn's dog Sandy spots something
on the bluff

Marilyn stands by a large piece of
debris she is trying to have removed
from the beach

This beautiful Peregrine Falcon greeted Marilyn and I half
way through our walk

A dense fog covered most of Washington COASST beach McCurdy Point this morning while I toured the area with volunteer Marilyn. Because this beach is located in Port Townsend, on a clear day, you can see straight over to Victoria B.C. and Whidbey Island. The heavy fog was far too thick for any distant view today, which allowed a unique perspective of the beach.  Instead of relying on my sight to take in the surrounding, I had to depend much more on my other senses. In particular, my ears did the heavy lifting today. I first took notice of the constant yet punctuated waves that provided a calming backdrop as they crashed upon the large and plentiful shoreline rocks. Calls of gulls would zoom above, broken only by the muted ferry horn that travels from the Port Townsend landing. A pair of American Crows tussled in the distance, likely engaged in a disagreement about a morsel of prey. These notes of discontent were periodically interrupted by the faint chirps of foraging white-crowned sparrows in the seaside grasses. As we made our way down the beach, small chips of rock and soil came tumbling down the side of the nearby bluffs, bouncing from rock to rock in rhythmic fashion until finding a place to rest on the shore. And then, out of nowhere, comes the high-pitched shriek of a Peregrine Falcon, at first far ahead and then, in an instant, directly above.  Coupled with the constant drum of our feet meeting the sandy pebbles of the beach, this audible landscape was rich and moving, a place Marilyn enjoys daily on her morning beach walks with her dog Sandy. Even under the blanket of a misty shroud, McCurdy Point was a gift to my ears!

Death AND Life

Three Crabs Beach is a great spot for
Sue and Lee to see coastal birds

Port William beach provides a neat
vantage for Sandy and Bill
to take in Mt. Baker

Sue and Lee often peer into the many
 marshes along Three Crabs to check for
 birds like this Green-Winged Teal

Bill and Sandy regularly see Bald Eagles like the
one we saw today at Port William

Visiting with four coasters in the Sequim (pronounced sqwim) area of Washington today, I was reminded that although COASST is designed to monitor dead sea birds, volunteers enjoy the live ones as well! Traveling to the eastern end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca (just a skip across the water from Victoria, B.C.) I walked COASST beaches 3 Crabs (with Sue & Lee ) and Port William S (with Sandy & Bill). No dead birds at either but that didn’t bother these four veteran COASSTers at all. The opportunity to get out and see those birds among the living is a big perk that comes from regular COASST participation. Having local experts (these folks know their birds!) keep a diligent watch on the types, amount, and seasonal variation among living bird populations is of great advantage. It’s a good thing these ‘boots on the ground’ keep a watchful eye on the many birds on the wing! Special thanks to Bill and Sandy for treating me to a delicious lunch following our walk.

First for Me

First bird I've seen processed
- an immature gull species -
#139 for Hobuck this year

The "Hobuck Beach Babes" crew pose at the end of the survey
 (L to R) Sally, Nancy, Heidi  and Sarah

I was fortunate enough to join Heidi (Citizen Science Coordinator for Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary) and several members of the Washington Hobuck beach crew today for a survey on one of the most northwestern of COASST beaches in WA. Although the weather was chilly and overcast (at least for this NC native), I was able to bundle up and tag along as COASSTers combed the beach for dead birds. It wasn't long after our start that we found what we were searching for, the first dead bird I've seen while out on patrol. A few measurements, tags, and pictures later and the crew had identified a "Large Immature Gull" (a general category used to describe any sizable juvenile gull species). The mortality data collected here, like at all COASST beaches, helps determine the "baseline" rate and nature of bird mortality, critical knowledge used to compare against unusual events or gradual changes over time. While at Hobuck, crew members also conducted an 100 meter marine debris survey - part of a NOAA-affiliated research project, in addition to their customary sweep of the beach for any debris. What a fun day with the "Hobuck beach babes"!

COASST volunteer Nancy was particularly successful spotting
debris from nearby oyster farms

Marine debris found in just 100 m on Hobuck Beach

Wildlife Oasis

COASSTers Ken and Mary at their home on the PA shore. 

Washington COASSTers Ken and Mary graciously invited me to their idyllic abode on the Port Angeles shore this afternoon to chat about their COASST experiences. I knew as soon as I drove up to their home that these folks know a thing or two about wildlife. The landscape surrounding their home was lush with wildflowers, blooming trees, and food and water features for all types of creatures.  Ken and Mary demonstrate an exuberance for wildlife unrivaled by many, a passion that has lead the two around the world and back to document the natural world through wildlife photography. Surveying one of the most active beaches in the COASST network (Sooes North), these volunteers love the challenge that comes with finding and identifying so many birds. It’s a good thing too, as they’ve found over 500 birds in the nearly four years they’ve been involved in the program! Not only are Ken and Mary experienced and knowledgeable volunteers, but they are great ambassadors for the natural world and the COASST program. What a treat to visit their little natural oasis today!

A Place Within the Bogachiel

Receiving 12 to 14 feet of precipitation
a year, moss is quick to cover every
inch of dead or decaying matter in the
Bogachiel Rainforest

The geographer Yi-Fu Tuan (1975, 1977) has written that a place comes into existence when humans give meaning to a part of large, undifferentiated space. In the vast space that is our world (and universe), humans often form connection, attachment, and feelings of belonging with specific geographic locations. These ‘places’ form when meaning is created between the physical environment and the person or group that has made a connection. Washington North Coast COASST volunteer Chiggers knows a thing or two about this type of place-based connection. Having lived in the same home he constructed in the 1970s (completely off-the-grid) on approximately 18 acres of land deep inside the

Although a light mist and heavy fog blanketed Rialto Beach
near Chiggers' home, the serenity of the place was palpable

temperate Bogachiel rainforest, Chiggers has a strong and abiding attachment to the land that holds both treasured memories and present-day sustenance.In fact, he’s published two novels set in the Olympic Peninsula that he calls home. It is why when he heard about the COASST program about 18 months ago, he and a friend signed up to survey three beaches in his area (Norwegian, Mosquito Creek and Goodman Creek). Getting to these beaches is no walk in the park, as I saw first-hand today. To get to Norwegian alone involves approximately 11 miles of hiking round trip. For Chiggers, the monthly hikes and beach surveys involved in the COASST project provide an opportunity to see such cherished places anew, forging a deeper, and more complex relationship with a landscape entwined with his soul. 

Healthy Habit

I had the pleasure of meeting three veteran COASST volunteers who survey in the Strait and North Coast areas of Washington yesterday at our Port Angeles focus group. Collectively, Sally (Hobuck, Sooes South, Wa-atch), Nancy (Hoko River W, Hobuck, Sekiu River W, and Chito Beach) and Carol (Tongue Point) have dedicated nearly twenty five years of service with COASST! Despite their long-term commitment to the program, they continue to marvel at the beauty, force, and constant change they witness at their beaches.  For these three ladies, the value of participating in COASST extends beyond the long-term baseline data they collect. Each expressing an appreciation for the way the COASST program allows one to ‘dial in’ to a specific beach (or beaches) on a regular basis, they particularly enjoy the regular physical and mental exercise the program encourages while out on patrol for dead birds and marine debris. It turns out COASST is not just for the birds. It helps sustain healthy people too!

Double-sided View

While I'm no gull expert,  based on
descriptions in my field guide, this is
an adult Glaucous Gull (at least 4th yr)
 in full breeding plumage

Olympic Mountains of Olympic
National Park - Port Angeles, WA

Just yesterday, I could stand on the west side of Whidbey Island and see the Olympic Mountain range in the distance. Today, I stand at the foot of them. I've made my way to Port Angeles, WA, surrounded by the Salish Sea and Strait of Juan de Fuca to the north and Olympic National Park to the south. You can't go wrong peering in either direction! In my short time here, I've already noticed the subtle, yet consistent call of the Glaucous-winged Gull in the background. I ventured down to the port briefly this morning to see some of these birds. This large omnivorous gull is a yearlong resident in this area, and will venture much farther south in the winter.  These gulls are unique in that they take four years to mature, with minor plumage differences each year. You know a good coastal birder when you find someone who can distinguish between the different ages of these birds. Much like Ravens in woodland areas, Glaucous-winged Gulls are quite adept predators, regularly stealing eggs and chicks from nesting seabird colonies. While I empathize with the nesting chicks, we all have to eat something!

Career Citizen Scientists

This American Crow stands guard over
Hastie Lake Beach (Carolyn's site)

While visiting Jill's site (Fort Casey),
I was particularly drawn to the
gorgeous colors of beach stones

If you didn't know any better, you might think that Whidbey COASST volunteers Carolyn (Hastie Lake) and Jill (Fort Casey) are making a career out of citizen science work! Although these inspirational ladies are retired, both are tremendously involved in a number of citizen science projects on the island. An innate curiosity about science and the natural world and the desire to contribute to research that leads to tangible outcomes drives Jill and Carolyn to go above and beyond the minimal COASST survey requirements (sometimes canvassing their beaches at least TWICE a month during the year). Jill says she just 'can't say no' to citizen science projects. On behalf of all of us who care deeply for beautiful places like Whidbey - my hat goes off to you Carolyn and Jill!