There is always a progression to things it seems, but it all started with the WSU watershed master/beach watcher classes that I took. Our classes were amazingly fun as we got to go behind the scenes, where the general public could not. Follow this link - WSU Watershed Master/Beach Watcher Class Blog Entries - to see highlights from some of our class field trips.
Since completing those courses, I have had lots of opportunites to do some pretty cool stuff. I have helped to teach Whatcom County sixth graders about the many different bugs found in and around our forest streams during their annual forest conservation tour. Check out Forest Conservation Tour for more information on that.
I have helped staff the Rain Garden booth at local events and am part of the team promoting the benefits and how-to's of rain gardens. Check out Pay Back Time.
I have helped staff the Rain Garden booth at local events and am part of the team promoting the benefits and how-to's of rain gardens. Check out Pay Back Time.
With the beach monitoring group, I have helped monitor beaches in Whatcom County. Check out Beach Monitoring at Semiahmoo to learn more about that. The beach we surveyed that particular morning is at Birch Bay (Semiahmoo) in Blaine, Washington.
Then, as a member of the WMMSN response team, and a blogger, I was asked to blog about some of our group's activities. Here's a link to a blog about what we do when we receive a call about a stranded seal pup - Seal Pup Sitting, and a blog about one of the seal pups that we rescued this summer - Wolf Hollow.
Then, as a member of the WMMSN response team, and a blogger, I was asked to blog about some of our group's activities. Here's a link to a blog about what we do when we receive a call about a stranded seal pup - Seal Pup Sitting, and a blog about one of the seal pups that we rescued this summer - Wolf Hollow.
And now, I've been asked to be their new webmaster. Yes, of course I will!
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So here's the link to our current website - WMMSN Website. Watch for updates - more news, more pics, more info, more stuff - oh, and, of course, a real WMMSN blog. We'll be adding information about some of the great training opportunities we have coming up - a class on performing necropsies and a training session on seal pup tagging. (The tagging class will be in Friday Harbor and I'll be going to that.) As a non-profit organization without grant funding, the WMMSN organization is always strapped for monies and supplies, so we need to add a "donations" button to our website. We also have wonderful T-shirts with colorful WMMSN logos available. Surely we could sell a few more T-shirts if we offered online sales. What else? What would you like to see? Any suggestions?
Rose, you are amazing. I miss seeing you. Can't get Ted to settle on a date to meet. They are sooooo busy, and I guess all of us are too. I'm glad to be back in Bellingham after being gone most of Aug.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes and keep me posted on your blog.
Fondly,
Beth
Rose- I think its wonderful that you are involved with marine life. A few years back I almost landed a job doing necropsies on marine animals that were along the shore and in the waterways. I gave that up to work for the company the movie outbreak was made about. Congrats!! Becoming the webmaster, Im sure your influence will add greatly to the WMMSN
ReplyDeleteATW, Thank you . . . Cool that you share an understanding of the need for community involvement to help protect our marine mammals. It's a little like a scene from "Water World" up here at times . . . we've got whale watchers wanting a good view, beaches closed for shellfish harvest due to toxic algae, and developers trying to push huge condo communities too close to the natural shoreline . . . caught in the middle are stranded seal pups and injured whales . . . I'm too tender hearted to take the necropsy training, but I like doing things like helping to harvest eel grass seed, tending stranded harbor seal pups on the beach, sharing how-to info about rain barrels and rain gardens, and I'm good with the techy stuff. Most importantly though, it takes more teams like ours to help maintain a balance. Sounds like you've an interesting career yourself . . .
ReplyDeleteRose- Necropsies are tough. Especially when the animal has gone through some serious decomposition. Ironically I have a very weak stomach and a highly sensitive gag reflex, my guys always laugh at me, because usually when im working on something that has been dead for a long time, Im the guy dry heaving with watery eyes and collecting samples. But even with all of that it does make me extremely hungry
ReplyDelete