There is nothing more refreshing then slowly paddling through the beautiful estuary we call home. Puget Sound is the second largest estuary in the United States. Fresh water enters Puget Sound through more than 10,000 rivers and streams all across Washington, and salt water is brought in from the powerful tides of the Pacific Ocean. […]
The Outdoors
Local outdoor aficionados share tips and information about outdoor recreation, from fishing to bird watching.
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
Landscaping for Birds in Your Garden
The gardening magazines and catalogs that arrive in January are reminders that spring in the Northwest isn’t far off. Thinking about spring gardening chores is the perfect time to consider the birds we hope to attract to our yards in the coming months. There are four factors to keep in mind when making a yard […]
Posted inAround West Sound, Blog, The Outdoors
Winter’s the Perfect Time for the Beach
Winter is not your typical time to go to the beach. One, it’s cold. Two, it’s probably raining. Lastly, the tide is too high — that is, unless you plan your beach venture in the dark of the night. That’s right, around here low tides happen in the evening this time of year. Which is […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
Decorating a Bird’s Christmas Tree
If decorating a Christmas tree for the birds sounds like fun, there are a few important things to remember. The most important element as far as the birds are concerned is that it be decorated with food. Variety isn’t important but quality is. Use the best birdseed mix you can find. This cuts down on […]
Posted inAround West Sound, Blog, The Outdoors
Viewing Orca Whales Never Gets Old
It’s not rare to spot the iconic orca whale (Orcinus orca) here in the South Sound; you just have to know where to look. Whether you view them from a boat or from shore, it is always a delight. Orcas belong to the Delphinidae family, making them the largest dolphin. However, orcas are considered a […]
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Salmon in November? You Bet
Leaves falling. Crisp days and often stiff nights with much cooler air temps. It’s raining again. Moving air is no longer just a breeze but an outright wind. The sun seems to spend a few hours paralleling the horizon then dips out of sight again. We are fully into fall and transitioning into winter. For […]
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The Wild Turkey: Our Real National Bird
According to Benjamin Franklin, the wild turkey would have been a more fitting symbol for our young country than the bald eagle. Franklin thought the eagle a “good-for-nothing” scavenger. The wild turkey, on the other hand, was intelligent, a formidable opponent and able to survive on its own labors. The rest of Congress didn’t see […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
Take a Peek in Donkey Creek
Each year, thousands of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) return from feeding in the open ocean to the stream they hatched three to five years earlier. In Gig Harbor, the chum salmon migration takes place in the late fall and early winter, long after most other species have spawned. While there are many wildlife viewing areas […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
5 Tips for Safe Trail Use
It’s no secret (or surprise) that more and more people are heading to the trails for their regular exercise, whether walking/hiking or running. Last month, we talked about basic tips that will make your trail experience more enjoyable and safe. In part 2, we’ll review some trail-specific technical tips that will make adjusting to the […]