The Pacific Northwest is home to the native blue orchard mason bees. Often mistaken for houseflies due to their blue-green, iridescent bodies, these solitary bees are distinct from social bees because each female independently lays her own eggs, finds her own nest and gathers her own food. With 90% of bee species being solitary, these […]
conservation
Posted inPeople & Places
High Energy Drives the Success of Bainbridge Island’s PacWesty
Hang out with Greg Dronkert for any length of time and you just might feel like you’re chatting with the Energizer Bunny — that is if the the bunny could only talk. The bunny, of course, is the mascot of Energizer batteries, and can be seen in TV commercials banging on a drum and hopping […]
Posted inAround West Sound
Volunteers Needed to Plant 5,000 Trees at Belfair Wildlife Preserve
The Great Peninsula Conservancy (GPC) is seeking 200 volunteers to plant 5,000 native trees in Belfair through the end of January. GPC, the nonprofit land trust operating in Kitsap, north Mason and west Pierce counties, is restoring a native, climate-resilient plant community in vital salmon habitat by planting native shrubs and trees at the end […]
Posted inCommunity News
Public Campaign Raises Funds for Hansville Greenway Expansion
On the northern tip of the Kitsap Peninsula lies the Hansville Greenway, a 250-acre nature preserve and natural recreation area that is home to native plants and wildlife. Great Peninsula Conservancy (GPC) — the regional land trust serving Kitsap, north Mason and west Pierce counties — has partnered with the Hansville Greenway Association (HGA) and […]
Posted inAround West Sound
Volunteers Wanted to Help Endangered Orcas and Salmon Recover
Kitsap County Parks, the Kitsap Conservation District and partner organizations will host eight COVID-safe events as part of Orca Recovery Day, aimed at improving conditions for critically endangered southern resident orca whales and their main food source, salmon. Volunteers are invited to participate in stewardship action events on Oct. 9, 16 and 23 throughout the county. […]
Posted inPeople & Places
‘Recycled’ Art
This “chandelier” was created by a group of students from the Community Transition Program at South Kitsap School District. Made from 400 plastic water bottles, it’s 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide and is currently on display at the Port Orchard City Hall. The 11 students in Romny Arnold’s class worked for six months […]
Posted inAt Home
How to Keep Your Energy Use Healthy Too While Staying at Home
As the world works to halt the spread of the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, states and cities are urging us to stay home whenever possible to avoid transmission of the disease. That’s leading to many changes in our lives, including how much time we spend in our homes and in our energy use. […]
Posted inAround West Sound
The Salmon Are Coming! Come See Them at Kitsap Salmon Tours
It’s that time of year again — time to see Pacific salmon make their way home to the Kitsap streams, where their lives began. Not only does their migration offer a unique opportunity for people to observe this iconic species, but their journey brings essential marine nutrients to our streams. We are fortunate to be […]
Posted inAround West Sound
Become a Stream Steward to be Part of Local Eco Projects
Did you know that beavers act as engineers in our local Kitsap ecosystems to alter entire habitats? Or that simple barrels filled with the right materials can help keep our local salmon populations healthier? Join WSU Kitsap Extension’s annual Stream Stewards course this winter to engage with various aspects of land and freshwater resources, while […]