Island Biodiversity : A Whale’s Tale

Island Biodiversity : A Whale’s Tale

By: Kathyrn True, Taylor Umetsu, Santiago Ramos-Torrescano     This is the first in a VNC blog series delving into various aspects of island biodiversity. Vashon Nature Center’s vision statement is “A world awakened to the wonders of nature.” We hope...
Dock Fouling Offers Glimpses of Other Worlds

Dock Fouling Offers Glimpses of Other Worlds

Before I went dock fouling, I’d never heard of a hammerhead doto. These minute nudibranchs (only 11 millimeters long) are adorned with stalks of waving “pom poms” that make them look like exotic confections. The stalks are technically cerata, which sea slugs use for...
The Last Days of Natural Wonder

The Last Days of Natural Wonder

Reflecting on our Natural Wonder museum exhibit, closing Jan. 5. Way back in 2018 BC (Before Covid), Kathryn True and I took a field trip to Puget Sound Natural History museum to connect with director Peter Wimberger and curator and VNC Science Advisor, Gary Shugart....
Local Shark Death Mystery

Local Shark Death Mystery

The mystery began on January 17 when Vashon Nature Center received an email about a large skeleton found on the beach at Maury Island Marine Park. The beachcombers reported it was picked clean and looked to be made of cartilage, not bone. It was several feet long and...
Rare Birds

Rare Birds

The visiting Acorn Woodpecker. Photo credit: Jim Diers An acorn woodpecker has been hanging around the old Misty Isle Farms airstrip at SW 232nd Street since Nov. 2. For the nonbirder, this information might result in a shrug, but to the birding community on Vashon...