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Diving Birds & Mammals

The Scoop on Southern Resident Killer Whales (5 mins)

What does it take to save the Salish Sea’s most iconic and endangered species: the Southern Resident killer whale. The goal is to collect critical health and diet data from each of the 73 surviving animals. So .

• Discover: How does a wildlife veterinarian make a house call to do non-invasive medical tests on 10-ton killer whales in the open sea? It takes sharp eyes and a fine mesh net. Oh, and a fresh, steaming sample of….can you guess? Watch to find out.

The Tufted Puffins of Destruction Island (16 min)

On a risky mission to the remote and rugged Destruction Island, Team SeaDoc tries to solve the mysteries of the Tufted Puffin in the hopes of saving this charismatic seabird from local extinction.

• Discover: Where do tufted puffins spend most of their lives, near the shore or out in the middle of the ocean?

Steller Sea Lions: Grizzlies of the Sea (12 mins)

Stellers are the world’s largest species of sea lion. Early observers called them sea lions because the males grow large, furry manes, but when we compare these top predators to land animals, we think of them as the grizzlies of the sea. In our debut episode of Salish Sea Wild, the team heads up to Hornby Island on a frigid winter week to dive with hundreds of these magnificent creatures.

• Question: Could you stay calm while a thousand pound predator chews on your hood? What could these Steller sea lions be gaining from these interactions with our fearless (read-entirely lacking self-preservation instinct) Science Director, Joe?

The Risky Business of Saving SeaBirds (14 mins)

Dark nights, treacherous seas and tiny boats: Team SeaDoc takes science to the edge to help save one of the most remarkable endangered species in the Salish Sea--because sometimes even the superhero of seabirds needs our help.

• Discover: What is it that these sea birds need that is worth us venturing into the danger zone to explore? What would you do to help these little, feathered divers?

HANDS ON ACTIVITIES

Rocks, Geology & the Planet

Mission: Rock Detective!

Rocks are made up of different minerals, which determine color and appearance. Geologists classify rocks into three groups—igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic—based on how they formed.

• Discover: What secret clues do these rocks reveal? Once you learn how to recognize the clues, rocks can reveal their origin stories and even how far they traveled to their resting place and how.

How Do Glaciers Shape the Landscape? (2.5 min)

Glaciers are frozen rivers of ice that have immense power. They can carve huge chunks out of mountains and they helped form the Salish Sea.

• Discover: What is giant and cold and moves mountains…literally? Watch this animation for more clues to how beach rocks and even the grains of sand, silt, and clay found their way to Salish Sea beaches. Keep your ears out for clue words, like weathering, erosion, and sediments while you watch!

HANDS ON ACTIVITIES

The Intertidal World

Awesome Fishes of the Intertidal (5 mins)

Join scientist and Finding Nemo’s “Fabulous Fish Guy” Adam Summers as he leads Team SeaDoc on a mission to find some of the Salish Sea’s most amazing intertidal creatures.

• Discover: What might drive fish to leave the sea and hunker down under rocks on the beach? See if you can list a few clues as you watch.

The Subtidal World

Underwater After Dark (5 mins)

A whole new world awaits you on the dark sea floor and it is teeming with life. Let us light your way as we explore the Salish Sea after dark!

• Discover: Did you know that most sealife doesn’t sleep? Who are some of the underwater night owls in this video?

herring spawn: the salish sea’s greatest spectacle (5 mins)

Life is a constant challenge when you’re the Snickers bar of the sea. Everything larger than a herring enjoys it as a tasty snack, from ocean animals to bears, wolves, mink, and even little song birds on shore, and they support a mighty food web in the Salish Sea.

• Question: What are some behaviors herring use to avoid all those hungry mouths? Look for clues to their mad skillz in this exciting peak into spawning time.

Voyage to the Bottom of the Salish Sea (14 mins)

Our team of scientists embarks on a week of deep-sea exploration in the Salish Sea in search of red urchins, tiny fish called Pacific sand lance and evidence of scientific trawl marks on the sea floor.

• Discover: What would you research if you had the chance to ride to the bottom of the sea in a submarine? Let this video of our dives in an Oceangate sub spark your own ideas for exploration in the deep, then share your curiosities with us! Email an answer.

Deep Dive

Want to dive deeper? Try one of these activities!

A note for teachers, you may print these documents and send to your home-bound students in packets. Most do not require internet access. They may stand alone or accompany our book, Explore the Salish Sea, available for free to 4th-6th grades in low-income schools.

plankton pro

Make your own plankton net at home and catch some of the smallest plants and animals alive at a nearby beach, pond, or stream. Need: 1-2 people, materials listed, a natural water source. ~ 1 hr

Rock Cycle Tag

Learn the rock cycle in this game of tag. Due to social distancing, consider a version of this that doesn’t involve actual touching. Need: 4-5 players, game cards, and some open space. 30 min

intertidal food web

How is a heron connected with a plankton? Find out how many creatures of the sea are interdependent with these cards. Place cards in a large circle and connect predator to prey using yarn to reveal why it is called a web! Need 1 or more people, food web cards, 30 min.

Tidal Tag

Test out your intertidal creature skills as you try to eat or avoid being eaten in this fast game of swimming, scuttling, or hopping tag. Given social distancing, consider a version that doesn’t involve actual touching or groups beyond your own household. Need 3 or more people, open space, 30 min.

Tidepool Survivor

How do sea creatures survive extreme conditions in tide pools? Play to explore. Need: Game cards, 2 or more players. ~20 min

Subtidal Shuffle

A matching game with a twist. Need: Game cards, 1-2 people. ~30 min

Build a remotely operated vehicle (ROV)

This is a project for serious (and funny) engineers. It does take time, tools, and likely requires the purchase of materials for motors. Need tools, motors, frame materials, marine battery, $50-$190, 2-3 people.

Build a Hydrophone

Listen to sound in the sea or even your fish tank and learn about electricity and acoustics on the way. Need: materials listed, 1-3 people. 2 hrs

Hungry Hungry Porpoise

Become a porpoise (or its prety) to feel what it is like to sense prey with sound. Given social distancing, consider a version that doesn’t involve touching or people outside of your household. Need: blindfold, open space, 2 or more people. ~15-30 min

Test your dive reflex

Do you have diving superpowers like a seal? Test it out. Need: cup or basin of water, stop watch, notepad, 2-3 people. ~30 min

Model a diving animal Speed Diving Contest

What's the best shape to dive for prey. Make your own diving animal from clay and time its dive speed. Need: waterproof modeling clay, tank of water, stopwatch, speed diving tournament bracket, 2 or more model animals, 1-10 people. ~1 hr

Hooks & Ladders, a migration obstacle course

Why do animals migrate? Become a salmon to explore and test your migration skills in this obstacle course game. Given the current social distancing practices, consider playing a smaller version with your household. Need: materials listed, open space, 5-10 people. ~1 hr

Become a Salish Sea Hero

Salish Sea Heroes are people helping to heal the sea for wildlife and us by pitching in to improve habitats. You can be a Salish Sea Hero, too! Planting a garden, creating a Backyard Wildlife Habitat, picking up trash, saving water and electricity in your home, scooping your pet’s poop, or building a bird or bat house are all actions that help wildlife. If you do one of these actions or come up with your own, post it online and tag us at @seadocsociety or email us with a photo and description of your project. Your project may be on the next Salish Sea Heroes feature of Junior SeaDoctors!

Further Reading!