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About Oregon Coast today. (Lincoln City, OR) 2005-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 11, 2019)
naturalist’s calendar More splash, less cash. Residents of Lincoln County can enjoy free admission to the Oregon Coast Aquarium this Saturday, Oct. 12, and get a sneak peek at attractions that are coming down the pike. “Free admission for Lincoln County residents on October 12 is our way of saying thank you for the community support over the years,” said aquarium President and CEO Carrie Lewis. “But it is also an invitation to join us as we unveil our plans for the future.” Lincoln Country residents should bring valid ID or proof of residence to receive free admission. The offer is not available for online ticket purchases. The aquarium, located at 2820 SE Ferry Slip Road, will be open from 10 am to 3 pm. To plan your visit or to book an animal encounter or behind-the-scenes tour, go to www.aquarium.org/visit. For more information, call 541-867-3474. A little flight entertainment Hatch a plan for fall The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is looking for volunteers to help with the fall Chinook program at Salmon River Hatchery. Shifts are now available and could continue into November. The hatchery releases 200,000 adipose-marked and coded wire-tagged fall Chinook salmon smolts each year to support a popular in-river recreational fishery, supplement ocean recreational and commercial fisheries, and provide information for the Pacific Salmon Treaty negotiations that can have a significant effect on Oregon’s Chinook salmon populations. Salmon River Hatchery fall Chinook are used as an indicator stock to estimate harvest rates for all fall Chinook on the North Oregon Coast. The recovery of these fish in the commercial and sport fisheries in Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon, along with recoveries at the hatchery and on the spawning grounds, are used to represent the harvest rate of Oregon’s coastal fall Chinook in these fisheries. Volunteers will learn how to net, handle and identify salmonid species, process fish for food share programs and assist with other hatchery operations as needed. For more information and to sign-up for a volunteer shift, go to https://midcoaststep.ivolunteer.com. For questions, contact Christine Clapp at christine.m.clapp@state.or.us or 541- 961-6386. Hatchery supervisor Michelle Viss can be reached at 541-994-8606. Salmon River Hatchery is located at 575 N. North Bank Road. Otis. 8 • oregoncoastTODAY.com • facebook.com/oregoncoasttoday • October 11, 2019 The Audubon Society of Lincoln City will host a pair of free guided walks this weekend, tackling the Salishan Nature Trail on Friday, Oct. 11, and heading to Boiler Bay on Saturday, Oct. 12. Sponsored by Explore Lincoln City and Lincoln City Parks and Recreation, the Salishan outing is an easy, family-friendly walk, offering views of Siletz Bay. The area is a winter resting grounds for thousands of waterfowl including northern pintail, green-winged teal, American wigeon and the occasional Eurasian wigeon. Bald eagles often put on a show and great blue herons and great egrets are always present. The two-hour excursion will start at 9 am. Meet in the west marketplace parking area at Salishan Resort at 7760 N. Hwy 101. On Saturday, Oct. 12, the Second Saturday Bird Walk will see the group embark on a morning of sea-watching, starting at Boiler Bay State Natural Area where members will keep their eyes peeled for marbled and ancient murrelet, rhinoceros auklet, sooty shearwater and western grebe. The party will continue to Depoe Bay to look for black turnstone, black oystercatcher and surfbird. The final stop will be Devil’s Punchbowl for a chance at spotting harlequin duck, surf scoter and peregrine falcon. The two-hour trip will start at 9 am. ERNIE ROSE Western gull chasing bald eagle Meet at the Boiler Bay parking lot to carpool along the route. All Audubon bird walks are free and open to the public. No prior experience is needed and walkers do not need to pre- register. The rain-or-shine walks are led by experienced birders and binoculars and field guides are available to borrow.