Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 2015)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 3 C Walks, talks continue at Cape Perpetua is brought to you by these participating sponsors: There’s no place like • Keep it fresh and local for the Kids in Florence! • Live Music on the Weekends Like us on Facebook so our Daily Specials pop up in your NEWS FEED 294 Laurel St. in Historic Old Town Florence YACHATS — The Cape Perpetua Visitor Center will feature free programs and guest speakers on Saturdays in January as part of its ongoing Winter Series of events. On Saturday, Jan. 17, at 2 p.m., Paul Engelmeyer will present “Land and Sea Conservation Issues: Marine Reserves, Marbled Murrelet, and Forage Fish.” A threatened seabird that nests only in old-growth forests, Marbled Murrelets embody the interconnection between ocean and forest ecosystems. Cape Perpetua’s unique con- nection between protected coastal rainforest and marine reserve provides crucial habitat for this species. Engelmeyer has directed Portland Audubon’s Tenmile Creek coastal conservation program since 1990 and is a recognized leader in coastal conservation efforts. He has been a respected voice and key collaborator in a number of Oregon coast conservation partnerships and councils, including the MidCoast Watersheds Council and the Ocean Policy Advisory Council. On Saturday, Jan. 31, Cape Perpetua visitors may enjoy guided hikes led by Forest Service staff. Hikers will explore the cape’s temperate rainforests and discover the evolving his- tory of forestry practices on the Siuslaw National Forest with staff experts. “This Winter Series brings home issues that are important not just to Cape Perpetua and the Siuslaw National Forest, but to the whole Coast region,” says Forest Service volunteer Roger Grace. “These programs relate to everyone involved in the health of forests, oceans, and communities.” For visitors unable to catch one of these special programs, there are plenty of ways to keep busy on the cape this winter. The visitor center provides regular film screenings, exhibits and junior ranger activities, and serves as a base to explore the areas trails and tidepools. In winter, the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center is open Friday through Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is closed Wednesdays and Thursdays. The visitor center is located three miles south of Yachats on Highway 101. For more information, call the visitor center at 541-547- 3289 or visit www.fs.usda.gov /siuslaw. 541-997-4886 New Patient Special 50% OFF X-Rays, Exams & Routine Cleaning Must present coupon. For new patients only. Discount for patients without insurance. Offer expires 2-15-15 Dr. Chad Clement 541-997-3423 1256 Bay St. Old Town Florence TILLAMOOK — Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists are investi- gating the deaths of large num- bers of seabirds along the Pacific coast in the wake of harsh winter weather the past several weeks. Common murres and Cassin’s auklets have been showing up dead on coast ATHLETE OF THE beaches in greater numbers than usual. Preliminary infor- mation obtained through necropsies conducted at ODFW’s pathology lab in Corvallis indicate the birds are extremely emaciated, likely related to exhaustion and star- vation caused by exposure to cold temperatures and heavy wind. “The birds washing up on the beach seem to be starved and beaten up by the storms,” said Herman Biederbeck, ODFW biologist in Tillamook. “We have seabird die-offs in the fall and early winter every year but this year we’re seeing elevated numbers.” The seabird die-off is not just happening on Oregon’s coast. Seabird mortality has been observed from as far south as California to as far north as British Columbia, leading some researchers to believe the die-off is the result of an unusually large hatch of young birds last spring, fol- lowed by harsh weather. Colored zip ties have been affixed to some dead birds by researchers from the University of Washington as part of a seabird mortality study, accord- ing to Biederbeck. Though there is little risk to humans, people who encounter dead seabirds on the beach should not touch or move them. ODFW is asking beach walkers who find large concentrations of dead birds that have not been marked with colored zip ties to call their whereabouts in to their local ODFW field office or the wildlife health hotline at 1-866-968-2600. WEEK Sea turtle swims toward recovery at aquarium Jose DelaMora Siuslaw H.S. Vintage Blue Warehouse Wrestling Thursday - Saturday 10-5 Sunday 11-4 The sophomore 120-pounder was undefeated at last week’s Central Four Way Wrestling Meet in Independence; going three-and-oh on the mat. Honorable Mention 80 Harbor Street 541-999-1159 Cody Wells ESTATE SALES - CONSIGNMENT THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN FLORENCE.... Siuslaw News + Business Listings Coupons & More www.shoppelocal.biz © 2015 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 31, No. 6 Honorable mention is given to fellow grap- pler Cody Wells. The 182 pounder picked up his third win of a short wrestling career at Central Sponsored By: The Siuslaw News , KCST and The Sports Club Best For Hearing Oregon Box Lunch Reedsport Marine & Fabrication Foglio Drop Box Services Shoreline Customized Apparel Alan Twombly-H & R Block Central Coast Disposal Dana Rodet Construction County Transfer & Recycling River House J.L. Walker & Sons Excavating Dry Tech Carpet Cleaning Dutch Bros. Elson Shields Property Management Florence RV & Automotive Specialists Frank Romero 541 Designs Leisure Excavating Ultimate Pest Control Integrity Plumbing Lane Community College - Florence NEWPORT — Solstice the turtle flapped her flippers in water over the weekend. This should be business as usual for an olive ridley turtle, but for Solstice it is a significant mile- stone in her journey toward recovery. Solstice arrived at the Oregon Coast Aquarium hypothermic, dehydrated and emaciated on Dec. 22. The sub-adult turtle had ventured far from the warm temperate waters of her normal winter range, landing on a Washington beach where she was discovered by a young couple and then picked up by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Solstice successfully warmed up to her ideal body temperature, 75 degrees, on Thursday, Jan. 1. Staff moni- tored her condition to ensure she was stable before transfer- ring her to a rehabilitation pool over the weekend. Her move back to an aquatic habitat confirmed aquarium staff’s fears; she has buoyancy issues that prevent her from diving below the water’s sur- face. This is a common ailment for distressed turtles and staff are taking steps to keep her comfortable. “Her exposed shell is coated with a lubricant so it does not dry out, and we will be giving her some more time in the water to see if the air works itself out,” said Jim Burke, Director of Animal Husbandry. “If it does not, the next steps would include x-ray imaging and manual removal of the air. We hope the issue will resolve itself before exposing her to these more intensive proce- dures.” Despite this setback Solstice is showing signs of improve- ment. She now has a hearty appetite, eating several times a day, but she seems to have selective taste. “She will chomp down on capelin and other fish without hesitation, but spits out nutrient-packed gel food supplement we offer her,” Burke said. These latest developments are small steps in a lengthy rehabilitation process for Solstice. Her prognosis remains uncertain, but aquari- um staff harbor growing hope for her recovery. If all goes as planned, she will need several months of rehabilitation before the aquar- ium can start to plan her release with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Aquarium urges anyone who finds a sea turtle on the beach to keep their distance and contact the Oregon State Police Wildlife Hotline at 1- 800-452-7888 to ensure appro- priate transport and care of the animal. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is open every day this winter from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit aquarium.org or call 541-867- 3474. Yachats to host fourth annual Agate Festival YACHATS — Yachats is gearing up for its fourth annual Agate Festival, to be held Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 17 and 18, during the weekend of the Martin Luther King three- day holiday. Yachats is internationally known for its natural beauty, including the treasures uncov- ered by winter storms and winds, making January a prime time for agate hunting. Vendors from throughout the state as well as from Washington and Northern California will be on hand to display and sell rough speci- mens and finished artistic cre- ations of minerals, gems, crys- tals and fossils. The show will take place at the Yachats Commons, located at Highway 101 and West Fishing Fourth Street, in the heart of town. In addition, there will be speakers, demonstrations and fun activities for all ages. Noted geologist William Orr will speak on Saturday at 3 p.m., and Guy DiTorris, “The Fossil Guy”, will speak on Sunday at 1 p.m. This year, the festival will offer a raffle for a valuable bas- ket of fine prizes from many local merchants. The basket will include a gift certificate for an overnight stay at the famed Heceta Head Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast. In keeping with the festival’s commitment to preserving and enjoying the magnificent natu- ral environment that surrounds the Yachats area, proceeds from the raffle will be con- tributed to the Yachats Trails SIUSLAW from 1C caught from the lower river up to Moonshine Park by both bank and boat anglers. This time of year is typically slow to fair for winter steelhead. Fall Chinook fishing is slow as most remaining fish have moved onto the spawning grounds. RIVER: Steelhead, Chinook Winter steelhead are starting to show up in small numbers around the mid to lower sec- tions of the Siuslaw and Lake Creek. Fall Chinook fishing is very slow and any remaining fish have moved onto the spawning grounds. WILSON RIVER: Chinook, steelhead Project, an organization that has helped create and maintain a comprehensive system of trails in the area that has attracted outdoor enthusiasts from near and far. Since the festival began in 2012, the event has been a big success, drawing visitors from throughout the Northwest and beyond. Merchants, restau- rants and lodging providers enjoy participating in the weekend activities. More information about the festival is available online at www.yachatsagatefestival.com as well as the Yachats Area Chamber of Commerce web- site at www.yachats.org, or by contacting the Yachats Visitor Center at 1-800-929-0477. Fall Chinook are still avail- able in decent numbers. Fish should be spread out through the river, especially after rains raised the river last week. Release dark fish to spawn. All techniques should produce fish, with bobber and bait, back bouncing, bait-wrapped plugs, and casting spinners among the best. CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK ODFW monitoring seabird die-off along coast