Creature Feature: The Black Oystercatcher

by Sasha Greenawalt and Janet Pelinka If you are startled by a loud, penetrating whistle while tidepooling, direct your attention to where the surf makes contact with the exposed rocks and you will be rewarded by the striking presence of a large black bird sporting a bright orange beak— the…

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Creature Feature: Velella velella, By-the-Wind Sailors

The Blue Beaches of Spring by Debbie Rogers One of the most astounding and beautiful sights at the tide pools is a sometimes ankle- deep blanket of blue brought by the westerly winds in late spring or early summer. This glossy, iridescent blue cover may envelop the entire beach area…

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Creature feature: Halcampa decatentaculata

By Dr. Tom Niesen One of our FMR tidepool naturalists found this star-shaped animal among the fine gravel on the bottom of a tidepool and asked for an identification. I was first thrown off by the star pattern in the photograph and sent the image to Dr. Rebecca Johnson, co-director…

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