Spring collections, Rounds 1 & 2

The past month has entailed collecting for the Marine Exhibit at the Science Center. A group of us went out to Indian Island and collected sea cucumbers, sand dollars, sea stars, fish, crabs and other speciman. It was a cold day but we bundled up and pulled on the hip waders. Out to low tide! The sun even came out to warm us after the collection. 

Ochre sea stars

It was chilly; the sun broke out when we were wrapping up, but of course.

Chrissy and Elise looking for sand dollars

A second day of collecting involved me, Elise and Chrissy. We went to the old Railroad Trestle beach near the Boat Haven and seined during the low tide. Tubesnouts, pipe fish, skeleton fish, silver spotted sculpin, snail fish, hermit crabs and a ton of gunnels were just a few of the species we collected. It was a gorgeous day, with zero wind. The tanks are now up and in full glory...well almost.

Gettin' ready to seine, Chrissy is suiting up in the car with waiders. Elise is ready to go.

Chrissy and Elise w/ the seine

Red rock crab molt in the eelgrass