Open Weekends 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
We're on a mission to educate the public about WA’s Pacific Coast!
Washington's Pacific Coast extends northward from the Columbia River to Cape Flattery and eastward from the continental shelf to the watersheds draining into the Pacific Ocean. Follow along as we explore the area's natural and cultural history.
Learn more about the pelagic cormorant and how the fly with this week's installment of Winged Wonders!
Learn about the delightful diving Pelagic Cormorant in this week's episode of Winged Wonders! In each video of this series, we cover a different species of b...
We went looking for seaslugs (because, you know, why not?) when out popped this large crab from a bit of sea lettuce clinging to a line at the marina in Tokeland, Washington. One of us may have uttered an explative before making a hasty retreat. This crab, mayhaps a northern kelp crab was good sized and we respectfully let it make its way off the dock.
Some important stuff, that is what is on my mind this evening. As Executive Director I follow the research on the role museums play in communities. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development cultural organizations like the Coastal Interpretive Center ADD to economic development. How do they know this? The OECD is an international organization that bases this knowledge on analyses of large data sets. So, it is probably true. My job is to find out the way the Coastal Interpretive Center can positively impact economic growth in Ocean Shores and Grays Harbor. We have a lot to offer our community and visitors, alike!
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) occur when a type of algae grows rapidly and overwhelmingly in water bodies. In coastal water, HABs caused by Pseudo-nitzschia create toxins that may be deadly.
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are impacting the economy and marine health of Washington’s Pacific Coast. You may have heard this term before, but have you ever delved into the science […]
Beach dune ecosystems are unique and host a variety of species. We are excited to see the new High Dunes Trail in Ocean Shores once it is complete so that we better explore the shores!
What do a chainsaw sculpture, fused glass octopus earrings, a sleeping bear, and a hand carved cribbage board have in common? They are all auction items for the Coastal Interpretive Center's Annual Dinner & Auction this Saturday night at the Quinault Beach Resort and Casino! Thanks to our amazing supporters for these donated auction items!
We had some stormy seas along Washington's Pacific Coast this past week. The storms brought much needed rain as well as big waves at the North Jetty Park in Ocean Shores. When viewing this force of nature, always take care to stay clear of the waves and always keep an eye on them. They are dangerous.
Autumn is here in the Pacific Northwest. However, these beautiful colors also denote the impact of drought on some trees, particularly the western red cedar. Observe the discoloration flagging in the lower left corner that may indicate dieback. Scientist seek to clarify the causes of dieback of these iconic trees of Washington's Pacific Coast and the Pacific Northwest. For more information see:https://www.dnr.wa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/em_finalreport_fy2022_fischer_aug2022.pdf
We found this beautiful ground beetle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in the Olympic National Forest this September. Most likely it is a snail-eating ground beetle in the genus Scaphinotus Dejean, 1826. Several were working the leaf litter on a rainy day, searching for snails, no doubt!
Fish-eating anemones are large anemones found in the intertidal or subtidal regions of the Pacific Ocean from Alaska to Southern California. They are often found in kelp forests.
Fish-eating anemones (Urticina piscavora) are large anemones that can be found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean from Alaska to Southern California. They can sometimes be found in the intertidal, but […]
Look at this red coral mushroom found in the Olympic National Forest. This may be Ramaria araiospora Marr & D.E.Stuntz (1974), a species found in the Pacific Northwest under western hemlock trees, where we found this one. One cool aspect of its biology is that it may be the fruiting body of a mycorrhizal fungi, the fungi that form symbiotic relationships with plant roots. So, when mushrooms are associated with specific trees, that means they could be the fruiting bodies of mycorrhiza that are symbiotic off the roots of that tree species. In this case, the mycorrhiza help western hemlock roots absorb soil nutrients and the western hemlock shares sugars from photosynthesis with the mycorrhiza's fungal filaments.
We are so happy to be part of Greater Grays Harbor, Inc!
A gull was picking at an unusually shaped animal that upon closer inspection turned out to be a skate! Skates are oviparous and lay their eggs in collagenous cases that are colloquially referred to as “mermaid’s purses”. We have one on display in our Beachcombing exhibit and are open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 AM - 4 PM! (Women’s size 9 shoe for scale)
Check out our newest video!!
SPOILER ALERT, see or do not see below.
Soooo, this creature is not actually resting on a sea anemone. More likely it has been stung by the stinging darts (=cnidae=organelles) sent out from the anemone's tentacles. It will be injested whole and eventually eaten. It should be unconsious unlike the unfortunate victims in the film Nope. Thanks to Rachel for this amazing video.l
Join us in celebrating the natural and cultural history of Ocean Shores and Washington's Pacific Coast in our Going Coastal Annual Dinner and Auction for the Coastal Interpretive Center! WHEN? 7 Oct, 5:30-8 PM. WHERE? Quinault Beach Resort and Casino. WHY? Because you share our appreciation of the beauty and splendor of our coast. Because you find joy in our coastal forests. Because you value education and outreach. Tickets are still for sale online at: https://interpretivecenter.org/event/annual-event-going-coastal/
OR
Just stop by the Center this weekend (1033 Catala Ave. SE).
Our next video with students from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has dropped on the Coastal Interpretive Center's YouTube Channel Winged Wonders program. Learn more about flight and the rhinoceros auklet, a bird native to Washington's Pacific Coast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DccB6HxIz48
Did you know that agates form from mineral rich water entering another rock? Basalt, the rock formed from volcanic activity, cools sometimes leaving behind cavities that may fill with water carrying silicates such as quartz. The quartz changes over time creating amazing patterns that eventually form the core of an agate. After a long period of time the basalt breaks away leaving these stunning gems that are brought by river and tide to the Damon Point beaches in Ocean Shores. For more information read: https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/how-do-agates-form/
The Black-capped Chickadee is a popular, attractive, and widespread bird that is adored by many people for its physical characteristics and inquisitive personality.
Introduction The Black-capped Chickadee is a popular, attractive, and widespread bird that is adored by many people for its physical characteristics and inquisitive personality. It is often considered to be […]
Did you know that some plants have a vessel system, called a vascular system, like animals? They are called the vascular plants! Their vessels carry food and water from their roots to all parts of the plants. The vessels also carry sugars, the product of converting sunshine to energy (=photosynthesis). These sugars fuel plant growth and reproduction, flowers and fruits, many of which animals eat. This way beautiful, complex, multi-cellular plants survive and thrive on Planet Earth.
Dragonflies and damselflies belong to the same order of insects, Order Odonata. Damselflies differ from dragonflies in a few ways, but illustrated here, they are able to fold their wings over their backs. Damselflies are often considered living jewels and are the subject of art. Here, agates from Ocean Shores are used to illustrate their beauty.
It is off season at the Coastal Interpretive Center, but that does not mean our work is over. It has just begun! Time to work on collections, grant proposals, educational programming, outdoor exhibits, maintenance, landscaping, upkeep, AND we are still open weekends from 10-4!
Some angry Califorina sea lions after being chased of a pier in Westport, Washington. They seem to enjoy the water, though. Observe their fins as they twirl about. Sea lions are facniating to watch, and fun too. But they can be dangerous when they gather in great numbers where people need to board fishing boats. So be careful, never feed the wildlife, and never get too close.
Thanks to our Ocean Shores Crab Team for a great season monitoring the invasive European green crab. Bruce, Bob, Ann, Dick, and Rachel were out in the elements setting out and retrieving the crab traps. Their data are sent to the Washington Sea Grant Crab Team who then analyze it and determine the status of the European green crabs on the outer coast! Thanks to you all!
What are mushrooms? They are not animals for they rarely move of their own volition (or do they?). They are not plants for they do not convert sunlight into energy by way of photosynthesis. Mushrooms are fungi, one of the three major, multicellular kingdoms of life. Most fungi that produce reproductive bodies that we see as mushrooms live their lives in the soil, spreading out through a vast network of mycelia. They also appear to be saprophytes, absorbing broken down and decaying organic matter. Yum, yum! Perhaps that is why many mushrooms taste so earthy. Thanks to Rachel for this photo!
The Coastal Interpretive Center is launching a new YouTube series: Winged Wonders! New videos will be posted to our YouTube channel each Wednesday. Many of these videos are produced in partnership with Dr. Sally Blomstrom and her students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. We also partner with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and their All About Birds website. Today's video is found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH55P6cUdBs&t=4s. Thanks to Rachel Davey, Dr. Blomstrom, Vanessa, and all the ERAU students for creating these informative videos!
We installed a Motus Wildlife Tracking System tower on 27 March 2023. Why? Because we have many species of birds stopping at Ocean Shores or flying over while on migration and we want to know all about these birds!
The Coastal Interpretive Center in Ocean Shores installed a Motus Wildlife Tracking System tower on 27 March 2023. Why? Because we have many species of birds stopping at Ocean Shores […]
It is that time of year again! Spiders, spiders everywhere. Not all spider webs are perfect or round but they all are perfectly good at catching prey. Nearly everyone of the estimated 51,000 + spiders (https://wsc.nmbe.ch/statistics/) on this good Earth are predators. Thankfully, they do not eat you or me. Mostly they eat smaller invertebrates, namely insects that fly into their webs. Spiders play vital roles in ecosystems and even though they may set your spidey sense tingling when you walk near a web, know that they keep the number of mosquitoes down doing us all a great service.
We remember.
Hey everyone, meet Kamryn, our new intern via Grays Harbor Youth Works. She is working with the Coastal Interpretive Center this year on graphic design. We are happy to have her and look forward to her amazing illustrations. This is the first design she did for us based on the stinging nettle jelly! Keep an eye out for her work in the months to come.
One role of a natural history museum such as the Coastal Interpretive Center is to document biodiversity in a region. Sometimes that work is simply compiling information from existing sources. We have found that over 200 species have been documented from Ocean Shores. Another way we do that is by going out and collecting or observing species. We have documented over 100 species that have never been documented from Ocean Shores before. This native yellow pond lily, Nuphar polysepala Engelm. was home to several species of freshwater invertebrate and was sampled in Ocean Shores.
Did you know that Sandhill cranes, Antigone canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758), may be observed flying over Ocean Shores and other parts of Washington's Pacific Coast? These tall, magnificent birds migrate over parts of Washington, including along the coast. Some populations have breeding grounds in Washington, too. They flew over the Coastal Interpretive Center on Labor Day. Their distinctive call gave them away and a group of about six birds flew over the Center then out across the mouth of Grays Harbor.
Tide pools provide us with an excellent opportunity to observe sea life first-hand, but it is important we do so with the upmost care and respect to avoid causing harm to the many unique and fascinating species who live there.
Tide pools are unique and fascinating habitats home to dozens of species adapted to survive these ever-changing environments. Here on the Washington Coast we have several tide pools located within […]
We have changed to our off-season hours (Saturday & Sunday 10-4), but the Coastal Interpretive Center is offering an open house this Thursday, 7 September from noon to 4 in celebration of our ribbon cutting with the Greater Grays Harbor, Inc! The Center is open and free to the public, so stop on by and see our new exhibits and displays. Damon's Outpost Bookstore will be open too!
Announcement! The Coastal Interpretive Center is moving to off season hours. Starting Tuesday, 5 September, our indoor exhibits are open Saturday and Sunday from 10-4. Our outdoor exhibits are open everyday! So stop on by and learn about the natural and cultural history of Washington's Pacific Coast!
Johnny and Darlene Camp are the artists and proprietors of Opal Art Glass in Cosmopolis. Their art adorns many establishments in Grays Harbor and beyond. We are fortunate they created this beautiful piece of art for the Coastal Interpretive Center's summer raffle. The base was created by Tom Baker. The raffle ends at 3 PM on Labor Day, so stop by the Coastal Interpretive Center on this cloudy Sunday for a chance to support our work inspiring the joy and wonder of nature!
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Not only is it the Fri-Yay of a long weekend, but ICC registration just opened!!
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Join us, along with coastal communities around the world, at participating beaches for the International Coastal Cleanup 🚮
Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 16th. Times depend on location, see our website for more details 🗓️
💻 www.CoastSavers.org 💻
Thank you to the for providing disposal & for originating the beach cleanup event on the central coast-52years!! 🥳👏🤩🙌🩵
📷 A group of wet beach cleaners standing on a Sandy beach amongst the debris they collected.
Thanks to everyone who participated in today's TPACEM sea star survey at the North Jetty Park in Ocean Shores, Washington. We surveyed the number of ochre sea stars and made notes on their condition and observed mortality. We explored biodiversity in these pools and along the wrack line, picking up a few new species to add to our biodiversity total. It was a great day!
Brown pelicans are in the news, the Daily News, that is. Observe the hundred or more brown pelicans at Damon Point in Ocean Shores, today. Toward the end of the video, Rachel spans out and each rock of the North Jetty has many pelicans, they were also flying, diving, fishing, and eating. Amazing!
1033 Catala Avenue SE
Ocean Shores, WA
98569
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| Sunday | 10am - 4pm |
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This family of freshwater otters were swimming in the canal in Ocean Shores this morning! Enjoy!
Watch very carefully to see barnacles feeding at Damon Point in Ocean Shores, Washington. Video credit, M. Jurotich.
Crabs belong to the Arthropoda phylum of life. This group is characterized by jointed appendages. Note the jointed legs and chelipeds (legs or arms holding the claws) in this video. The antennae are also jointed and move around briskly to sense the environment! This is a European green crab collected and eventually euthanized as part of the green crab monitoring in Ocean Shores, Washington.
Bees and other pollinators help plants reproduce and sustain native as well as non-native species such as this foxglove. Restoration efforts may help sustain habitat by planting species that stabilize sand along the beaches of Washington's Pacific Coast. These plants are sustained, in turn, by the pollinators, and provide necessary habitat for species of concern in conservation work.
Good morning vibes from the North Jetty of Ocean Shores, Washington!
Mesmerizing day at the Damon Point tidal pools. Always remember to be respectful of the inhabitants and ecosystems when you visit tidal pools!
Sea foam is beautiful. It forms when dissolved organic compounds, both natural and anthropomorphic (formed by humans), bubble to the surface through wave and wind action and is carried to the shore.
Sure, we have the ocean and the bay and resorts and shops, but did you know that we have bears in Ocean Shores? This bear was out during the fading light of evening to feed on Dennis and Karen Hogan's (Coastal Interpretive Center volunteers extraordinaire) bird feeder.
A sea anemone catching some waves at Damon Point in Ocean Shores, Washington.
Look at this beauty filmed at Lake Sylvia in Washington State.
Happy Earth Day! Around here, every day is Earth Day, and we hope that is true for all of you, too. This unique planet and all of its species have value. We can always celebrate our amazing biodiversity.
We educate the public about the natural and cultural history of Washington’s Pacific coast, and inspire the joy and wonder of nature.
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