Oceans Initiative

Hi friends! The wonderful people at Zylberschtein’s have started a community-building event called the "No Phones Supper Club." People come together over a meal, put down their phones, and get to know their neighbors. Each month, they choose a different local nonprofit to receive a portion of the proceeds, and this month, they chose Oceans Initiative as their community partner. So you're practically saving the whales by eating a great meal.

The event is on 28 Feb. Dinner starts at 6:30. There are meat and vegetarian options. Great food, live music, community connection, and a chance to give back? What's not to love?

Space is limited, so please buy your tickets (or pass on the link to a friend) here. Thank you, Zylberschtein’s, for being a great neighbor.

https://www.toasttab.com/catering/zylberschtein/menu/no%20phones%20supper%20club%20community%20dinner%20with%20oceans%20initiative/?utm_source=undefined&utm_content=the-no-phones-supper-club&utm_medium=toast_sites&utm_term=cards_section&mode=fulfillment

Want to help us name three of the recognizable harbor seals from one of our field sites? We’re collecting your best name ideas for these pinnipeds and we’ll put your suggestions to a public vote next week (keep an eye on our stories)!

How to submit your names:
1. Comment on this post using the seal emoji 🦭 & let us know why you love seals
2. You’ll receive a message from us with a link to our name suggestion form
3. Submit your best ideas!

Your suggestions will help us put names to the faces of individual seals we track through imagery. This technique, called photo ID, is a non-invasive method that allows us to recognize individuals by their markings (fur patterns, scars, etc.) in pictures. The differences can be subtle but distinct. These three seals are part of our ongoing work in Olympia, Washington where we study harbor seal foraging behavior and monitor the journey of Chinook salmon smolt from the hatchery to saltwater. Understanding how many individual harbor seals use the area—and how they behave—helps us build a clearer picture of this urban ecosystem.

We can’t wait to see what names you come up with!

Photo credits: Ryan Tidman