Talkin' Trash

What is marine debris?  It's trash that winds up in the ocean.  You can make a difference and help prevent trash from landing in the ocean.  

Watch for a special post from children's book author, Patricia Newman. 

Meanwhile, learn how 

you can help from this video.

Be a Plover Lover

Who doesn't love a walk along the beach?  Discovery is everywhere.  

There are shells.

 Barnacles.

Birds of all sorts.

 And sometimes a surprise, like a rare snowy plover!

Snowy plovers are tiny shore birds that are threatened species. That means, they are not doing very well and could become extinct. 

They make their nests on the beach.  And that's the snowy plover's challenge.  The nests are hard to see by us because they are tucked into dried kelp, driftwood and rocks. But coyotes, raccoons, owls and falcons can find them and dine on the eggs or the even the baby chicks.

Because their nests are camouflaged, you and I are a big danger to snowy plovers too.  And while our dogs love to run on the beach with us, they can accidentally destroy a snowy plover nest. 

Kites also scare snowy plovers.  They might mistake a kite in the air as a predator bird hunting for a fresh supper.

We can help the snowy plover by staying far away from areas where they nest during March and September.  Watch for signs and ropes on the beach. And remember Share the Beach and become a Plover Lover!

---all photos by C. Coimbra

10 Amazing Facts About Lion's Mane Jellyfish

We have a special guest today!


This guest post is by Cherilyn Jose, a SCUBA diver, photographer, writer and blogger.  Her blog, "Ocean of Hope: Marine Animals Voice Their Wishes" is often written from an animal's point-of-view.  Check it out here Ocean of Hope: Marine Animals Voice Their Wishes and follow her on twitter @protectoceans

Note: Since Jellyfish aren’t really fish, I will now refer to them as Jellies instead

Lion's Mane Jelly. C. Coimbra photo

1. The Lion’s Mane Jelly is the largest Jelly in the ocean.  Its bell can reach up to 8 feet in diameter, and its tentacles up to 120 feet long (that’s longer than a blue whale!).
2. The Lion’s Mane Jelly lives in the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Arctic Oceans.
3. The Lion’s Mane Jelly is bioluminescent (glows in the dark!).
4. Like all jellies, the Lion’s Mane Jelly has no brain, blood, or nervous system.
5. Like all jellies, the Lion’s Mane Jelly is 95% water.
6. There are 200 species of True Jellies.
7. All Jellies are radially symmetrical.
8. Jellies have no eyes, but rather eye spots that detect light and dark.
9. Lion’s Mane Jellies have nematocysts in their tentacles that they use to sting their prey. Nematocysts are barbs (sharp points) filled with venom.
10. A Jelly can sting you even if washed up on the beach so be careful!  Jelly stings on humans can be treated with vinegar to lessen the pain.