the Breakwater

A newsletter from the Prince William Sound Science Center

April 6, 2023

The winning "char-coot-erie" board from our Latin roots Science Charcuterie game night.

Join us in following the herring surveys!

It's that time of year again when we wait for the excitement of the herring spawn. We have reason to be hopeful that the population may be growing but we won’t know for a while yet. There are aerial and vessel based surveys underway and there are a couple of ways to track what is being found.

You can follow the Prince William Sound Herring Watch page on Facebook. We do our best to update this with the most recent findings.

The aerial spawn surveys can be tracked on the Alaska Department of Fish & Game herring spawn interactive map. You'll find the most recent information and you can explore the historical information as well. The surveys also include information on whales, sea lions, seals, and birds, and comes complete with pictures from the surveys.

Screenshot of the interactive ADF&G Prince William Sound Herring Aerial Surveys web map portal.

April is otter month at the PWSSC

Did you know there are 13 species of otters found across the world? Two species can be found in Alaska: the northern river otter and the sea otter. Otters are carnivorous mammals that can be found in oceans, rivers, lakes, and swamps. They are semi-aquatic, meaning they spend some of their lives in water and some on land. Otters have webbed feet for swimming and dense fur to keep them warm. They also have a special adaptation that allows them to close their ears and nose while swimming.

The northern river otter weighs an average of 22 pounds. They can be found in lakes, streams, marshes, and rivers from the Rio Grande to northern Alaska. The northern river otter has a diverse diet that consists of fish, insects, small mammals, amphibians, and small reptiles like turtles. They are sociable creatures and can be seen playing with others.

The sea otter weighs an average of 60 pounds. They have short faces, retractable claws, the densest fur of any mammal. Flaps under their forearm are used for storage of things like rocks (that they use as tools) and food. They can be found along the Pacific Coast from California to Alaska. Their diet consists mainly of invertebrates: sea urchins, sea stars, octopuses, mussels, etc. They are polygynous, meaning they will have multiple mates.

Learn more about otters in Alaska, and the 11 other species found around the world by reading the full article on our website. Follow us on social media to keep learning fun facts about otters all month long!

Nature journal river otter sketch by former Americorps member, Nicole Webster.

Community events calendar for April

We hope you can join us this month for some science fun! All events take place at the Prince William Sound Science Center unless otherwise noted. Different programs are intended for certain ages, noted below. All are welcome to attend. A calendar of events can be found on our website. If you would like to receive email notifications for upcoming community education programs, subscribe here.

April 7 (2:30-3:30) Fun Friday: Otters

Who is ready for an otterly fun time? Join us as we learn about river otters and sea otters through games, crafts, and hands-on demonstrations. The intended audience is kids in grades K-4 and their caregivers.

April 11 (7-8 pm) Tuesday Night Talk

Connecting Across Ecoregions with Kate Trudeau, PWSSC

April 18 (7-8 pm) Tuesday Night Talk

Hummingbird Banding Project 15 Years of Discovery with Kate McLaughlin, Audubon.

April 21 (7 pm) No Man’s Land Film Festival

Join us at the Cordova Center for two hours of outdoor films featuring women who are exploring identity, adventure, and conservation. Doors open at 6:30 and the show will start at 7:00. All attendees are entered into a drawing for a door prize. Tickets are $20 in advance; $25 at the door. All proceeds go to the Women in Science scholarship which provides funds for Cordova girls to attend science summer camp. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Science Center or Cordova Gear.

April 23 (7-8 pm) Yoga: Salmon

Take a break from prepping your salmon fishing gear and stretch your body with salmon-themed yoga with Aviva. A $5-10 donation is encouraged to compensate for the instructor’s time.

April 25 (7-8 pm) Tuesday Night Talk

Surf n' Turf Special: Marine Resource Utilization by Coastal Wolves in Southwest Alaska with Ellen Dymit, University of Oregon.

April 27 (2-3 pm) Family Hike

The weather is getting warmer and spring fever abounds! Shake out those wiggles on a family hike. Esa will lead you down a local trail while facilitating trail games and pointing out neat things in nature. Trailhead TBD.

April 28 (2:30-3:30) Fun Friday: Surviving the Wild

Summer is just around the corner, are you ready for a fun and safe time outside? Join us as we explore wilderness survival skills games, crafts, and hands-on demonstrations. Make a map, start a fire, and practice your knots. The intended audience is kids in grades K-4 and their caregivers.

May 1 (10-11 am) Sea Squirts: Bugging Out

Join us as we explore small creepy crawlies with small scientists. We will practice using magnifying glasses, walk like bugs, and make bug crafts. Intended audience is kids ages 3-5 and their caregivers.

Education month in review: March 2023

Fifth graders pretend to be salmon passing by a sonar detector to see which one was tagged (each student was given a small vial, but only one had a tag inside.)

March brought forth sunny weather, longer days, herring spawns, and lots of PWSSC fun. Highlights are below; click here to read full details.

March was “herring month” at the PWSSC. We hosted various events to celebrate including a Tuesday Night Talk with Dr. Alysha Cypher, herring-themed Fun Friday for kids, and after-school art making origami fish.
Adult programs included weekly Tuesday Night Talks, trivia night at the Reluctant Fisherman, tree-themed yoga, and Science Charcuterie game night.
Kid programs included Sea Squirts kitchen science, movie night, Fun Friday: Rocks!, and our weekly Little Dippers program for pre-school aged explorers.
We visited our local elementary school for Discovery Room. Themes included: rain (K), behaviors of light (1st), plant anatomy and a salad party! (2nd), what birds eat with an owl pellet dissection (3rd), the salmon lifecycle and tagging project (5th), and remotely operated vehicles (6th).
At the middle school, our AmeriCorps member, Esa, met with the earth science class to talk about the James Webb Space Telescope.

Mark your calendars!

Our annual benefit gala is scheduled for June 10, 2023. Returning for her second time, Chef Shana Whitlock will be preparing the gourmet dinner.

Highlights of the event include: an online auction from June 6-10, Fisheries Achievement Award reception at the PWSSC, live auction at the ticketed event, fun and games, and more!

Tickets are now on sale. If you're interested in purchasing a ticket, donating to the auction, becoming a sponsor, and/or volunteering please email Signe Baumann for more details.

Check out our growing list of supporters and event details on our website.

The Prince William Sound Science Center is committed to resilient communities and healthy ecosystems. We need your help now more than ever. If you believe in our mission and care about what we do, please consider making a donation today. Every dollar helps us stay stable during these uncertain times.

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