Oregon Shores

The clock is ticking. Help Oregon Shores raise $500,000 by the end of August to keep critical coastal conservation, education, advocacy, and community science programs moving forward. Give today and help protect Oregon’s coast when it needs us most. 🌊

BABY Southern Resident killer whale: In June, a calf was spotted in the L Pod of the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population. L130, as this newest member of the L Pod is known, was first seen in British Columbia, traveling with a female known as L93. 🌊

Precarious population: The Southern Residents have captured the attention of the world with their strong social bonds and unique behaviors. Their preferred prey is salmon. The declining salmon population, combined with the noise of vessel traffic, and high contaminant levels, has threatened their survival. Since 2005, the population has declined over 10 percent. The birth of two calves in the L Pod this year is a sign of hope. Today, the population of Southern Residents is estimated at 76.

Collaborative efforts: While Southern Residents typically remain in Washington State and transboundary waters with British Columbia in the spring, summer, and fall, they migrate south in the winter and have been seen as far south as central California. Little is known about their time on the Oregon coast. Last year’s Searching for Killer Whales project is one of many ways that individuals can contribute to our understanding of this endangered species through community science programs. 

Stay tuned for the results from Season 1 of our Searching for Killer Whales community science program: https://oregonshores.org/searching-for-killer-whales/ 🎉

Seaside, Bay Ocean Spit, Newport’s South Beach, Yachats. This year, whales were stranded on beaches near each of these communities. Familiar along the Oregon coast, gray whales are having a particularly challenging year. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 145 gray whales have been found stranded along the coasts of the United States, Canada, and Mexico so far in 2026. Malnutrition, vessel strikes, predation, and entanglement have all contributed to this increased mortality rate. 🐳

In addition, Oregon Shores CoastWatchers have reported an increasing number of stranded seals and sea lions as well. 🦭

When you see a stranded whale or other marine mammal, report it to NOAA’s West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network at 866-767-6114. Please report all strandings, including dead, injured, or otherwise stranded marine mammals.  These reports help researchers like Jim Rice, stranding program manager for the Marine Mammal Institute at Oregon State University, better understand the impacts of changing ocean conditions on marine mammal populations.

On Friday, Oregon Shores got to join the summer camp fun with Lincoln City Parks & Rec !

After a lesson about natural vs non-natural materials and learning the definition of Marine Debris, students created one of a kind mosaics using marine debris collected by Oregon Shores volunteers during beach cleanups.

Inspired by nature, students created a wide variety of mosaics including:

🐼 Panda Bear Habitat
🚀 Rocket ships
🦫Beaver Dams
🌊 Islands with Pirate Ships
🌈 Rainbow Rivers
☀️Sunsets over the ocean

After making their mosaics, each kiddo presented their artwork to the full group during a gallery walk.

We are always so inspired by seeing the creativity of students designing with what was previously trash on the beach.

👉 Have you ever been inspired to reuse marine debris creatively?

Huge victory for the Oregon Coast! https://www.surfrider.org/news/victory-in-oregon-local-hazard-rules-apply-when-building-private-roads-on-the-coast

Oregon Shores, Seven Capes Bird Alliance, Oregon Parks & Recreation Department (OPRD), and WEBS are teaming up to host a bio-survey at the south beach of Cape Lookout State Park on August 16, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. This event is part of a month-long, statewide Rocky Habitat bio-organism survey through iNaturalist! 

Get a workout on this moderately difficult 4 mile round trip hike, make friends, and learn more about your favorite near shore and intertidal species while we identify species and enter data into the iNaturalist database. We will take our time as we return to our vehicles, taking care along uneven patches of the trail, and identifying upland species as we gain 860 feet in elevation.  

We will meet at 8 am at the Cape Lookout trailhead parking lot.  There is a $10 daily or $60 annual parking pass required that supports Oregon State Parks. Parking passes are also available free of charge at the Tillamook County Public Library. While there is a Cape Lookout State Park closure in effect, the parking lot and south trail remain open during the closure. 

Register here: https://oregonshores.org/event/cape-lookout-hike-rocky-habitat-biosurvey/

Celebrating A Month of Marine Reserves! What habitats and species exist in Oregon’s marine reserves?

Oregon’s marine reserves protect a diversity of ocean habitats, from the shoreline to the seafloor. Each ecosystem plays a unique role in supporting various marine species and contributes to the overall health of the coast. 🌊

In the intertidal zone, life is shaped by the rise and fall of the tides. Rocky tidepools shelter ochre sea stars, aggregating and giant green anemones anemones, California mussels, hermit crabs, various snails, and diverse algae species, all adapted to survive exposure to sun, wind, and waves.

 
Below the surface, rocky reef habitats provide structure and sanctuary amidst the constant surge of the sea. Rockfish, lingcod, bull kelp, sea stars, wolf eels, giant pacific octopus, and more rely on these hard-bottom areas for food, shelter, and reproduction.

Kelp forests serve as "underwater rainforests" of our coastline, primarily composed of fast-growing bull kelp. This towering habitat serves as a vital nursery where juvenile rockfish and snails hide from predators, gray whales feast on mysid shrimp and sea urchins graze along the seafloor. Beyond supporting wildlife, these forests are true climate heroes; they are powerhouses of carbon sequestration that help de-acidify local waters and act as a natural buffer for our shorelines against heavy winter storms. 

Sandy-bottom habitats may appear empty, but they are full of life beneath the surface. Clams, worms, flatfish, crabs, sea pens, and burrowing animals live within the sand, recycling nutrients and supporting the marine food web. 🦀

 
Together, these connected habitats show how marine reserves protect not just individual species, but entire ocean systems.

Next, learn about the science that takes place in the reserves!

 
Follow along with ODFWMarine and Oregon Marine Reserves Partnership for marine reserve information!

When it comes to changing color, no crab on the Oregon Coast does it better than the kelp crab! The colors can vary in browns, yellowish greens, and reds. This remarkable ability comes from absorbing the pigmentation of the algae it eats and allows it to blend seamlessly into the background. 🌞

The habitat range for kelp crab extends from Southern Alaska to Baja California. They prefer nice, dark homes with plenty of places to hide. So kelp forests, rocky shorelines, eelgrass, and even pilings are all ideal habitats. Kelp crabs are adapted to have a “velcro-like" rough texture on the tips of their legs, which helps them cling to eelgrass and kelp. Next time you’re tidepooling, make sure to keep an eye out for them in eelgrass meadows or among seaweed! 🌿

Kelp crabs are incredibly important for maintaining the balance in the marine ecosystem. Halibut, Kelpfish, Woolly Sculpin, and Sea Otters all depend on Kelp Crabs as a vital food source. 🍽️

Interestingly, the relationship between kelp crab and bull kelp remains a mystery. Ongoing research is underway to investigate how the presence of kelp crab influences kelp growth. Continuing restoration efforts for eelgrass and kelp forests ensures the longevity of these fascinating species!

Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples have been in relationship with the lands that we live, work, and play on today throughout Oregon and the Pacific Northwest since time immemorial and continue to be a vibrant part of Oregon today.

One month ago, Chinook Indian Nation
Lewis and Clark NHP NOAA Marine Debris Program Elizabeth Roberts Oregon and Oregon State Parks
unveiled a stunning new permanent art display at Sunset Beach State Park at the Fort to Sea Trailhead parking lot.

Created from debris collected along our coastline, this artwork tells a deeper story about our connection to the ocean and the growing impact of marine pollution on coastal ecosystems. It honors the cultural and ecological importance of salmon in the Pacific Northwest and invites us to reflect on how everyday actions affect the health of our beaches, waterways, and marine life.

When reflecting on this culminating event after more than a year of work, Marine Debris Artist Elizabeth Roberts wrote,

"Too often native people are referred to in the past tense, however we are still here, speaking our languages and practicing our cultures and traditions. That point was made very apparent during the early development stages of this project and validated my decision to pursue bringing visibility to north coast tribes.

I am very grateful that the Chinook Nation agreed to partner with me on this project, and honored that Tony Johnson, artist and Chairman of the Chinook Nation, entrusted me with his designs and to accurately represent Chinookan art and culture. I am grateful for the freedom they gave me to follow my heart with this project and their trust in my vision.

This project has truly embodied what we Cherokee call Gadugi, one of our core community values that essentially means working together for the greater good of all. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and hope that this work inspires all who encounter it to become better caretakers of Mother Earth. May the people remember their promise to the salmon, as the salmon continue to remember and uphold their promise to the people. Wado."

Join us! Mile 290 at Barview Jetty with Oregon Shores. Details here: https://share.google/biq2ktAXCHicNJtTf