Tide Talks
Join us for Tide Talks, a pay-what-you-can, in-person speaker series celebrating small boat recreation and the stories, science, and stewardship that surround it.
Held in our Wheelhouse, these community conversations explore topics like sea star wasting disease, racing to Alaska, and other adventures and issues connected to life on the water.
All ages are welcome. A hearing loop and live captions are available to support accessibility. Come learn, connect, and be part of a welcoming waterfront community.
Previous Topics
Marine Birds of the Salish Sea
This two-hour class explored seabird identification, focusing on the diving birds most commonly seen in the Salish Sea. Participants learned to recognize loons, grebes, cormorants, scoters, alcids, select gulls, and more, with clear comparisons between breeding and non-breeding plumage. The session also highlighted feeding, nesting, and wintering behaviors that shape how these birds use the Salish Sea year-round.
Pam Borso
Coastal and Beach Restoration in Bellingham Bay and Beyond
Explore how Bellingham Bay’s coastal ecosystems have changed since settlement and decades of restoration work around the bay. Early Puget Sound projects illustrated shared goals and design challenges, alongside the story of the former GP waterfront site. Striking before-and-after images showcased beloved waterfront parks—Little Squalicum Estuary Park, Waypoint Park, Boulevard Park, and Marine Park—and previewed plans for the future Salish Landing Park at the former landfill and RJ Haley wood treatment site.
Jim Johannassen
Lucy RitterBioluminescence of the Salish Sea
Bioluminescence, the production of light by a living organism, has been observed across a diverse range of species around the world. Marine bioluminescence in particular has a remarkably widespread distribution and is used by many different types of organisms, from microscopic plankton to deep-sea sharks and squid. This talk will served as a broad introduction to marine bioluminescence, with a focus on examples of bioluminescence found here in the Salish Sea.
Marine Birds of the Salish Sea
This two-hour class explored seabird identification, focusing on the diving birds most commonly seen in the Salish Sea. Participants learned to recognize loons, grebes, cormorants, scoters, alcids, select gulls, and more, with clear comparisons between breeding and non-breeding plumage. The session also highlighted feeding, nesting, and wintering behaviors that shape how these birds use the Salish Sea year-round.
Pam BorsoCoastal and Beach Restoration in Bellingham Bay and Beyond
Explore how Bellingham Bay’s coastal ecosystems have changed since settlement and decades of restoration work around the bay. Early Puget Sound projects illustrated shared goals and design challenges, alongside the story of the former GP waterfront site. Striking before-and-after images showcased beloved waterfront parks—Little Squalicum Estuary Park, Waypoint Park, Boulevard Park, and Marine Park—and previewed plans for the future Salish Landing Park at the former landfill and RJ Haley wood treatment site.
Jim JohannassenLucy RitterBioluminescence of the Salish Sea
Bioluminescence, the production of light by a living organism, has been observed across a diverse range of species around the world. Marine bioluminescence in particular has a remarkably widespread distribution and is used by many different types of organisms, from microscopic plankton to deep-sea sharks and squid. This talk will served as a broad introduction to marine bioluminescence, with a focus on examples of bioluminescence found here in the Salish Sea.