Tag Archives: Sea Stars

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It looks the Sea Stars continue to recover from the wasting disease. CeCe Case photographed a group of Ochre Stars at low tide. As you can see, they come in a variety of colors!

They were formerly called Starfish, but they aren't fish. Hence the name change to Sea Stars. Ochre Stars normally have five arms, but I saw a recent photo of one with eight arms.

There are many incredible creatures living in the intertidal zone.

Thanks to CeCe for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Cooler today, with a breeze off the ocean.

Spring doesn't know...

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Willie Brown went to Cooks Beach last week during the minus tides. He found Ochre Sea Stars, Pisaster ochraceus.

He also photographed a Star that looks to eating a mussel or some barnacles.

These Sea Stars indicate a healthy ecosystem in the intertidal zone.

Thanks to Willie B for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

We are having a sizzlingly hot day today - 96 degrees in the shade on our deck. Relief is promised for tomorrow.

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Sea Stars, formerly called Starfish, are back, recovered from the wasting disease that decimated their numbers. Cece Case recently photographed three Ochre Stars off Cooks Beach in Gualala.

Peter Fimrite, of the San Francisco Chronicle, wrote about their miraculous recovery. He wrote, "The colorful invertebrates have undergone a remarkable genetic adaptation that is protecting them from the deadly pathogen, a new study has found." You can read Peter's entire article at this link: https://www.sfchronicle.com/science/article/Starfish-on-California-coast-nearly-wiped-out-by-13018262.php

It truly is wonderful news. With the Sea Stars absence, Sea Urchins proliferated, decimating the kelp beds. This led to Abalones starving. It is hoped...and expected...that with the Stars recovery, the intertidal zone of the Pacific Ocean will be more in balance.

Thanks to Cece for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

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Sea Stars were hit hard by a wasting disease, which began several years ago. Their demise is one of the reasons things are out of balance in the ocean. I'm happy to report healthy Stars are being seen in the intertidal zone. John Wall recently photographed an Ocher Star.

Earlier this year Martin Steinpress found baby Stars, a heartwarming sighting.

In years past, Sea Stars, formerly called Starfish, were seen in abundance. Craig Tooley took this great photo some years ago. May this become a more common sighting in the years to come.

Craig's photo appears in our book, Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year. He titled it "Sea Star party."

Thanks to John, Martin and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see more of Craig's nature photography, visit his website www.ruffimage.com

A warm, windless day so far on this Memorial Day.

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Martin Steinpress was out on the rocks at low tide at Cooks Beach. He wrote, “I saw a few medium-size Sea Stars, including two orange ones next to a bunch of Purple Sea Urchins. I found a whole ecosystem of inhabitants beneath and between some Mussels, including these small, one-inch-diameter Sea Stars. It’s nice to see them returning to our coast in a big way.”

Sea Stars, formerly called Starfish, were devastated by a wasting disease. It’s believed to be a virus, and warmer waters might be a factor too. We have an over-abundance of Sea Urchins, causing an imbalance in the Pacific Ocean’s ecology. Sea Urchins have been eating much of the kelp, which leaves not enough kelp in some areas for the Abalones.

Sea Stars eat Sea Urchins, so we are rooting for their continued good health!

Thanks to Martin for allowing me to share his photos with you here.