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Winter may feel still from a distance but look a little closer and Puget Sound is full of activity. Flocks of birds gather on the water, tiny fish are busy in the sand, and our shoreline landscapes shift with each high tide. This season offers some of the best moments to notice how vibrant and connected our local ecosystems really are.
Did you know a group of waterfowl gathered on the water is called a “raft of birds”? Just like its name suggests, they cluster together, almost like a floating raft! The photo below taken on Bainbridge is a raft of a mixed flock of diving ducks. Some local experts pointed out that their formation looks to be a classic hunting formation of merganser ducks perusing a ball of forage fish just below the surface. Even when the birds appear as grainy silhouettes, their behavior gives us clues about what’s happening on the water.
 Raft of Birds - Image from Amy
Audubon’s 126th Christmas Bird Count
December 14, 2025 – January 5, 2026
Bundle up and join bird lovers near you to help count winter birds and contribute to a century-long tradition of community science! Find a count near you, get tips for participating, and share your sightings by visiting: Join the Christmas Bird Count | Audubon
Grab your binoculars and join the fun!
Learn more about the different bird species that call Puget Sound Home:
Bird Species List - Puget Sound Estuarium
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Kitsap Conservation Native Plant Sale
We are excited to share the Kitsap Conservation Native Plant Sale has begun! This is your chance to bring beautiful native plants into your yard, support local wildlife, and boost soil and water health across Kitsap County.
Act fast: Supplies are limited, so early orders get the best selection!
Easy online ordering: Pay with debit or credit. Trees and shrubs come in bundles of ten, and veggie starts in 6-packs. Orders are, first come, first served.
Pickup made simple: Drive-through pickup in March at the Sheep Barn, Kitsap County Fairgrounds.
Need help? Call 360-204-5529 - The Kitsap Conservation Team is happy to guide you so everyone can bring home native plants for their landscape.
Order Plants here: Native Plant Sale - Kitsap Conservation District
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Species Spotlight: Pacific Sand Lance
 Photo from NOAA website. Sand lance popping head out of the sand.
Winter is a critical time for one of our tiniest but important fish: the Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus). These small, slender fish are an important part of the Puget Sound food web, providing essential nourishment for salmon, seabirds, and marine mammals.
From November through February, sand lance lay their eggs in sandy, gently sloping beaches. Natural shores with loose sand make the perfect nursery. Hardened shorelines with bulkheads or concrete can wash away or compact that sand, leaving fewer safe spots for eggs.
Why You Should Care:
Pacific sand lance might be tiny, but they are super important for our Puget Sound!
They make up about 60% of young Chinook salmon diets. Protecting sand lance helps salmon grow and survive.
Sand lance are also food for many other fish, like halibut, rockfish, and lingcod.
Birds rely on sand lance too, including the endangered Marbled Murrelet, plus Rhinoceros Auklets, gulls, and other seabirds.
Even marine mammals like seals, sea lions, porpoises, and humpback whales eat sand lance.
Homeowners can make a big difference with small changes:
- Remove bulkheads where feasible.
- Keep or plant native vegetation along your shoreline.
By giving sand lance, a safe place to spawn, you’re helping the entire Puget Sound food web, one tiny fish at a time!
Learn More & Resources
Forage fish in Puget Sound | Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
Pacific Sand Lance Fact Sheet
Where do Pacific sand lance live and why does it matter? — SeaDoc Society
Creature Feature: Pacific Sand Lance - Island Fisherman Magazine
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Share your winter photos with us!
Whether it’s wildlife passing through, waves rolling in, or the view from your backyard bluff, your photos help us highlight the beauty and resilience of Puget Sound’s shorelines year-round.
We may feature your images (with credit) to inspire others to appreciate and care for their piece of the shoreline.
Send your photos to: shorefriendly@kitsap.gov
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We’re excited to share a brand-new resource on our page! Created by the Northwest Straits Foundation, Shore Friendly Living: A Stewardship Guide for Shoreline Property Owners is full of tips and ideas that are perfect for Kitsap County homeowners. We hope you enjoy exploring this helpful guide!
NSF-ShoreFriendly-ForWeb829.pdf
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