The final Ocean Night of the season is Wednesday, March 4 and will feature the debut of the next episode of Salish Sea Wild, which is all about Tufted Puffins. On Wednesday, March 4, The SeaDoc Society will debut the next episode of Salish Sea Wild, which is all about Tufted Puffins—a beautiful species of seabird that used to be a common sight in the Salish Sea, but have nearly disappeared.

Ocean Night is a monthly series of free movies and live events at the Sea View Theatre on the first Wednesday of each month. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the event runs from 7-8 p.m. Concessions and the bar are open. All ages are welcome and there is no need to RSVP, but you’re advised to arrive early to get a seat.

The March 4 event will be featured the debut of the new episode, as well as a live presentation by SeaDoc Science Director Joe Gaydos and Salish Sea Wild Director Bob Friel. They’ll also share some behind-the-scenes footage and tell some exclusive stories about their travels, plus some bonus knowledge about other species in the ecosystem.

Tufted puffins only visit two of their more-than 15 former nesting sites within the Salish Sea, and their population in Washington State has plummeted from 23,000 in the 1980s down to just 3,000. Not only did SeaDoc Society lead the work to get them listed as endangered, but they also wrote the plan for their recovery. This episode of Salish Sea Wild tells the next chapter of that story, which involves our team trekking out to rugged coastlines in search of them.

The SeaDoc Society and Camp Orkila are able to make this a free event thanks to donations from Kathy Dickinson, Dean and Audrey Stupke, Jim and Kathy Youngren, Barbara Brown, Barbara Bentley, West Sound Marina, The Averna Family (Deer Harbor Charters), Madrona Inn Bar & Grill, Shearwater Kayak Tours, San Juan County Marine Resources Committee, and all who supported SeaDoc Society through the Orcas Island Community Foundation’s GiveOrcas campaign.