FRED'S NEW YEAR PROMISES TO KEEP

Me, Fred the Monkey

Promise to

Join Friends doing good like

Counting Whales in Islands!

http://www.sanctuaryoceancount.org/

to help Humpback Friends!

Clean up Beach every morning walk, evening walk.

Go PLASTIC FREE EVERY FRIDAY

Reduce Plastic Every Day, Recyle for sure.

Visit Kids and Talk Ocean

on at least three continents!!!

Raise Money for good people helping

Endangered Species,

so check out my links!

Visit Pihemanu

to learn more way of helping Albatross friends.

Help kids clean up streams.

Go Plastic Free in Ocean

with Wooden Surfboards, No plastic toys for sand play

Go fishing for fun.

Snorkel. Surf.

Visit Older People, Talk ocean story with them.

Learn English in England

Learn Australian in Australia

Make Friends of Fred Tshirt!!!!!!!!!

Yippeeee!

Find way help Polar Bear

after me, Fred, do Nordland Polar Bear Dip!!!

(Watch for photo with Marrowstone Friends!)

Make at least 100 People Smile and Laugh!!!

Yippppeeee New Year!!!

Fred

In Memory X310

LET THIS BE A BETTER NEW YEAR

When I was a boy I spent a lot of time in the woods,

along a small stream near our home,

and at the beach.

I always wondered then,

why do I not see the birds, the mice, the deer, the whales.

The ones who have died.

When I was on Pihemanu, I saw.

My little friend......the albatross I visited each day

of my study.........She had tried to swim out into the ocean.

I saw her brave the surf and be knocked back, only to try again.

On the day before we left the atoll, I walked

to Monk Seal Point,

hoping to see this one bird I had befriended,

gotten to know, swim out to the reef edge and fly.

To Soar.

It was not to happen.

She had died during the night like so many

albatross fed our leavings. Crayola markers, legos, lighters,

bottle caps, a knife handle, twisted nylon rope, some fishing line,

a couple of chunks of squid.......the only real food, not enough

for her to survive.

My little buddy, Fred

will make the journey to Pihemanu this next summer.

I can only hope he and others with him

will have a more promising report for you.

In Memory of X310.

Please Go PLASTIC FREE FRIDAYS.

SOME SOAR WITH WISDOM

Albatrosses soar with fixed wings.

They can lock the wings in place and soar..........

covering as many as 3 million or more miles in a lifetime.

They are truly majestic on the air pocket just above waves

as if surfers

catching

wind instead of wave.

Wisdom.

Wisdom is the oldest known albatross.

At 58, she has returned to Pihemanu many times

to lay eggs and reproduce her kind

to soar.

I took this photo outside the atoll

in the open Pacific.

This bird would fly off a thousand miles

before returning to feed her young ones.

She would go up into the Bering sea in search of food.

Soaring.

Watching her reminded me of my first years as a father.

I worked at night at the post office while going to the

University of Washington full time during the day.

While hardly soaring, it was a tough duty

with little sleep.

But somehow we are driven as parents to

provide for our young ones

and in those days, our daughter didn't have

as much of my time as I wish,

but every moment was good time.

When albatrosses return home from those long flights,

they aren't around for long.

But they return with just what the kids need.

That is, they return with nourishment if all is good in the sea.

My father and mother-in-law made sure

we, as young parents, had what we needed in our "sea"

and it is up to all of us to make sure the albatross has

that kind of support too. They can not raise their young

alone.

We need the Wisdom to find a way to help them survive.

TESTING THE WINDS, TESTING THE WATERS.........

Some species are endangered, others are in danger..........

Albatrosses like this young one, trying to fledge,

fall into the latter category.

Each morning on Pihemanu, I walked to Monk Seal Point,

swinging wide around the seals resting on the beach

and watching razorfish and 'ama 'ama pop air at the surface.

Sometimes I would swim, following wrasse and parrotfish

as the sun grew out of a turquoise sea.

The sand here is coral and shell - the volcanic rocks

lie far below the surface, buried after thousands of years

of sinking into the ocean floor. Subsiding like all Hawaiian Islands.

Slowly.

Baby Albatrosses go slowly too, hatching in March

and gradually sprouting feathers to replace soft down

like you see on the face of X310........

The bird you see in this photo was not banded. There are so many

birds hatched, it would seem impossible to imagine banding them all?

I did know her as an individual though, stopping by to mark her progress

each monring as I went about my study of plastic on her sands.

First day, she was at the edge of the Naupaka, probably not having

moved more than a few feet from the "nest" where she was born.

My notes for 15 June 2009 say, "An adult albatross flew by me,

knicking my arm as it flew past - Laysan Chick at beach."

She was just moving out of the bushes onto the sand.

Next day she was at the water's edge, holding her wings outstretched,

testing the wind.

She had already tested the water once

and was knocked back..........

The young birds, once fairly completely feathered, head to the water

and swim out. They don't fly out, they swim until about at the edge

of the atoll.

Then they fly.

But they must be strong enough to swim before they can fly.

I will post another photo in the series of watching this bird

all in Memory of X310

In hopes of ridding the ocean of plastics. 

POLAR BEARS DECLINING

The world of the Polar Bear is shrinking.

When Tom Mangelsen and I brought out

LIONS, TIGERS, AND BEARS

(Boyds Mills, http://www.amazon.com/ )

We knew the bears were in trouble.

In our book, we outline the main problem

and today, the world failed to give a clear and necessary

agreement on climate change.

A Reuters report quotes

Nikita Ovsyanikov, a Russian Polar Bear expert

as saying Russian Polar bears have declined from

4000

to

1500

in the past 20 years.

As the ice disappears, so do the bears.

If politicians can not make needed changes,

can we make the changes to our earth's climate?

Image by Thomas Mangelsen

See our book and especially, his Images of Nature site and

POLAR DANCE

one of the most beautiful wildlife books ever published.

SEA OTTER AND KELP FORESTS

Tom Mangelsen and I have worked together for more than 20 years now.

He is without doubt, the best wildlife photographer on the planet.

I say this mainly because of how his images portray animals

naturally

beautifully

and with all the respect needed. Pau.

I get to share his photos with kids.

I do this in books with Tom's photos and when I talk story with kids.

So, I get to see the response from kids.

They love Tom's photos so much

and no matter where they live,

they can embrace images of their favorite animal,

get to know them better,

and

more importantly,

grow to love and gain responsibility for that favorite animal.

I hear their passionate concerns for whales, dolphins, bears, sea otters......

And here you see a wonderful rendition by Hannah, of an otter

based on seeing Tom's photos.

Hannah may have never seen a wild otter,

but she saw Tom's photo of an otter in the wild.

And, she got it!

I have this original and would not part with it for two million dollars.

Offer three million and we will see,

donating all to helping make sure otters

have the kelp forests they need for the future.

Check out a new and wonderful kelp forest project

at the new otter habitat link!

Thank you Hannah! 

KLOOMACHIN

You may call them Orca or Killer Whale

To the S'Klallam who have known them for centuries,

They are Kloomachin.

No matter what you call them, they are an

Endangered Species in Puget Sound

where they carry heavy loads of pollutants such as PCB and PBDE,

chemicals that can cause interference with reproduction and immune response.

A serious problem for the whales

has to do with actions on land that harm salmon runs.

Salmon are a major prey of Orcas

and have declined, some also being listed as endangered or threatened.

Habitat loss, poorly managed hatcheries, and overfishing

all contrubute to salmon losses.

Watch for an exciting project, 80 Orcas

which is aimed at educating about how you can help

the whales.

Artwork by Sue Coccia

Edmonds, Washington

CLEANER WRASSE AND PARROT FISH

John Hoover devotes his life to photographing

Underwater Worlds.

He generously gifts his images like this to help us understand and appreciate

FISH.

The larger fish is a parrot.

Chomps algae and coral to create sandy beaches.

This is a well known and often stated connection in coral reef ecology.

Parrot fish are critical to coral survival. Coral is critical to parrot fish survival.

So too, the tiny Cleaner Wrasse.

That is the little bugger of purple and gold.

It is curled near the bigger fish, but often is seen darting into mouths of

bigger fish like Ulua and Surgeons.

The Cleaner Wrasse stations itself at a location on the reef.

Bigger fish come over and get cleaned of parasites

and stuff caught between their teeth.

Like my dental hygenist, Jeannie, they serve a most important role.

A couple weeks ago I was snorkeling on Kauai at a favorite spot.

It had been maybe three years since I had seen a cleaner wrasse here....

My friend Tom was along and I had told him about how the wrasse had

been there....always. For years and years.

Much to my delight, there were TWO cleaners working the little shelf

where I first saw them twenty years ago.

So, maybe they can come back if we take care of the reefs?

Most important to remember ---

ALL parts, ALL species must be there

to make it all work right. To be Pono.

Thanks to John Hoover for his tireless work

educating us with his books and more.

Be sure to see his

The Ultimate Guide to

Hawaiian

Reef Fishes

22,000 POLAR BEARS

22,000

Today, this is the number of Polar Bears thought to live on earth.

That's about the population of Glendale, Arizona or Niagara, New York.

Not many.

Some with good knowledge of changes in Arctic habitat say

ALL Polar Bears on earth will vanish,

become extinct

in 100 years.

If you would like a 22,000 Polar Bear Poster to begin the count down

and to begin changes to turn this all around,

comment.

Fred The Monkey noted.

There are no Polar Bears in Copenhagen this week.

There are oil companies and others with interest in

seeing polar bears disappear.

We want you to learn more about the bears.

Listen to their story.

22,000 Bears count on you to reduce emissions

far more than President Obama thinks politically possible.

Keep in touch for more on 22,000 Bears Can Not Be Wrong. 

And what does this have to do with Hawaii?

Polar Bears and Coral Reefs vanish for the same reason......us.

ALIENS KEEP US FROM LANDING

What do you see when you look at this photo?

Black-footed Albatrosses.

Marine Debris, definite threat to much ocean life.

Look closer.

The birds rest within native beach morning glories

here on Pihemanu (aka Midway).

Behind them are other natives, naupaka lining the backshore for one.

And, those yellow flowers????

The yellow flowers belong to one of the greatest threats to Albatrosses.

Verbesina.

This introduced plant covers wide swaths of the small islands

where Albatrosses nest, or try to nest.

Some of you have wondered why upland plants and animals

are part of the museum...........it's about all the needs of the ocean

and ocean life.

Verbesina was likely brought to Midway, accidentally

on the tracks of construction equipment during WWII.

It grows rapidly and forms dense "forests" up to ten feet tall.

It only needs a day of rain to keep it climbing higher for an entire month.

It has adapted well to the sandy soil on these islands and it covers once

ideal albatross nesting habitat. The birds are simply unable to penetrate the

thickets and where they do nest in Verbesina areas, nesting success is

reduced, partly because adults returning with food have a more

difficult time finding their young.

Greg Schubert lives and works tirelessly

to rid Pihemanu of Verbesina. He and occasional volunteers

pull up Verbesina, outplanting natives that are outcompeting the alien invader.

Stay tuned for progress he is making and for the many attempts to

restore native plants in the main Hawaiian Islands where

more endangered plants occur per unit area

than any other place on earth.

You can help by joining Friends of Midway

http://www.friendsofmidway.org/

You can also help by planting and encouraging protection of

NATIVE PLANTS

in your own watershed no matter where you live.      

YANGTZE FINLESS PORPOISE

One of the smallest of all whales,

the Yangtze Finless Porpoise

may follow the Baiji into extinction

unless China adopts protective measures for this rare mammal.

Learn more from the Baiji Foundation.

CHINOOK SALMON

What can I add to the chinook litany?

I was a boy catching them and releasing the juveniles

for reasons hard to explain in 1960.

Somehow, I had learned the difference between coho,

chinook, and cutthroat trout. Steelhead too.

The chinooks I loved so much for their black etching on fins

and sleek, steel sides.

It wasn't until my friend Mike Reed and I worked for the

Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe

and when friend, Jim Lichatowich and I

discovered their mysterious movements

that I truly fell in love with these fish.

Of course, there were earlier days when my wife, Brenda

landed a 42 pounder

and my father in law taught me much about catching big fish, commercially.

but those were days of plenty.

We. Mike. Jim. And I.

We tried to teach salmon as Mike would say.

Try to get people to realize these fish were disappearing.

And now, I go to the store and see them for sale.

Endangered Chinook. Smoked.

And just tonight, I walk the beach to see their home so destroyed

by cruise ships, overfishing, plastic, indifference.

When will we ever learn.

When will we ever learn.

Chinook Salmon.

Artwork by the most generous, Jocelyn Slack.

Thanks Jocelyn.

If you are the lucky person to own an original Jocelyn piece of art,

You will also be treated to a special chinook salmon field trip

to the Dungeness River

Strait of Juan de Fuca

and More!

Enter the Museum and Enter the world of salmon, orcas, and wider oceans!

The Story

"All of these lines across my face

tell you the story of who I am

so many stories of who I am

so many stories of where I have been

and how I got to where I am"

Lyrics by Phil Hanseroth

Sung with much love by Brandi Carlile

Photo by Ron Hirschi, Pihemanu

Life Story by X310

Born on Pihemanu

You know the rest of her story........

Go Plastic Free to Help her story have a happier ending

ALL WHALES GREAT AND VERY SMALL

Sue Coccia is a Washington State Artist

with a special love of whales.

Her "Blue Whale"

helps us see into the ocean world of baleen whales.

It is one of many images by Sue you will see here in the Museum of Endangered.

Unfortunately, many whales remain officially listed as endangered.

These include the largest animal to have ever walked, swam, or otherwise

graced the planet with its presence, the Blue Whale.

I saw my first blue whale off the north end of Marrowstone Island.

As it shot a firehose stream of water nearly 30 feet into the sky,

I watched its back, back, back, back, back.....go on for

what seemed forever. They are immense and inspiring animals.

This image is being posted today

to announce a new website aimed at helping one of the smallest

and probably the most endangered of all whales, the Vaquita.

The Vaquita is a porpoise that might reach five feet in length,

compared to the Blue Whale's 80 and even 100 feet.

They live on the edge of extinction

at the head of the Sea of Cortez.

Visit

http://www.vivavaquita.org/

to learn more.

Visit

http://www.acsonline.org/

(American Cetacean Society to learn even more about whales and how to help)

HONU ART IN THE SNOW

One of the great pleasures of being a writer is to work with artists,

artists like Yuko Green.

Yuko lives on the Big Island and knows much about its natural wonders.

One Yuko illustrated for Winter is for Whales

is a favorite I like to share with Keiki.

Some winters there is a lot of snow up on the mountains,

and kids can talk uncle into driving up with his red F150 -

scoop a bunch of snow into the bed of the truck

and cruise on back to the warmth of the beach.

Dump the snow and

MAKE A SNOW HONU!

That's what Kai and Lehua are up to here.

They also let us know we need to keep distance from real Honu

and try to make sure safe nesting beaches remain

on the main islands and up in

Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument

where most Honu nest.

CUTTHROAT TROUT

Few fish on the planet have attracted as much attention as trout.

Cutthroat are natives of the west

and have diversified, geographically

into four major groups of 14 subspecies

according to Rober Behnke.

The photo above by

Pat Clayton

of Fisheyeguyphotography

is a Yellowstone Cutthroat, a trout in trouble in part because

of introduced Lake Trout, fish dumped carelessly into Yellowstone Lake.

I caught my first cutthroat when I was five or six and often

help lead guide trips to explore their habitat with my friend,

Doug Rose.

Doug and I love nothing more than to fly fish in small beaver ponds

where Coastal Cutthroats sometimes live out their entire lives.

Other Coastal Cutthroat swim in the Salish Sea and open Pacific

where they are prey of eagles, harbor seals, and maybe an occasional orca.

You can best view Yellowstone Cutthroat up close (inches from their face)

at Lehardy Rapids, Yellowstone National Park.

Or, to hold one briefly, book a guided tour with the best Montana and

Wyoming Guides, Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone, Montana.

HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL

Brenda Becker has been studying Hawaiian Monk Seals

since 1985.

Her sensitive, thorough, and critical work

has taught us a great deal about these endangered marine mammals.

We have already lost other relatives of the Monk Seal.

In fact, Christopher Columbus more or less started the decline

into extinction of the Caribbean Monk Seal

when he ordered his men to shoot eight of them.

Hawaiian Monk Seals are, unfortunately, still shot by thoughtless people.

Others die from natural predation by sharks.

Some are entangled in marine debris.

Habitat alteration is also a threat.

And yet, many join Brenda Becker to help these marine mammals.

Current USFWS estimates of total population range between 1100 and 1200 seals.

Only one in five juveniles are reaching maturity and

The entire population is declining at a rate of 4% per year.

You can do the math........

Monk Seal Poster Art by Oahu artist, Tammy Yee.

HUMPBACK WHALES, POLAR BEARS, AND HAWAIIAN PLANTS

I had the honor of visiting Papahanauamokuakea

 Marine National Monument

this past summer.

Before the journey, I asked kids to ask me questions about

the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and its ocean life.

Some of the best questions came from Mrs. Charna's Book Club

at Columbus School for Girls.

The kids did research before asking me what to look for, what to

study, and what we might be able to do to help the birds, honu, and other life.

One five year old asked,

"How has climate change affected Humpback Whale Migration Patterns?"

I turned to whale biologist, Jan Straley for the answer.

She said the melting ice is increasing summer humpback whale habitat.

Artwork by Yuko Green

from Winter is for Whales by Ron Hirschi and Yuko Green

POLAR BEARS AND HAWAIIAN PLANTS

Hard to imagine the hand we dealt Polar Bears.

Tough to believe too, that their lives hang in the same balance

as many endangered Hawaiian Plants.

Polar bears are marine mammals and their cubs need to be able to swim

across open seas to reach ice edges.

But those edges are farther and farther apart as ice melts.

Adult bears can not catch seals where ice thins, breaking beneath their heavy bodies

as they stalk their prey.

Climate has changed.

Ice melts.

While up in the rainforest, rain does not fall as often, as much as in times past.

Although separated by a few thousand miles,

Polar Bears and Hawaiian Rainforests suffer from the same changes we cause.

They can survive if we make changes with them in our minds.

Art by Jocelyn Slack    

ENDANGERED HAWAIIAN PLANTS

MORE HAWAIIAN PLANTS AND ANIMALS ARE ENDANGERED, PER SQUARE MILE, THAN ANY PLACE ON EARTH. TO DATE, MORE THAN 300 ARE OFFICIALLY LISTED AS ENDANGERED.

Here are just a few of the plants very much in danger of leaving planet earth forever, some of them due to climate change that is affecting rainfall, therefore, rainforest, therefore, rainforest plants.

Try to find information on these beautiful plants. Maybe even create your own "Adopt a Hawaiian Plant" rescue effort!

Some information can be found about these from Bishop Museum Endangered Plants.

It seems most respectful to list some of the plants with known Hawaiian Names:

Ko'oloa'ula

Liliwai

Mahoe

Kuawawaenohu

Ka'u Silversword

'Ahinahina Haleakala Silversword

Ko'oko'olau

'Olulu

Pua'ala

Uhiuhi

'Awikiwiki

Kamanomano

'Awiwi

'Akoko

'Oha wai

Kauila

Pauoa

Haha

Pu'uka'a

Ha'iwale

'Oha

Na'ena'e

Nioi

Nanu......................................and the list goes on and on and is added to as new plant species are discovered. Anyone with good ideas of protecting these from extinction, do comment or simply take actions you believe are pono.                        

 

ROCKFISH

It's me Fred. Here I am in Australia studying up on Down Under Fish.

So I thought I would call up my way cool artist friend, Evon Zerbetz. She and buddy Ron

have been good buddies ever since they "Built a Book" called Whalemail. they spent lotta time

on that book and got good friendship from sharing love of whale and ocean.

Evon and Ron also love Raven. And Rockfish too.

This is Evon's "Fresh Baked Octopi" from her too fun book

LITTLE RED SNAPPERHOOD

She cut into soft stuff, add ink, put in press and Yipppeee make print to do art.

You gotta meet her in person up in Catch A Can. That in Alaska. Too cold maybe for Fred?

Serious now. You not believe this story.

Ron tell me this. When he boy, Rockfish so much he could fill freezer for family meal.

He do this to help feed family back long time ago. He old you know.

Today, not many rockfish. Maybe Ron catch em all? Don't know, but he wonder too

when we talk fish story.

You know.

Whole lotta kids love endangered soft and cuddly and cute animal.

Kids love penguin, polar bear, dolphin. whale, monkey too maybe?

Rockfish?

Gotta take care of rockfish. They over fished for sure. Big Trawlers come along

Drag bottom and scoop up thousands. Millions maybe. Good friend, Satch,

Ron's best mechanic friend and commercial fisherguy tell story of this.

Satch say he responsible for shark go away. No fooling. Satch say this to me, Fred!

I gotta say you need check out all coast fish stuff. I try set up links. Ron these days

be busy with Tribal wonderful project. Tribe he work with love Rockfish too.

When Ron little young boy he fish and learn from his hero, Russell.

Russell Tribal Elder now and Russell tell Ron many good fish story.

When Ron boy, Russell help show Ron how catch fish in S'Klallam Waters.

Be watch for more on this to learn ways of Salish Sea fishermen. Some girl fisher too. You Bet!

Fred gotta tell friend Evon. We say He'e. Or maybe a lot, Tako for tasty Octopus!

Fred the Fisherman. Australia. Summertime Down Under. Cold Time Up North Country.

GRIZZLY BEAR

The yellow lines you see are GPS tracks of a few Grizzly Bears

moving through the year in a vast area north of Missoula, Montana.

To gain a proper perspective, reach for a Montana map to locate the

Mission and Swan Mountain Ranges. You can then gain a sense of how much

land each bear needs to survive. More importantly, Grizzly supporters urge

that you look at efforts to protect connecting corridors of habitat from the

Greater Yellowstone to Canada.

It will not help the Grizzlies if we isolate them in parks like Yellowstone and Glacier.

The bears need to mix and mingle as they once did and the creators of this map

are working hard to connect lands for sustainable populations of the bears

and the complete community they associate with in Alaska, Canada, and the lower 48.

Kids at Wilson School in Wilson, Wyoming have inspired others to join in efforts by

THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND

and others who are protecting the bears by purchasing lands through the

MONTANA LEGACY PROJECT

Learn more at links for Grizzly Bear Protection

and

Visit Grizzly Bear Habitats in the Museum.

Grizzlies Ocean Animals?

Grizzly Bears, aka Brown Bears love nothing better than to scoop a fish from water.

Wherever healthy rivers run full of cutthroat and salmon, you can be assured

that these same rivers bring healthy freshwaters into the sea. In this way

Grizzlies are one important indicator of wathershed health.

They also dig for clams where they are still present in coastal habitats.

Protect a bear and you are protecting our oceans.

Plastic Free Friday Poster

PLASTIC FREE FRIDAYS

IN MEMORY OF

X310

X310 was born on Pihemanu, Midway Atoll

March 2008. She died in June 2008

Like many albatrosses, X310 was fed plastics by her parents

because parent birds are increasingly unable to tell real food

from the endless stream of bottle caps, markers, lighters, toothbrushes,

and other plastics in the ocean.

An estimated 46,000 pieces of plastic float in every

square mile of ocean, making it tougher for birds

to find flying fish eggs and squid, their natural diet.

You can help by choosing to be plastic free this

and every Friday.

Choose not to buy foods wrapped in plastic, toys made of plastic,

computers, pens, and especially bottles with detachable plastic caps.

THANK YOU

FOR GOING PLASTIC FREE FRIDAYS

Project SOAR http://soaronhirschi.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to copy and post. Mahalo.

WHALE WATERSHEDS

Aina. Land.

Wai. Water.

Kai. Ocean.

All these dance together in beautiful ways on the island, Kaua'i.

When we protect land, water, and ocean we are understanding

and we are gaining the Kuleana (Responsibility) needed to sustain all life.

It's me Fred. My new good person friend, Lynn Soehner, placed this beautiful painting in the Museum up by Ha'ena by Ke'e Beach and into the Pali where water falls from those green cliffs. You see same room of Museum and find plants so in danger, only ONE left on all earth up there. Gotta protect plants of watershed all way from top to sea. My good buddies the corals know this pretty good, yeah! Protect river, Protect coral. All live downstream from one another in big circle of life.

Mahalo Lynn. Your family is so lucky to have you and your creativity. Our ocean family gives you big hug!

Fred. Australia. Dreaming Kaua'i.   

Aloha nui loa from Coral

Aloha from Me, Fred.

This is my friend Madison and her brother, Cole.

They swim with Humuhumu and search for CORAL in Hawai'i for science.

They even got into a book by buddy, Ron and his way cool friend,

Tammy Yee.

Tammy is a dancer, artist, writer, mom, and friend of all us ocean animals.

Their book together helps ocean animals like coral.

It is called Swimming With Humuhumu. You buy. You support Fred and Friends!

Today, Friends I need to introduce are my ANIMAL friends, Coral.

Madison there in picture is diving to see some of the coral at reef in Kaua'i.

Here is Coral message:

HELP!

What more can anyone say?

You can go over to right and find good information for keiki and you too.

You know, Coral are like cities and countries. They build up reefs almost ONE MILE THICK with their very nice limestone.

Coral are now being put on endangered official list, but have been on animal in ocean list for many years because we watch ocean acid and bunch of algae and warm waters and rising waters and lots of sediment in our waters too. You people build too many buildings too close to water edge. For sure. What be matter with all of you?

Me and animal friends want to place Tammy illustrations in our hall of famous artists

who help ocean.

You know other artists need be here, let us know.

And you keiki, send us your art about coral.

We will reward you in many ways!

Send art to Fred, Project Museum of Ocean Life

PO Box 899

Hadlock, Washington 98339

Maybe I send you some pretty shells?

Fred and Coral Friends. Australia. 2009