Kwiaht and the Indian Island Marine Health Observatory announce their fifth annual winter nighttime low-tide walk for Orcas families and children.

This year, special attention will be devoted to screening sea stars for evidence of a wasting disease that has affected some populations of Sunflower Stars near Vancouver, B.C., and elsewhere on the West Coast and to investigating the fluorescence of some fish.

Previous winter night walks have encountered red octopus, orange striped grunt sculpins, dozens of mating green kelp crabs and rafts of wriggling frosted nudibranchs, as well as huge sunflower stars up to three feet in diameter.

The adventure begins outside the Outlook Inn at 8 p.m. on Jan. 29.  Kwiaht director Russel Barsh recommends dressing for the weather in warm, waterproof clothes, with rubber boots, and bring headlamps and a waterproof flashlight or lantern.

Kwiaht and IIMHO also ask that nighttime visitors to the island observe “tidepool etiquette” and avoid turning over large rocks or handling animal.  All activities will be in the inter-tidal zone.  The top of the island remains closed for winter.