KnowKi

Learn the wildlife of marine protected areas

Learn the wildlife of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary

WA

1,088 species have research-grade observations in the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary on iNaturalist. KnowKi turns the most recorded into short lessons with real photos, from fish and seabirds to the life along the shore.

Waters off Washington's wild Olympic Peninsula coast, from Cape Flattery south to the Copalis River.

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Āki the kiwi, KnowKi's guide

Most recorded here

The species with the most research-grade observations on iNaturalist, and how many each has. Most recorded doesn't mean native.

Birds

  1. Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus239
  2. Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis231
  3. California Gull Larus californicus115
  4. Black Oystercatcher Haematopus bachmani114
  5. American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos106
  6. Common Murre Uria aalge91
  7. Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri71
  8. Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata62
  9. Pelagic Cormorant Urile pelagicus49
  10. Pigeon Guillemot Cepphus columba48

Plants

  1. Salal Gaultheria shallon211
  2. Sitka spruce Picea sitchensis172
  3. Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis151
  4. Twinberry honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata150
  5. Common yarrow Achillea millefolium139
  6. Common cowparsnip Heracleum maximum135
  7. Western Lily of the Valley Maianthemum dilatatum123
  8. Giant vetch Vicia gigantea102
  9. Pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea94
  10. Leathery polypody Polypodium scouleri85

Mammals

  1. Sea Otter Enhydra lutris153
  2. Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae98
  3. Harbor Seal Phoca vitulina88
  4. Grey Whale Eschrichtius robustus69
  5. North American River Otter Lontra canadensis37
  6. Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus37
  7. Townsend's Chipmunk Neotamias townsendii34
  8. Steller Sea Lion Eumetopias jubatus30
  9. Common Raccoon Procyon lotor27
  10. California Sea Lion Zalophus californianus14

Insects

  1. Pictured Rove Beetle Thinopinus pictus17
  2. Western Tiger Beetle Cicindela oregona12
  3. Spotted Tussock Moth Lophocampa maculata12
  4. Asian Lady Beetle Harmonia axyridis9
  5. Virginian Tiger Moth Spilosoma virginica8
  6. Western Pond Fly Sericomyia chalcopyga8
  7. Greater Night-stalking Tiger Beetle Omus dejeanii8
  8. Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee Bombus mixtus8
  9. Common Drone Fly Eristalis tenax7
  10. Variable Duskyface Fly Melanostoma mellinum7

Amphibians

  1. Western Toad Anaxyrus boreas20
  2. Western Red-backed Salamander Plethodon vehiculum3
  3. Ensatina Ensatina eschscholtzii3

Fish

  1. Tidepool Sculpin Oligocottus maculosus144
  2. Mosshead Sculpin Clinocottus globiceps63
  3. Rosethorn Rockfish Sebastes helvomaculatus47
  4. Lingcod Ophiodon elongatus29
  5. Sharpnose Sculpin Clinocottus acuticeps26
  6. Pacific Dover Sole Microstomus pacificus19
  7. Kelp Greenling Hexagrammos decagrammus15
  8. Cabezon Scorpaenichthys marmoratus13
  9. Pacific Sand Lance Ammodytes personatus13
  10. Pacific Staghorn Sculpin Leptocottus armatus11

Mollusks

  1. Horned Nudibranch Hermissenda crassicornis841
  2. Frilled Dogwinkle Nucella lamellosa381
  3. Striped Dogwinkle Nucella ostrina311
  4. California Mussel Mytilus californianus296
  5. Three-lined Aeolid Orienthella trilineata254
  6. Pacific Razor Clam Siliqua patula244
  7. Pacific Banana Slug Ariolimax columbianus153
  8. Monterey Dorid Doris montereyensis150
  9. Black Tegula Tegula funebralis140
  10. Hind's Chiton Mopalia hindsii119

How a trip works

A trip has its own trail of lessons: meet six species, match them to new photos, then practice with four choices. Species you learn go into your Fieldbook, and starting a trip earns its Passport stamp. Your home place stays as it is.

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Species lists and counts from research-grade observations on iNaturalist, as of October 2026. KnowKi is not affiliated with NOAA or any area's managers. Free, with no ads, no account and no purchases.