Monthly Archives: March 2002

Starlings

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Saturday, March 30, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 9.0 C  Min. 6.3 C  Reset 7.7 C
MARINE LIFE: only 1 mature Bald Eagle today. Still the pair of geese-will miss them when they leave.This morning they spent several hours by the garden area along the walkway watching the starlings flying nesting material into the air vent hole in the dessaliation plant building. The starlings raised 2 ‘clutches’ last year and it looks like we will again be able to enjoy the antics of the young learning to fly and then hunt for food. The Marine mammals are interesting and certainly impressive by their size but I find bird behavior fascinating.Here we are lucky to observe the full range of activity – courtship, nest building ,egg laying etc. and watching the way they will band together to drive away an eagle or other danger. Individual birds have personalities, some are very aggressive and always on the alert, then others much slower to take action.There are a few gulls already making attempts at getting a nest together but for most of them nest building is a few weeks off yet. The small elephant seal is still on the boat ramp – doesn’t look like we will be using the boat for a while!
HUMAN INTERACTION: 3 ecotour boats, 1 Pleasure craft, 1 College boat- brought some students over to spend the night(filming project)
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:02 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy  Vis. 15 Miles Wind West 17 Knots  Sea 1 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:07 AM

Eagle harassment

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Sunday, March 31, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 10.1 C  Min. 6.5 C Reset 8.5 C
TOTAL PRECIPITATION: Rain 92.5 mm Snow 20.2 cm Total 112.7 mm For the Month.
MARINE LIFE: 1 mature Bald Eagle today, it spent most of the day atop the ridge on the southeast rocks then late in the afternoon, much to the consternation of the gulls and Oyster Catchers, landed on a high point along the east of Gr. Race. There was a lot of noise as the gulls and Oyster Catchers tried to drive the eagle away, at times diving within inches of the eagle’s head.Finally after about 5 minutes the big bird flew off towards Whirl Bay and everything was quiet again.The Juvenile elephant seal has company now, about 17:00 another juvenile elephant seal, just a little larger, hauled out alongside on the ramp.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 2 Ecotour boats through the M.P.A. The college boat picked up the students about 14:30 to return to campus( hope they did not get too wet in the flying spray from the 30+ knt westerly)
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:03 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy �� Vis. 15 Miles �� Wind West 21 Knots �� Sea 3 Foot Moderate
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:50 AM

Early stages of Gull nest building

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Friday, March 29, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 8.7 C  Min. 5.9 C  Reset 7.0 C Rain 0.4 mm
MARINE LIFE: 2 Bald Eagles – 1 mature -1 pair Geese. The day started out quite promising however by 13:00 the westerly picked up to 23knts and gusting 30. The small elephant seal is still nosed up to the boat house door and shows no signs of leaving. Enjoy watching the geese which find the activities of the gulls worth investigating up close- as some of the gulls wander about doing what I call ‘ the best methods of nest materials gathering practice’ the geese waddle along behind and follow the gulls right into what will soon be a danger zone -the nesting area. The gulls tolerate the geese now but once they start constructing nests they will become very territorial and will drive off any threat including another gull. Poor friendly geese!
HUMAN INTERACTION: 2 Ecotour boats and 1 small sailboat through the M.P.A. today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:39 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast Vis. 15 Miles Wind West 11 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:26 AM

Turkey Vultures often land here during the fall migration—

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Thursday, March 28, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 8.1 C Min. 6.0 C Reset 7.1 C  Rain 2.6 mm
MARINE LIFE: 4 Bald Eagles – 3 mature, only one pair of Geese today. Another wet and windy day but did have some visitors of note-just before noon 4 Turkey Vultures landed on the ridge just west of the Learning Centre. The other birds were somewhat wary but did not try to drive away the big vultures as they do with the eagles.The geese were very curious and waddled over to have a look all the time waving their necks back and forth. Unfortunately by the time the geese made their way from the flagpole to where the vultures were, they had taken off towards Bentinck Island.Turkey Vultures often land here during the fall migration but this is the first time I can remember seeing them in the spring.The small elephant seal is still hauled out on the ramp,it’s nose just 3 metres from the boat house door, quite comfortable and unconcerned with us passing by even just inches away.
HUMAN INTERACTION: The College boat in with supplies and to pick up the power washer for return to campus.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:06 PM

Good MorningWEATHER: Sky Cloudy �� Vis. 15 Miles �� Wind South West 21 Knots �� Sea 3 Foot Moderate

posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:34 AM

3 Bald Eagles – 1 mature, 2 pair Geese.

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Tuesday, March 26, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 8.1 C  Min. 6.0 C  Reset 7.0 C  Rain 2.8mm
MARINE LIFE: 3 Bald Eagles – 1 mature, 2 pair Geese. Only the small juvenile Elephant seal hauled out today – 1 of the large bulls floated around at the end of the dock most of the morning but never came ashore. Another wet and windy day but at least the temperatures were fairly moderate,spring rain is good but some sunshine would be sooo welcome.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:09 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast  Vis. 15 Miles  Wind West 25 – 30 Knots  Sea 4 -5 Foot Moderate
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:49 AM

30 knt. winds, driving rain and constant spray!

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Monday, March 25, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max, 10.9 C  Min. 7.0 C  Reset 8.0 C – Rain = 2.8 mm
MARINE LIFE: 1 mature, and 2 immature Bald Eagles arrived as usual at first light but stayed only until just after 10:30 am- maybe they didn’t like the 30 knt. winds, driving rain and constant spray! The rest of the birds were not too active either and for the most part huddled down stoically, with their beaks into the wind and rain. I always feel sorry for the birds when the weather is so nasty.Only the 2 large bull Elephant Seals hauled out on the ramp today – there was a little question of who had rights to the boat ramp today when Mike went down to get the sea water sample- the large bull elephant seals were not happy to be disturbed but at least tolerated the human ‘interaction’ since it was brief ! and careful !!
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:06 PM

distinctive cheerful vocals

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Sunday, March 24, 2002

Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 10.1 C  Min. 6.7 C  Reset 9.0 C
MARINE LIFE: 3 Bald Eagles today,also still enjoying the 2 pair Geese. The Oyster Catchers are around all day now,paired off most of the time but still group together several times during the day, especially early in the morning and late evening to fly dipping and diving and calling out with their distinctive cheerful vocals. Lately we have heard them ‘calling’ back and forth at night.The boat ramp continues to be the popular haul out for 2 large bull and the much smaller juvenile Elephant Seals but they are much less vocal and we hear them only occasionally at night..
HUMAN INTERACTION: 5 Ecotour boats,1 Dive Charter boat and 3 Pleasure Craft through the M.P.A. today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:07 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Clouldy  Vis. 15 Miles Wind West 9 Knot  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:06 AM

Pigeon Guillemots are coming ashore

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Saturday, March 23, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max.11.0 C Min.4.9 C  Reset 7.9 C
MARINE LIFE: 1 mature bald Eagle. 2 pr. Geese. The Pigeon Guillemots are coming ashore in the early morning now, they stay,some near nesting areas others grouped together along the dock, until near noon.2 Bull Elephant Seals spent most of the day hauled out on the boat ramp, the smaller seems much less bothered by the human presence.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 4 Ecotour boats, 6 pleasure craft through the M.P.A.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:55 PM

a change in the weather

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Friday, March 22, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 8.5 C  Min. 3.9 C  Reset 6.2 C
MARINE LIFE: Well the birds are certainly willing to give this ‘spring thing’ another go, what a difference a day can make.At first light the island was alive with honking geese-2 pair- cheerful Oyster Catchers and 80 to 100 noisy gulls.Amazing how a change in the weather can have such an effect , hope it lasts! 1 of the bull Elephant Seals hauled out again on the boat ramp and over the course of the day moved up by the tank room and seemed not at all stressed by the attention of the human visitors, as long as reasonable distance was maintained of course!
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 5 Ecotour boats, 3 Pleasure Craft through the M.P.A. 1 College boat with Garry and students arrived in the afternoon also the station boat made a return trip to Pedder Bay.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:59 PM

Good MorningWEATHER: Sky Cloudy �� Vis. 15 Miles �� Wind North East 11 Knots �� Sea 1 Foot Chop

posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:17 AM

D.N.D.started their blasting exercises

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Thursday, March 21, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 5.1 C  Min. – 1.1 C Reset 4.9 C  Snow 2.2 cm  Total Precipitation 2.2mm
MARINE LIFE: Although the wind did not really ease off until late afternoon the temperature started to moderate by noon and 35-40 gulls soon made an appearance along with the Oyster catchers and 2 geese. A little after 15:30 a second pair of geese flew in from the direction of Bentinck Island.The only marine mammals around were small groups of Harbour Seals hauled out on the southeast rocks and middle rock, did see several small groups of sea lions swimming between West Race and North Rocks.
HUMAN INTERACTION: Today the D.N.D.started their blasting exercises at 11:36 and finished up with the last 3 blast series at 13.:14. The Harbour seals lifted their heads at the first blast,then on the second blast 5 seals hauled out on the southeast rocks and 8 on middle rock, went into the water. There were 2 ecotour boats through the M.P.A. this afternoon -would have been an invigorating trip to say the least!
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:17 PM

Good MorningWEATHER:Sky Overcast  Vis. 15 Miles  Wind North East 30 – 37 Knots  Sea 5 Foot Moderate } } Moderate East Swell

posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:21 AM