Monthly Archives: July 2002

Kayakers approach so quietly they can startle the wildlife-

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Thursday, July 18, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 16.1 C  10.7 C  Reset 14.3 C
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:15 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast  Vis. 15 Miles Wind South West 10 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:03 AM
Wednesday, July 17, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 16.0 C  Min. 11.0 C Reset 12.1 C  Rain tr
MARINE LIFE: Was nice for a change not to have the wind today,don’t mind the clouds, certainly good weather for the chicks- not too hot.The food supply seems to be holding out see lots of nice fresh fish being brought back by the gulls and everywhere you look Pigeon Guillemots returning with blennies. Some of the gulls are going quite a distance at times judging by the clam shells rolling off the roof ! They drop the clams onto roof and the sidewalks to break them open,quite noisey and very messy.
HUMAN INTERACTION: The Hyaku was in this morning,Ryan brought some mail and supplies from the college Ryan brought a group through the reserve in 2nd Nature in the afternoon but did not come ashore. This morning there were a couple of kayakers through and unfortunately they ignored the guidelines with respect to staying the proper distance from shore. This time of the year it is particularly important to follow the guidelines so as not to interfere with feeding birds and harbour seals with pups and those about to give birth.The noise from power boats at least give fair warning but kayakers approach so quietly they can startle the wildlife-please remember maintain at least 100 metres from any marine animal or bird and back off at the first sign of disturbance or agitation.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:35 PM
Good Mornng
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy  Vis 15 Miles  Wind West South West 15 Knots Sea 1 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:01 AM

The eagle was trapped head first in a crevice , unable to take flight.

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Tuesday, July 16, 2002

Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 15.9 �C �� Min. 10.0 �C �� Reset 13.7 �C
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:18 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast Vis. 15 Miles  Wind West 23 Knots  Sea 2 – 3 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:05 AM

Monday, 2July 15,2002 Good Evening

TEMPERATURE: Max. 15.0 C  Min. 9.9 C  Reset 13.1 C
MARINE LIFE: Still the main activity centres around adult birds feeding chicks. The gulls announce their arrival and the chicks run from their hideing spots. Getting the food entails somewhat of a ritual, the adult nods it’s head a few times,then pecks at the ground a few times while the chicks gather around and finally the food is regurgitated but the chicks have to be fast because as they are attempting to pick at the food with their bills the adult is also snatching up the goodies.The first time I watched this feeding process I thought the adult was just plain mean to dump the food ,then gobble it up again as the chicks are trying to eat but I see the purpose of the exercise is to teach the chicks to be quick. It would seem the chicks that learn the fastest, grow the fastest! Survival of the fittest.There were three harbour seal pups born on the rocks along the north shore of Gr.Race today.At about 17:00 there was a lot of gull squawking and most of them were diving at an eagle sitting just at the waters edge on the northeast tip of Gr. Race. The gulls kept up a constant barrage on the eagle which ducked and put up it’s wings for protection. The eagle was trapped head first in a crevice , unable to take flight. The assault from above by the gulls continued for about 10 minutes before the eagle managed to manoeuver around enough to take off but even then with the gulls diving at it’s head it could not really fly and was forced down again but this time out of our sight. All but 3 or 4 gulls settled back down but not seeing the eagle fly away I was curious to see what happened so carefully -with sou’wester firmly in place, and not to keep the rain off- I moved slowly along the rocks to have look. The eagle was busy eating the placenta left from one of the seal births earlier in the day.I backed off quickly and left the poor bird to eat in peace which it did and then flew off towards Bentinck Island about 20 minutes later.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 3 pleasure craft in the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:09 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy  Vis 10 Miles  Wind West 19 Knots  Sea 2 – 3 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:59 AM

Stylaster parageus columbiensis: (Hydrocoral) –The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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pinkquadac

A bed of Stylaster parageus columbiensis. in front of the docks at Race Rocks off peg #2 at 10 meters. Note the basket star, clumps of whelks and patches of red encrusting sponge.picture width : 80cm.

This colonial hydroid grows from the 0.2 tidal level to over 20 meters in depth in various places throughout the Race Rocks Ecological Reservee. At low tide, it is visible in several protected crevices and in Anita’s tidepool ( #6 on the West shore) Subtidally it is common in both purple and pink colonies . East of the Middle Islands, it has been observed by divers at 20 meters, growing in erect branching form of considerable profile ( to 20 centimeters.)

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Hydrozoa
Order Anthoathecata)
Family Stylasteriidae
Genus Stylaster
Species parageus columbiensis (Lindner & Cairns)
Common Name: Hydrocoral

In July of 2002, Dr. Anita Brinckmann-Voss of Sooke had Alberto Lindner, a PhD student from Duke University visiting to exchange scientific information and to get help with identification of hydroids from collections in Alaska and the Olympic Penninsula. Alberto is studying the systematics and evolution of hydrocorals using morphological and molecular biology methods for his Ph.D. thesis. His supervisor and advisors are Dr. Stephen Cairns (Smithsonian) , Dr.Chris Cunningham (Duke University) and Dr. Dale Calder (Royal Ontario Museum) This is part of a program of training young zoologists in established and new methods of sytematics. Alberto comes from Brazil, having completed a Master’s degree in the University of Sao Paolo.

 

hydrocoralAnita made arrangements with us to get Alberto to the islands so that he could see Allopora growing in its natural habitat. Although it was not a zero tide level, we were still able to collect several small samples for him to do DNA analysis. He hoped to be able to sort out whether or not there is a distinct species difference in the color varieties we find at Race Rocks. 

rm2010hydrocoral2

The two color morphs of Stylasterias parageus columbiensis at Race Rocks . photo by Ryan Murphy

After returning to his lab and doing further analysis, Alberto reported that “It is pretty safe to say that the purple and pink color morphs of Stylaster corals (Allopora) from Race Rocks are the same species”. He has also noted the same result with deep-sea species from the Aleutians, as the orange and pink forms there do not separate the species.

See the record of his research on species identification here: Stylaster parageus columbiensis Lindner & Cairns in Cairns & Lindner, 2011

The following images were taken by the Ecoguardian Ryan Murphy in 2010. many different species including basket star in the image above have adapted to use the hydrocoral as a habitat because of it’s protective crevasses.

see this link for other hydroids:  https://www.racerocks.ca/tag/hydroid/

This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by Lester B. Pearson College students, staff, volunteers and local scientists.

heard snorting and bellowing coming from the dock area

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Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy  Vis. 15 Miles Wind West 25 Gust 33 Knots Sea 4 Foot Moderate
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:09 AM
Sunday, July 14, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 16.5 C Min. 10.7 C Reset 14.5 C
MARINE LIFE: One mature bald eagle flew overhead late evening and as usual the gulls drove it off but the birds took 30 minutes or so to settle back down.The Pigeon Guillemots take off to sea when the eagles are around and are quick to dive if the big bird flies near. This morning one of the Elephant seals hauled out on the boat ramp next to the boat house door,it took him a while to find just the right spot, but once he found it he settled in for the rest of the day. The last couple of nights we have heard snorting and bellowing coming from the dock area and it sounds like more than one elephant seal but even with a fairly strong flashlight can’t see well enough to tell for sure.This evening there were 4 female harbour seals with pups in the water by the dock, at high tide it is a fairly sheltered area,away from the swells coming in from the west.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 6 pleasure craft, 3 Ecotour boats and 1 boat with 7 or 8 divers.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:07 PM

July11-13

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Saturday, July 13, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 16.3 �C �� Min. 9.8 �C �� Reset 13.3 �C �� Rain 0.2 mm
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:39 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy �� Vis. 8 Miles �� Wind West 21 Knots �� Sea 2 – 3 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:43 AM
Friday, July 12, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 14.0 �C �� Min. 9.1 �C �� Reset 10.0 �C
posted by Carol or Mike S at 8:35 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Partly Obscured �� Vis. 1 Mile Fog �� Wind West 15 Knots �� Sea 2 – 3 foot Chop �� Remarks Vis. North → South East 10 Miles
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:34 AM

Thursday, July 11, 2002 Good Evening

TEMPERATURE: Max. 15.0 C  Min. 10.1 C  Reset 12.5 C
MARINE LIFE: As rough as the seas were with the 40+knt winds a few hardy souls enjoyed the Orcas as they moved along the shore past Albert and William head with a stop in the mouth of Pedder Bay to feed in the kelp.The whales were on their way west but did not pass through the reserve.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 13 ecotour boats through the reserve on their way back from viewing the whales.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:35 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast �� Vis 10 Miles �� Wind West 37 Gust 43 Knots �� Sea 6 Foot Moderate with Moderate South West Swell
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:09 AM

two Northern Sealions hauled out

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Wednesday, July 10, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 18.9 C  Min. 11.3 C Reset 13.5 C
MARINE LIFE: Two mature bald eagles made several attempts to hunt Gr. Race first thing this morning and as always the gulls drove them off towards Whirl Bay everything soon settled back to the routine of feeding and sheltering the chicks.It would appear that there is a healthy supply of fish as the gulls continue to return from sea with full gullets.With any luck at all we will see some chicks fledge this year although the otter is making it’s rounds usually between 2 and 3 a.m. Most of the nests along the shore have been decimated but there are many nests farther inshore that have at least two surviving chicks.The dead seal pup has finally floated away however the female has remained in the dock area and has been joined by three other females with their pups. The geese are still here but with the vegetation so dry I wonder when they will leave for ‘greener pastures’. This afternoon two Northern Sealions hauled out on the western slope of the largest southeastern rocks to soak up some sun but were gone by 19:00.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 5 pleasure craft and 6 Ecotour boats in the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:41 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Clear  Vis 15 MilesWind North East 3 Knots Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:19 AM

he gulls were regurgitating good amounts of nice fresh silvery fish 7-9 cm long,

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Tuesday, July 09, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 19.0 C  Min. 9.9 C  Reset 16.5 C
MARINE LIFE: The main activity in the reserve continues to be the feeding of the young birds, today the gulls were regurgitating good amounts of nice fresh silvery fish 7-9 cm long, to the eager chicks which are now spending most of the time out of the nest but in the same general area.There are still 3 large elephant seals on middle rock but no sealions, still hear elephant seal snorting near the dock after dark most nights while they are out on their feeding trips.The dead pup is still the focus of it’s mother, she lays near it all day until the tide floats it and then she pushes it around in the water near the dock. There were three other females with pups swimming in the same area, one pup, obviously newly born but a very active swimmer approached the floating dead pup and was quickly warned off by the protective female. Anytime now the floating pup will get caught up in the current and will be taken further off shore.Will watch to see if the female remains in the dock area once the pup is gone.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 11 ecotour boats and 9 pleasure craft in the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:45 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy  Vis. 15 Miles Wind North East 9 Know  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:21 AM

Have seen 8 seal pups,

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Monday, July 08, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 16.0 C Min. 10.8 C  Reset 12.5 C  Rain 3.9 mm
MARINE LIFE: A cool and breezy start to the day, remnants of a very active weather system that roared in about 12:20 a.m. The rain was very heavy for about 25 mins, almost 4 mm, at least it cleaned the roofs somewhat and the air is much fresher. I watched very carefully for the gulls bringing food to the chicks and it’s not too encouraging- no abundance of silvery fresh fish so far. A few nests are empty of chicks and eggs -I suspect the otter. Have seen 8 seal pups,the females tend to stay fairly close to shore for the first week or so then when not hauled out to sleep and nurse the pups, they spend a lot of time in the kelp beds. The female is still with the dead pup and tonight as it floated in the rising tide she pushed it along with her in the water by the boat dock. Earlier this morning I went down to see and she was hauled out about 1metre from the pup, as I approached closer she moved up to the pup, patted it a couple of times with her front flipper then nuzzled it’s face with her nose.While she was doing this she periodically looked up at me with those big, sad, dark eyes.I’m sure even seals feel loss and grieve, It affects me at any rate. The Orca were through the reserve on their way east.Saw about 7 pass by between Gr. Race and North Rocks. They moved along at a fair pace but saw some breaching and tail slapping. The tour boats were quite spread out and except for the 2 boats that were in the reserve ahead of the whales none followed them through.
HUMAN INTERACTION: there were 17 tour boats and 3 pleasure craft through the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:23 PM

Good MorningWEATHER: Sky Cloudy  Vis. 15 Miles  Wind West 30 Knots Sea 4 Foot Moderate

posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:13 AM

There are 6 females with pups in the east bay area, 4 with red umbilical cords so very new but swimming like pros,

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Sunday, July 07, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 20.0 C Min. 10.5 C  Reset 12.0 C  Rain 0.4 mm
MARINE LIFE: There are 6 females with pups in the east bay area, 4 with red umbilical cords so very new but swimming like pros, they do have some awkwardness while trying to pull themselves up onto the rocks, several tries and they make it to be rewarded with a good feed! The dead pup is still by the boat ramp, the mother has not left it’s side and continues to be very protective.There were three bald eagles this afternoon ( 1 mature ) which managed to land on the southeast rocks in spite of the gulls. The 2 juvenile eagles were fighting over some very bright red matter that looked like seal placenta,the adult raptor watched for about 10 minutes from about 20 metres then made it’s move towards the two juveniles which backed off immediately and surrendered the prize scraps.The gulls were just too bothersome so the big bird took off flying low over the water with the ‘food’ clutched tightly in it’s talons, the gulls did not give up the chase until they were well past North Rocks.
HUMAN INTERACTION: A fairly quiet day considering the water was so calm and a weekend. There were 5 pleasure craft and 9 ecotour boats, 2 dive charters -one that came through at 16:30 full speed and too close, left at about 17:40 again full speed, both times leaving a large wake! Will pass the boat registration number along to fisheries.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:11 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy  Vis. 15 Miles Wind West 5 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:09 AM

again a number of small fish balls

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Saturday, July 06, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 21.0 C  Min 9.7 C  Reset 19.7 C
MARINE LIFE: The birds were fairly quiet today except for trips out to sea for food, again a number of small fish balls mostly in and around the kelp beds to the east of Gr. Race. With several days now of sunshine and little wind the air is not as ‘fresh’ as one would like but we do get used to it after a while- air fresheners inside help, especially at meal time! Except for one or two small patches, the grass is brown and tinder dry. Still no seal pups in the dock area but sadly one female hauled out this morning with a dead pup which seems to be several days old. The female is very protective of the dead pup although she did let me close enough to have a look, I couldn’t see any obvious wounds and it seemed to be average in size so don’t know why it died. The mother stayed with the pup all day and often tried to push it’s head up with her nose and patted it every once in a while as if to ‘wake’ it up. Have had pups die like this in past years and the female has stayed with it for three days or more, it’s sad.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 1 dive boat, 21 ecotour boats and 9 pleasure craft today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:05 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Clear �� Vis. 15 Miles �� Wind Calm �� Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:57 AM