The last two nights have been spectacular for me – lots of stars, a stunning show of northern lights yesterday and now a sliver of a orange moon setting – but I worry about the skinny pup on these cold nights. Yesterday the low was 7 and as I write it has already dropped to 6 degrees. The pup must consume a lot of energy to stay warm, unlike her massive blubbery mom. I hear their feeding time “conversation” (the mom bellowing to encourage the pup to eat and the pub squawking when it can’t find the teat) during the night so I assume feeding continues in the dark.  The pup doesn’t seem to see very well and usually starts its search around mom’s armpit so I suppose it doesn’t matter much if it is pitch black out. But I am surprised the pup can’t smell the teat to determine which way to search. The mom has to do all the wiggling forward and micro adjustments to help it out.

In terms of feeding, the pup will drink a bit, drop its heavy head and continue in short bursts. The white marks on the pups face, head and back are a mixture of milk from its clumsy search to relocate a teat and from its mom’s nose froth. This froth is a surfactant that stops their lung tissue from sticking together when their lungs collapses under the immense pressure of a deep dive.

Sorry to all you other beautiful creatures out here who haven’t been photographed today.

Taking a break from feeding

The pup has finished feeding and is making its way to toward mom’s face.

Mom checking in.

Facility work

• getting firewood
• transferring fuel

Visitors

3 student leaders from CALD guiding 9 students, the marine biology instructor and seafront staff.

Vessels

• Ecotourism: 3
• Private: 0

Weather

Clear skies. Gently northeasterly breeze. Daytime temperatures 6 to 10 degrees.