Ecological Notes:

• 1 Adult Female Elephant Seal is regularly here now, with nearly daily dips in the water. Sometimes she spends an awful amount of time bellowing…. maybe a “call out” to others?
• The Elephant Seal pup also visits the water daily, and tends to move around avoiding the adult, although I have not seen any negative interactions between them. One day I noticed her watching quite closely as I came and left from the house … When I came in for the evening, a student got a video of her following my to the house and then playing against the door.

• Gulls and Oyster Catchers are still paired off well, haven’t detected any nests yet.
• Some of the Canada  Geese pairs looks like they have given up nesting for the season, but I search daily as they sometime just move to a new location to nest. 

• Averaging every other day, Orca are passing the reserve, occasional far offshore sightings of Humpback Whales, and even a Gray Whale

Visitors:

• Hosted students and chaperone from the Westcoast Adventure Tourism college for their 3 day course on Marine Mammals of the Salish Sea …. Filled out with tour and discussion on Race Rocks, as well as the students helped with tasks, and those that were interested learned about the Eco-Guardian tasks and responsibilities 

• One set of Pearson College students did an overnight visit
• 2 sets of students came over for their intertidal transects

Facility Work:

• Greg did a rebuild of the composting toilet in the student and science center

• Regular fuel transfers and battery maintenance
• Scheduled Oil, oil filter, and fuel filter changes on the generator
• Checked oil level and all connections on the desalinator
• Thorough cleaning of the solar panels
• Pressure washed the main path to the main house and surrounding landings
• Moved logs up to the bucking area, and cleaned up a lot of the “garbage” wood around top of the boat ramp
• Electric fence repairs as usual
• Richard continued the dismantling of the old generator, as well as cover holes left in the walls from removed pipes and vents 

Noted Vessel Traffic:

• Some commercial Eco-Tourism vessels and private vessels in the reserve, no noted infractions

 Other:

• During both my regular career, and travelling, I don’t get much time cook … on of the pleasures of being at Race rocks is the time to cook better meals!

Butter Chicken with vegetables, over basmati rice!

Weather Events:

• Monday, April 13:
  • Sky: mostly clear, some haze
  • Wind: W 20-35kts
  • Sea:  2 to 3′ chop
  • Temperature Low 8^oC, High 10.4^oC
• Tuesday, April 14:
  • Sky: overcast, with occasional rain squalls throughout the day
  • Wind: wind back and forth from W to S, 5-15kts
  • Sea:  light chop 
  • Temperature Low 7.2^oC, High 8.6^oC
• Wednesday, April 15:
  • Sky: mostly clear
  • Wind: W 15-25 kts
  • Sea:  l2 ft chop most of the day
  • Temperature Low 5.5^oC, High 11^oC
• Thursday, April 16:
  • Sky: slight overcast
  • Wind: W 5 kts rising to 22kts late in the day
  • Sea:  light chop turning to low waves by evening
  • Temperature Low 7.5^oC, High 11.2^oC
• Friday, April 17:
  • Sky: light overcast
  • Wind: W 15 kts, backing to SE and dropping to near 0kts late afternoon, backing to WNW during the evening
  • Sea:  light chop turning to high waves by evening
  • Temperature Low 7.5^oC, High 11.2^oC
• Saturday, April 18:
  • Sky: mixed high cloud and clear
  • Wind: ENE veering to WSW throughout the day, rising to  15 kts mid morning, then dropping to 5kts by end of day
  • Sea:  light chop 
  • Temperature Low 5.9^oC, High 12.7^oC
• Sunday, April 19:
  • Sky: mostly clear
  • Wind: primarily E  10-15kts, brief rise to 20kts
  • Sea:  light chop
  • Temperature Low 8.0^oC, High 14.9^oC
• Monday, April 20:
  • Sky: High overcast, with brief sunny patches
  • Wind: Veered throughout the day from NE to W …5 -25kts, rising higher in the evening
  • Sea:  3 ft chop when wind was with tide
  • Temperature Low 8.3^oC, High 18^oC

** Any wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

Weather – Current:

https://tempestwx.com/station/190757/

Weather – Past:

https://tempestwx.com/history/190757

Ecological Notes:

• Checking regularly for the adult female Elephant Seal, and also keeping an eye out for the adult male reportedly seen in the area as well
• Elephant Seal pup … wandering around the island …not sure if it’s just coincidental, but it seems to be disturbing the Canada geese at their nests (gone to 3 different nests)

• Most of the gulls are paired off now, starting to see a little nest material collecting to show off

• Oyster Catchers are also paired off, no direct nesting behavior  noted

• Transient Orca – T123s –  passed just north of the reserve on Sunday morning, then another family in the afternoon

• With the nicer weather, there has been lots of bird activity, including an extremely high number of pigeon guillemots (maybe passing through, as I’ve never seen this many before)
• 2 Pelicans have been around as well
• I must note….. the firewood has been stocked better than any period I have seen here in 6 years!

Facility Work:

• Ran desalinator each time the Generator ran during the day time
• Transferred fuel, and supplies around the buildings
• Battery service and top ups
• Richard did some work on dismantling the old generator
• Regular fence maintaining
• Checked and cleaned the Solar panels

Visitors:

• Students form the college came with visiting students to see the reserve

DND events:

• A couple single blasts, no noted animal disturbance

Noted Vessel Traffic:

• A few, very well behaved, Eco-tourism vessels
• 3 private vessels noted, no infractions and generally good behaviour

Weather Events:

• Saturday, April 04:
  • Sky: Clear, with very slight seasonal haze around
  • Wind: SE winds 5-10kts
  • Sea: Lightly rippled
  • Temperature Low 7^oC, High 12^oC
• Sunday, April 05:
  • Sky: Clear, with very slight seasonal haze around
  • Wind: E 10 kts, rising to 20 kts mid day, then shifting to SE and dropping to no wind by evening
  • Sea:  light chop 
  • Temperature Low 8.1^oC, High 13.3^oC
• Monday, April 06:
  • Sky: basically clear, but slight haze and high drifting clouds when the winds came up
  • Wind: variable direction light winds in the morning, rising to NW winds gusting to 45kts by mid afternoon
  • Sea: 2-3 ft swells in the afternoon
  • Temperature Low 7.6^oC, High 11.4^oC
• Tuesday, April 07:
  • Sky: Foggy until mid-afternoon, clear and sunny to overcast
  • Wind: W 5-10kts, shifting to E 5-10 kts mid day
  • Sea:  light chop 
  • Temperature Low 7.5^oC, High 11.2^oC

** Any wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

Weather – Current:

https://tempestwx.com/station/190757/

Weather – Past:

https://tempestwx.com/history/190757

Birds

• Harlequin duck                                    23
• Bald eagle adult                                    1
• Bald eagle juvenile                                2
• Turnstones                                             4
• Gulls                                                       280
• Cormorants                                            255
• Pigeon Guillemots                                140 (seemed like extra this day??)
• Oyster catcher                                        18
• Canadian goose                                       10
• Surf Birds                                                  4
• Brown Pelicans                                         1

Mammals

• Steller sea lion                                           34
• Harbour seal                                                72
• California sea lion                                       17
• Elephant seal pup                                         1
• Animal Tracking and Injuries:          Steller branded 595Y

Time flies out here – a wonderful period is over. A particular highlight of this trip was seeing Race Rocks so busy with Pearson students again.

The light back in action

Thank you to everyone who looks after this magic place!

Facility Work

[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE]

Automated Palette Regulation Intelligent Lighting For Oceanic Observation & Luminosity System

In a groundbreaking development for maritime safety and coastal aesthetics, we are proud to announce that Race Rocks has been chosen as a trial site for the world’s first AI-powered system designed to dynamically to alter light house colour schemes. Developed by some of the world’s leading AI firms, the new system promises to enhance navigational guidance while continuing Race Rocks’ proud tradition of digital innovation in protecting coastal landscapes.

Traditionally, lighthouses have maintained a static colour scheme, providing vital navigation aid to seafarers. However, with the new Automated Palette Regulation Intelligent Lighting For Oceanic Observation & Luminosity System, Race Rocks lighthouse will for the first time be able to adapt its illumination in real-time, optimising visibility and aesthetics simultaneously.

AI at Race Rocks (Sample Illumination)

Powered by advanced artificial intelligence algorithms, the system ensures optimal colour selection based on weather conditions, visibility range, and time of day.

C Lyon, director of mammalian affairs, commented:

“Our aim in bringing AI to Race Rocks is to marry safety and beauty along Vancouver Island’s coastline. By harnessing this exciting new technology, we can offer dynamic colour schemes that not only enhance navigational clarity but also elevate the visual appeal of lighthouses, enriching the coastal experience for locals and visitors alike.”

As a testing ground for AI deployment in lighthouses across the Pacific Northwest, a range of colour schemes have been proposed to showcase its versatility:

1. Ocean Blue Serenity: A calming blue hue, perfect for clear nights and tranquil seas.
2. Sunset Glow: Warm tones of orange and pink evoke the magic of a coastal sunset, ideal for twilight hours.
3. Emerald Beacon: A vibrant green reminiscent of coastal foliage, enhancing visibility against rocky shores.
4. Starry Night: Deep indigo with specks of white, creating a celestial spectacle against the night sky.

In deploying the Automated Palette Regulation Intelligent Lighting For Oceanic Observation & Luminosity System, lighthouses are not just beacons of safety – they become symbols of innovation and beauty, illuminating the way forward for coastal communities.

For further information please contact Elle P. Hantseal at 48.2983N | 123.531W.

[Race Rocks, 1 April 2026]

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