Tuesday May 5th
Ecological Notes
It has been quite windy on the rocks for the past few days!
Even the gulls are feeling it
As you may know, elephant seals haul themselves out of the water once a year to shed their fur and outer skin layer. You and I shed some hair and skin a little bit everyday, no big deal, but elephant seals do it more like a snake: they shed it all at once in what is called a catastrophic molt!
The five elephant seals are all at different stages of their molt, lets check in with them!
The youngest (yearling) is going through her first molt, which can be quite challenging the first time.
Send her good wishes, she is going through a lot!
Two of the other young females are yet to be started on their molt. Here’s one of them looking really cute:
Just being the cutest, so photogenic 💕
Her again, so baby 💖 (not actually a baby, but you know what I mean)
The two adult females spend a lot of time dozing in the grass.
One of the adult female is quite advanced in her molt and is looking a little bit like the stuff of nightmares at the moment (no offense).
A very interesting process to watch!
Facility work
- Battery top-up
- Generator check
- Salinity testing
- Fence check: fixed tear, unfortunately broken spot was right in front of the nest I addled the day before and the geese were not pleased to see me again so soon
DND Event
3 blasts, between 11:20 am and 12:32 am. I scare easily and that definitely does it every time.
Weather Events
⋄ Wind (kts): 28.2
⋄ Sunny clear skies
⋄ Air temp (°C): min 10.5, max 13.5
⋄ Sea state: white caps
Wednesday May 6th
Ecological Notes
One of the geese nest I addled previously had a new egg today. I am now public geese enemy number one.
I have not found an oyster catcher nest so far, but I saw one of those little guys harassing a bald eagle! Pretty bold.
Fearless
This gentlemen had to be politely asked to move
Quite a nice sunset tonight! Unfortunately, I was pooped on while taking pictures.
We know who did it
Facility work
- Fence check
- Keeper’s kitchen deep clean: floors, house laundry, all kitchen surfaces
- Salinity testing
- Addling: 1 egg
Visitors
Today a group of Pearson students with their chaperones Laura (another Laura!) and Bella came to Race Rocks for a field trip. Students took notes on the species they were seeing around the island and observed how different organisms were distributed in the intertidal zone. Laura (not me) was very knowledgeable about Race Rocks and I learned quite a few things!
Weather Events
⋄ Wind (kts): gusting 8-15, Gale warning in effect for the evening
⋄ Overcast in the morning, brief hour of sun in the afternoon, large clouds in the evening
⋄ Air temp (°C): 12.3
⋄ Sea state: white caps
NB: All pictures were taken with a telephoto lens, which makes distant objects appear closer. All animals were photographed at a respectful and reglementary distance.