Today we had a new branded sea lion and a new injured sea lion to report and a whole lot of new Pearson’s students visiting the island.
Our newest branded sea lion #601 will be reported to the researchers in the US. So far this Aug and Sept we have was observed 28 different brands and 5 different tags. Sometime we receive interesting information about the sea lions like those in the 3 dash series with satellite transmitters on them.
California sea lion 601 was seen this morning in the flats on the northeast part of the island.
The sea lion with the wounds from an entanglement was spotted this morning near the Jetty by one of the students. It is difficult to tell if these wounds are from a past entanglement or an active one when the material is deeply imbedded. The seeping discharge suggests it is active. I have sent photos to Kendra who works for Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue and who will be the Eco guardian here for October.
Visitors
Two groups of students visited the island today for their first time. It was fantastic to see so many smiling faces. They have an amazing instructor and the best classroom imaginable to learn about todays subject, the California sea lion. I joined the first group this morning and my favourite new fact of the day was: the nostrils of a sea lion are by default in the closed position. We heard while this staring into the face of a sleeping sea lion perched on a rock at our eye height with its nostrils only 6 feet from our faces. They were given a brilliant exercise: pick a particular sea lion, watch its movements for 10 minutes, sketch it and come up with one question about sea lions you would like an answer to. Perfect training for a fine young naturalist and marine scientist!
Facility work
- cleaned solar panels
- ran the generator
- fence repairs
- vacuumed the tank shed
- more work on the fence line – new holes, rods and fence supports for the last section of fence along the south side
Vessels
- Ecotourism: 15
- Private: 3
Weather
Skies clear. Winds light in the early morning, WNW 15 to 24 gusting to 29 in the late afternoon. Daytime temperature 12 to 15 degrees.