Larus californicus: California Gull

In March 2010 Pam Birley captured this gull with the remote camera. She wrote “I saw a California gull recently and attach pics.  You don’t seem to have any in the taxonomy pages.   It’s not a rare gull but this maybe the first I have seen at RR.” Indeed it is one of those gulls which has fallen through the cracks so this is a rather late addition to our taxonomy.

This adult plumage is reached after 4 years. Note the black tip on the bill and the yellow legs which distinguish it from the Western Gull.
Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Laridae
Genus Larus
Species californicus
Common Name: California Gull

Other Members of the Class Aves at Race Rocks.
taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams. March 10 2010- Pam Birley

Larus hyperboreus: Glaucous Gull — The Race Rocks Taxonomy

A photo of the rare second year Glaucous Gull on the right, Western Gull on the left. Photo March 8, 2009 by RyanThis is only the third record for this area in the Rocky Point Bird Observatory records.

Probable identification of the white gull on the left is the immature Glaucous gull. The gull on the right is an immature Glaucous-winged gull (photo 21st Dec 2005..camera 5 by Pam Birley)

To the left: This is a tentative identification. If it is correct, according to David Allinson of the Rocky Point Bird Observatory, ” this probably represents only the second record for Glaucous Gull (a 1st winter bird) for Rocky Point’s checklist (and a first for Race Rocks too!). The big head, the large bubble-gum pink dark-tipped bill, and white head and body (at least what can be seen) seems to be diagnostic.
However, to be cautious I should only say probable as we cannot see all of the bird.”

 

To the left: This is a tentative identification. If it is correct, according to David Allinson of the Rocky Point Bird Observatory, ” this probably represents only the second record for Glaucous Gull (a 1st winter bird) for Rocky Point’s checklist (and a first for Race Rocks too!). The big head, the large bubble-gum pink dark-tipped bill, and white head and body (at least what can be seen) seems to be diagnostic.
However, to be cautious I should only say probable as we cannot see all of the bird.”
This is one of the largest species of gull. It can be up to 66-81 cm. in length. It nests on the tundra, and the range is circumpolar.It moves South in winter but only small numbers reach as far as the Pacific Northwest.”

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Laridae
Genus Larus
Species hyperboreus
Common Name:
Glaucous Gull

 

Other Members of the Class Aves at Race Rocks.
taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.
October 2006 Pam Birley

Bird List and Census by D.Donnecke

Daniel Donnecke has contributed his images and counts from a visit to race Rocks on October 30 to ebird.org

https://ebird.org/checklist/S61055064

 

Archive of Salinity Recorded at Race Rocks 1926 to Present

Year   Jan  Feb March  April  May  June  July  Aug  Sept Oct Nov Dec

1936 ——- ——- ——— ——— ——— ——— ——- ——- ———– 31.36  31.65  31.54
1937  31.66  31.76  31.55  31.36  31.26  31.10  30.94  31.13  31.18  31.29  30.88  30.82
1938  30.60  30.70  30.80  31.21  31.11  31.18  30.87  31.34  31.24  31.65  31.54  31.41
1939  31.07  31.18  31.44  31.53  31.31  31.05  31.03  30.78  31.34  31.77 —— – 30.93
1940  30.76  30.78  30.60  30.92  30.65  30.60 —— —– —– ——- ——- ——- ——-
1941 —— —— —— —— —— 31.49  31.50  31.25  31.49  31.62  31.45  31.31  30.97
1942  31.18  31.00  31.44  31.58  31.56  31.62  31.25  31.11  31.32  31.80  31.73  31.46
1943  31.43  31.33  31.69  31.28  31.53  31.51  31.34  31.12  31.20  31.46  31.53  31.60
1944  31.60  31.57  31.80  31.91  31.80  32.10  31.81  31.89  31.77  31.68  31.70  31.49
1945  31.37  31.21  31.51  31.58  31.78  31.65  31.60  31.54  31.67  31.82  31.88  31.56
1946  31.12  31.30  31.19  31.43  31.39  31.06  30.76  30.95  31.44  31.54  31.80  31.26
1947  31.69  31.24  31.53  31.72  31.63  31.28  31.43  31.08  31.48  31.66  31.24  31.34
1948  31.07  31.42  31.40  31.53  31.32  30.83  30.46  31.13  31.12  31.19  31.45  31.03
1949  31.40  31.56  31.34  31.59  31.37  31.29  31.88  31.61  31.45  31.60  31.50  31.08
1950  31.14  31.12  30.79  31.01  31.34  31.31  30.95  31.06  31.20  31.05  30.91  30.34
1951  30.21  30.22  30.69  31.34  31.54  31.13  31.37  31.27  31.61  31.67  31.53  31.20
1952  31.39  31.00  31.33  31.60  31.65  31.30  31.12  31.47  31.48  31.44  31.79  31.58
1953  30.79  30.52  31.38  31.45  31.44  31.21  31.20  31.00  31.14  31.37  31.26  30.63
1954  30.47  30.56  30.76  31.06  31.41  31.41  30.74  30.76  30.67  30.87  30.73  30.49
1955  30.67  30.77  31.37  31.41  31.57  31.27  31.27  30.89  30.94  31.39  30.78  30.79
1956  30.50  31.10  31.02  31.21  31.27  30.85  30.56  31.15  31.33  31.28  31.14  31.01
1957  31.22  31.30  31.17  31.28  31.44  31.20  31.15  31.35  31.24  31.12  31.35  31.29
1958  31.05  30.82  30.89  31.01  31.01  30.78  30.53  31.04  31.22  31.05  30.96  30.86
1959  30.75  30.66  30.99  31.04  31.20  31.19  30.57  30.83  31.14  30.99  31.07  30.91
1960  30.99  30.85  31.16  31.14  31.13  31.06  30.66  31.02  31.04  31.21  31.15  30.84
1961  30.63  30.65  30.43  30.75  30.99  30.52  30.60  31.08  31.42  31.56  31.52  31.35
1962  31.22  31.29  31.49  31.66  31.44  31.52  31.28  31.31  31.07  31.48  31.13  30.74
1963  30.75  30.98  31.04  31.08  31.19  31.26  31.16  31.18  31.36  31.33  31.00  30.79
1964  30.67  30.70  31.15  31.42  31.68  31.49  30.85  30.75  31.14  31.22  31.31  31.16
1965  30.47  30.86  31.21  31.61  31.51  31.24  31.65  31.55  31.40  31.77  31.25  30.98
1966  30.83  30.87  31.03  31.13  31.35  31.45  31.35  31.14  31.42  31.50  31.62  31.07
1967  30.86  30.75  30.94  30.98  31.36  31.08  30.56  30.92  31.05  31.26  30.83  31.15
1968  30.93  30.64  30.69  30.85  31.28  31.02  30.64  30.96  31.09  31.23  31.01  30.67
1969  30.55  30.75  30.94  31.08  31.06  30.83  30.86  31.20  31.07  31.12  31.42  31.15
1970  31.00  30.74  31.05  31.50  31.71  31.24  31.19  31.65  31.79  32.10  31.84  31.42
1971  31.25  31.04  31.10  30.91  31.06  31.12  30.81  30.59  30.73  31.21  31.57  31.05
1972  30.94  30.89  30.05  30.27  30.69  30.33  29.82  30.40  30.84  31.37  31.80  31.53
1973  31.25  31.09  31.45  31.66  31.94  31.77  31.30  31.62  31.83  31.95  31.64  31.12
1974  31.14  30.92  30.97  31.21  31.55  31.06  30.92  30.53  31.32  31.75  32.11  31.81
1975  31.75  31.61  31.59  32.00  32.14  32.17  31.82  31.69  31.69  32.12  31.42  30.91
1976  30.85  31.07  31.08  31.34  31.56  31.65  31.51  31.34  30.72  30.72  31.13  31.26
1977  31.20  31.40  30.86  31.59  31.46  31.24  31.54  30.97  31.31  31.67  31.52  30.73
1978  30.75  30.67  30.73  30.91  31.29  31.29  31.15  31.53  31.20  31.18  31.25  31.69
1979  31.44  31.24  31.41  31.60  31.56  31.59  31.45  31.63  31.52  31.45  31.45  31.50
1980  31.07  31.48  31.38  31.71  31.71  32.01  31.92  31.78  31.93  31.94  32.06  31.75
1981  31.15  31.41  31.16  31.62  31.88  31.90  32.15  32.25  32.29  32.03  31.61  31.25
1982  31.20  31.08  30.77  31.07  31.55  31.71  31.57  31.29  31.33  31.42  31.21  30.85
1983  30.87  30.57  30.45  30.81  30.93  31.03  31.10  31.01  31.08  31.27  31.06  30.58
1984  30.46  30.54  30.46  30.87  31.35  31.34  31.11  31.46  31.35  31.27  31.02  31.08
1985  31.18  31.21  31.81  31.63  31.93  31.60  31.57  31.87  32.05  31.96  31.45  31.72
1986  31.54  31.16  30.94  31.27  31.64  31.25  31.36  31.17  31.67  31.80  31.82  31.50
1987  30.98  31.02  31.03  31.29  31.43  31.54  31.22  31.67  31.83  31.72  31.87  31.44
1988  31.34  31.40  31.61  31.77  31.70  31.67  31.73  31.83  31.78  31.90  31.59  31.41
1989  31.44  31.42  31.46  31.39  31.89  31.99  31.23  32.47  31.81  32.55  32.12  31.71
1990  31.80  31.54  31.37  31.57  31.76  31.37  31.81  31.21  31.29  31.84  31.43  30.56
1991  30.99  30.95  30.92  30.87  31.60  30.85  30.98  31.26  31.07  31.21  31.46  31.17
1992  30.96  30.51  30.75  31.12  30.90  31.00  30.92  30.56  30.88  31.12  30.91  30.52
1993  30.62  30.35  30.51  30.83  30.71  30.21  30.50  30.76  30.78  30.97  31.10  30.85
1994  30.84  30.64  30.73  31.78  31.53  31.85  31.04  31.34  31.22  31.44  31.57  31.29
1995  30.83  30.76  30.79  30.82  31.02  31.09  30.82  31.23  31.32  31.55  31.25  30.40
1996  30.26  30.20  30.36  30.71  30.84  31.04  30.44  30.88  31.18  31.33  31.27  30.76
1997  30.53  30.41  30.73  30.64  30.43  30.58  30.34  29.90  30.74  30.58  30.49  30.52
1998  30.62  30.39  30.50  30.57  31.08  30.66  30.89  30.92  31.04  31.34  31.20  30.79
1999  30.58  30.32  30.58  30.68  30.73  30.72  30.24  30.29  30.06  30.80  31.26  30.71
2000  30.82  30.80  30.91  31.17  31.07  30.90  30.55  30.70  30.78  30.96  31.25  31.40
2001  31.37  31.19  31.67  31.82  31.79  31.81  31.42  31.37  31.32  31.61  31.49  31.07
2002  30.84  30.81  31.17  31.35  31.41  31.31  30.82  30.76  31.28  31.38  31.75  31.43
2003  31.01  31.05  30.91  30.73  31.17  30.80  31.16  31.21  31.45  31.69  31.05  31.09
2004  30.92  30.71  30.99  31.15  31.25  31.38  31.15  31.38  31.48  31.15  31.17  31.11
2005  30.92  30.58  31.05  31.12  31.11  31.15  30.83  30.83  31.16  31.41  31.17  31.21
2006  30.80  30.23  31.19  31.21  31.08  31.09  30.81  31.00  31.48  31.54  31.15  30.98
2007  30.65  30.80  30.84  30.83  30.82  30.88  30.65  30.48  30.79  31.23  31.09  31.10
2008  30.76  30.86  31.06  31.20  31.50  31.19  31.31  31.30  31.13  31.53  31.23  31.53
2009  31.25  31.52  31.43  30.04  30.50  31.31  31.23  31.39  30.97  31.32  31.27  30.90
2010  30.95  30.84  31.04  30.98  31.32  31.00  30.62  31.01  31.23  31.26  31.47  31.28
2011  30.57  30.92  30.85  30.75  30.76  30.75  30.34  30.46  30.86  30.99  31.47  31.20
2012  31.30  31.31  31.06  30.84  30.69  31.12  30.56  30.39  30.59  31.10  30.92  30.54
2013  30.54  31.10  31.27  31.27  31.42  31.09  30.26  31.09  31.00  30.97  31.29  31.45
2014  31.49  31.43  31.01  30.89  31.06  30.54  30.47  30.42  31.00  31.25  30.53  30.39
2015  29.99  30.34  30.47  30.48  30.90  30.77  31.11  31.78  31.46  31.62  31.62  31.36
2016  31.31  30.91  30.74  30.82  30.94  30.88  30.91  30.88  31.66  31.87  31.45  31.62
2017  31.59  31.34  31.31  31.19  31.17  30.99  30.99  31.33  31.67  32.01  31.83  31.39
2018  31.35  31.14  31.30  30.96  31.22  30.72  29.93  30.37  30.93  31.10  31.12  30.96
2019  30.67 ——-  30.85  ——-  ——-   31.25  31.78  31.93 ——  – —— – —– —
Year   -Jan   — Feb    -Mar   -Apr    -May    -Jun  – Jul   -Aug  – Sep  – Oct  –  Nov  –  Dec

Archive of Sea Water Temperatures at Race Rocks 1921-Present

file created: 10-Oct-2019 14:51:44
Monthly Sea Surface Temperature
Race Rocks                       48.2996  123.5318
Year   Jan    Feb    Mar    Apr    May    Jun    Jul    Aug    Sep    Oct    Nov    Dec
1921 999.99   7.13   7.39   7.75   8.53   9.57  10.31  10.53  10.35   9.88   9.21   8.25
1922   6.49   6.20   6.61   7.55   8.35   9.54  10.53  10.34  10.25   9.37   8.42   7.15
1923   7.11   6.46   6.71   7.64   8.61   9.37  10.38  10.60  10.63   9.67   8.72   7.96
1924   7.13   7.39   7.72   7.97   9.05   9.83  10.51  10.37  10.28   9.28   8.83   7.36
1925   6.66   6.91   7.36   8.07   9.22  10.17  11.16  10.86  10.24   9.27   8.39   8.20
1926   7.90   8.04   8.64   9.25  10.10  10.72  11.18  10.90  10.57   9.82   9.15   8.55
1927   7.65   7.44   7.83   8.07   8.86   9.80  10.57  10.91  10.41   9.70   8.67   7.60
1928   6.93   7.33   7.90   8.62   9.79  10.29  10.82  11.00  10.39   9.20   8.62   7.92
1929   7.16   6.41   7.13   7.86   9.07   9.83  10.82  10.82  10.81   9.86   8.84   7.88
1930   6.58   6.66   7.15   8.30   9.38  10.06  10.66  10.89  10.61   9.50   8.65   8.08
1931   7.90   7.90   8.25   8.85   9.90  10.62  11.57  11.18  10.73   9.66   8.64   7.75
1932   7.12   6.83   7.33   8.24   9.33  10.44  10.82  10.98  10.74   9.65   8.92   7.74
1933   7.14   6.73   7.12   8.08   9.14  10.26  10.59  11.53  10.12   9.68   8.64   7.72
1934   7.87   7.99   8.39   9.23  10.04  10.88  10.97  11.70  10.71   9.72   9.25   8.41
1935   7.29   7.27   7.51   7.81   9.21  10.20  10.58  10.59  10.77   9.71   8.23   8.15
1936   7.90   6.76   7.05   7.89   9.32  10.47  11.30  11.32  10.52  10.13   8.62   7.99
1937   6.62   6.49   7.73   8.74   9.95  10.92  11.77  11.53  10.91   9.93   8.51   8.19
1938   7.44   7.29   8.19   9.41  10.63  12.34  12.74  11.91  11.10   9.93   8.64   7.51
1939   7.42   6.67   7.13   8.64  10.32  11.43  12.20  11.15  11.47   9.75 —-      8.58
1940   7.98   8.28   9.06  10.09  11.49  11.69 ——  ——  ——-   ——-  —–  ——
1941   —–   —–    —–    —–  10.07  10.54  11.29  11.05  10.66   9.97   9.07   8.60
1942   7.99   7.91   7.85   8.59   9.70   9.87  10.61  11.03  10.34   9.52   8.44   7.92
1943   6.83   6.71   7.16   8.25   8.89  10.03  10.35  10.68  10.39   9.62   9.06   8.13
1944   7.72   7.54   7.37   8.06   9.29  10.58  11.09  10.92  10.58   9.67   9.24   8.13
1945   7.87   7.79   7.64   8.02   8.87   9.86  10.16  10.58  10.09   9.52   8.18   8.10
1946   7.80   7.38   7.71   8.16   9.48  10.28  10.78  10.81  10.33   9.50   8.16   7.78
1947   7.13   7.08   7.77   8.47   9.53  10.48  10.67  11.00  10.57   9.92   9.12   7.96
1948   7.60   6.97   7.26   7.92   9.02  10.28  10.86  10.74  10.48   9.55   8.21   7.08
1949   6.15   6.13   6.97   8.31   9.45  10.20  10.37  10.30  10.52   9.54   8.77   7.88
1950   6.25   5.87   6.65   7.75   8.72   9.48  10.10  10.43  10.31   9.32   8.58   8.08
1951   7.53   6.95   6.72   8.12   9.25  10.31  10.45  11.09  10.93   9.58   8.53   7.76
1952   6.97   7.13   7.64   8.29   9.02   9.69  10.48  10.54  10.23   9.81   8.69   7.95
1953   7.85   7.96   7.69   8.16   9.33   9.82  10.64  11.07  10.62   9.94   9.35   8.56
1954   7.16   7.35   7.55   7.97   8.80   9.32   9.93  10.08  10.07   9.43   9.16   8.46
1955   7.53   7.20   6.78   7.52   8.42   9.38   9.81  10.26  10.00   9.00   7.58   6.70
1956   6.72   6.43   6.35   7.69   8.79   9.69  10.26  10.46  10.17   9.22   8.12   7.12
1957   6.39   6.24   7.25   8.13   9.38  10.10  10.35  10.51  10.59   9.82   8.90   8.35
1958   8.09   8.31   8.66   9.39  10.38  10.77  11.55  11.56  11.04   9.97   8.77   8.15
1959   7.63   7.45   7.93   9.12   9.77  10.50  11.32  11.08  10.51   9.73   8.37   7.82
1960   7.17   7.52   7.52   8.63   9.67  10.34  11.43  10.80  10.13   9.53   8.67   7.98
1961   7.99   8.21   8.41   8.86   9.41  10.36  11.00  11.32  10.67   9.45   8.30   7.51
1962   7.21   7.36   7.37   8.39   9.33  10.05  10.47  10.53  10.60  10.08   9.41   8.75
1963   7.53   7.55   7.87   8.50   9.68  10.25  10.50  10.85  10.62  10.32   9.99   8.76
1964   8.26   8.00   7.77   8.25   8.85   9.66  10.30  10.50  10.07   9.41   8.34   7.46
1965   6.92   7.11   7.28   8.00   8.90   9.83  10.07  10.21  10.32   9.70   9.21   8.52
1966   7.72   7.61   7.75   8.54   9.05   9.12  10.63  10.75  10.17   9.57   8.76   8.64
1967   7.95   7.75   7.62   8.15   8.91   9.64  10.34  10.59  10.53   9.78   9.15   8.04
1968   7.40   7.36   8.04   8.37   8.78   9.50  10.24  10.25  10.45   9.36   8.82   7.81
1969   6.53   6.39   7.23   8.12   9.13  10.21  10.47  10.51   9.88   9.28   8.73   8.16
1970   7.59   7.78   8.00   8.08   8.76   9.64  10.26  10.30  10.09   9.06   8.38   7.59
1971   7.10   6.94   6.72   7.57   8.58   9.16  10.07  10.67  10.43   9.34   8.30   7.37
1972   6.47   6.29   6.92   7.68   8.82   9.57  10.56  10.69  10.30   9.15   8.47   7.37
1973   7.05   7.27   7.98   8.45   8.70   9.29  10.14  10.40  10.09   9.25   8.25   8.04
1974   7.28   7.24   7.36   8.20   8.56   9.74  10.07  10.93  10.65   9.78   8.61   8.26
1975   7.33   6.81   7.23   7.73   8.73   9.48  10.20  10.42  10.41   9.62   9.28   7.85
1976   7.27   7.07   7.01   7.85   8.75   9.37  10.14  10.16  10.09   9.44   8.69   8.13
1977   7.63   7.98   8.09   8.35   8.83   9.79   9.97  10.89  10.31   9.29   8.62   7.97
1978   7.66   7.96   8.34   8.99   9.45  10.38  10.49  10.91  10.59   9.81   8.22   7.37
1979   6.58   6.90   7.57   8.38   9.54  10.01  10.90  10.77  10.51   9.87   9.08   8.61
1980   7.79   7.66   7.97   8.69   9.50   9.52  10.66  10.95  10.52   9.96   9.30   8.61
1981   8.31   8.39   8.87   9.24   9.47   9.91  10.35  10.59  10.21   9.73   9.38   8.60
1982   7.25   7.51   8.00   8.88   9.99  10.74  11.42  11.80  11.41  10.38   8.81   8.35
1983   8.63   8.67   9.36  10.07  10.65  11.33  11.79  12.46  11.49  10.30   9.54   7.77
1984   7.53   7.86   8.43   9.07   9.74  10.34  11.42  11.60  10.66   9.77   8.56   6.99
1985   6.82   6.88   7.25   8.20   9.63  10.62  11.56  11.64  10.83   9.63   6.89   6.44
1986   7.05   6.68   8.08   8.43   9.48  11.07  10.95  11.84  10.88   9.82   8.46   7.88
1987   7.61   7.99   8.39   8.98   9.82  10.68  11.15  11.57  11.14  10.07   9.08   8.25
1988   7.46   7.53   7.58   8.62   9.70  10.49  11.07  11.41  10.62   9.63   8.77   7.91
1989   7.01   5.87   6.83   8.27   9.51  10.80  11.31  11.24  11.09   9.96   8.96   8.23
1990   8.18   7.72   8.24   9.08   9.90  10.87  11.88  12.14  12.18  10.79   9.97   8.22
1991   7.13   7.80   7.98   8.43   9.79   9.78  10.83  11.09  11.24  10.14   8.93   8.31
1992   7.97   8.18   9.50   9.51  10.26  10.80  11.13  11.45  11.02  10.01   9.10   7.81
1993   6.71   6.79   7.68   8.70   9.78  10.85  11.07  11.20  11.00  10.19   8.58   7.92
1994   8.05   7.46   8.61   9.31  10.13  10.62  11.63  11.59  11.36  10.75   9.38   8.41
1995   8.27   8.63   8.86   9.22  10.21  11.21  11.88  11.53  11.38  10.26   9.42   8.91
1996   8.26   7.87   8.47   9.22  10.06  10.41  11.51  11.50  10.59   9.91   8.76   7.68
1997   7.75   7.95   8.10   9.02  10.35  10.98  11.77  12.26  11.66  11.39  10.00   9.31
1998   8.75   9.28   9.77  10.00  10.44  11.41  11.78  12.34  12.11  10.70   9.87   9.00
1999   8.07   7.80   8.17   8.91   9.58  10.48  11.12  11.57  11.91  10.14   9.01   8.52
2000   7.57   7.74   8.20   9.11  10.08  11.16  11.35  11.72  11.44  10.36   9.02   8.02
2001   7.93   7.73   8.10   8.80   9.75  10.68  11.33  11.41  11.40  10.23   9.25   8.36
2002   8.11   7.91   7.79   8.80   9.46  10.54  11.28  11.78  11.36  10.08   9.09   8.84
2003   8.87   8.54   8.74   9.29   9.96  10.98  11.39  11.49  11.41  10.93   8.99   8.47
2004   7.87   7.91   8.34   9.11  10.46  11.10  11.87  11.97  11.30  10.65   9.49   8.67
2005   7.75   8.01   8.84   9.48  10.71  11.22  11.69  12.17  11.50  10.40   9.53   8.40
2006   8.61   8.49   8.41   8.75  10.08  10.87  11.66  12.09  11.49  10.55   9.29   8.54
2007   7.84   7.78   7.86   8.95  10.03  10.19  11.23  11.66  11.03  10.01   8.97   8.03
2008   7.46   7.33   7.68   8.06   9.36   9.78  10.84  11.30  11.16  10.14   9.39   7.87
2009   7.29   7.20   7.46   8.35   9.54  10.39  11.44  11.74  11.80  10.62   9.35   7.70
2010   8.11   8.69   9.12   8.96   9.45  10.36  11.16  11.93  11.08  10.37   8.98   8.06
2011   7.77   7.49   7.77   8.53   9.32  10.35  10.76  11.38  11.17  10.14   8.66   8.01
2012   7.29   7.35   7.63   8.73   9.82   9.76  10.37  10.98  10.93   9.66   8.85   8.32
2013   7.64   7.44   7.48   8.27   9.05   9.72  10.96  10.76  10.65  10.10   8.69   7.68
2014   7.63   7.25   7.90   8.80   9.72  10.30  10.79  11.36  11.20  10.72  10.14   9.03
2015   8.75   9.00   8.96   9.40   9.88  11.17  11.97  12.23  11.30  10.55   9.61   9.01
2016   8.45   8.77   9.05   9.71  10.21  11.16  11.90  12.52  11.27  10.40  10.42   8.63
2017   6.96   7.03   7.94   9.08  10.24  11.21  11.70  11.87  11.29  10.15   9.10   8.45
2018   8.06   7.71   8.00   8.81  10.31  10.63  11.40  11.50  11.11  10.27   9.54   8.72
2019   8.45  —-    8.96  10.05  10.87  10.98  11.26   10.85   ——-    —–   —–  ——
Year   Jan       Feb     Mar      Apr    May    Jun    Jul     Aug     Sep    Oct      Nov     Dec

Article on Race Rocks and Garry Fletcher, October, 2019

 GARRY FLETCHER

Marine science teacher and Race Rocks champion

BY MARIANNE SCOTT

To visit Garry Fletcher at his home requires a drive through the countryside of south Vancouver Island that seems hundreds of miles from the cities that house most of us. His house in Metchosin, near his son’s organic market farm, looks out over sheep trimming the meadow bordering the Juan de Fuca Strait. An espaliered kiwi vine hugs the deck, nectarine and peach trees provide fresh fruit, rhubarb thrives and herbs enliven meals. Garry grew up on a small Saskatchewan farm; it mixed growing food with raising cattle. Farm life inspired his interest in biology, which he studied at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. After earning a master’s degree in science curriculum, he taught in Swift Current where he met his wife Helen, who taught English. He was then invited to teach biology at the United Nations International School in New York.“They offer an internationally recognized baccalaureate degree,” he said.“But in 1976, after being mugged in the city, we accepted an offer to come to Pearson College, in Metchosin, thinking we’d be here for, maybe, four years.” But Pearson, its students, curriculum and nautical location ensnared him and he and his family have never left.

PEARSON COLLEGE is a special place. Located on south Vancouver Island’s Pedder Bay, it’s one of 18 United World Colleges and offers a two-year pre-university baccalaureate diploma that covers grade 12 and a gap year for up to 200 students.These students, who represent more than 150 countries, live, study and grow together. Pearson’s mission is to “make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.”

At Pearson, Garry began teaching biology, marine science and scuba diving. Jack Matthews, the then College head, gave teachers great freedom to develop their own sphere.“I was able to build an interdisciplinary marine science course that included chemistry, physics and biology,” Garry recalls.“We have this unique situation here at Pearson. Fresh and saltwater, marine ecosystems, forests. I took the class diving, 15 on a boat. We had substantial blocks of time.”

Meeting Trevor and Flo Anderson, lighthouse keepers at Race Rocks, further revolutionized his teaching and interests. Race Rocks, an archipelago of nine jagged islets lying eight miles from Victoria, is the southernmost point of Pacific Canada.The islands are the pinnacles of a large underwater mountain. The lighthouse was the second to operate in BC and was constructed of Scottish granite brought as ballast aboard British sailing ships.The Rocks are named after the passage separating it from Vancouver Island and has a tidal race reaching seven knots. When strong tides and winds oppose each other, standing waves can grow to 10 feet.The upwelling from the currents provides an exceptionally abundant environment for animal and plant life. Some of the islets are favourite perches for Steller and California sea lions, and elephant seals and harbour seals sunbathe here.

“My philosophy of teaching is to instill the concept of ecosystems’ integrity and sustainability,” Garry says.“I explain we’re not on a chain, we’re in a life web. I ask students to  assess their project’s sustainability. Does it have biological integrity? Does it impact the food web or energy flows? What services do ecosystems provide? We must weigh what things will look like in 100 years, not just next year.”

THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS welcomed Garry and students to Race Rocks.“The Andersons knew the uniqueness of the region,”he says.“We dived near the rocks, although with the currents, it could be dangerous. We surveyed and created maps of underwater marine life and collected data on birds and marine wildlife.”

In 1980, this work led to connections with the predecessor to the Ministry of Environment. That ministry managed the “Ecological Reserves” program—areas set aside because of their exceptional natural features, and for their scientific and educational significance. Garry and his students asked the Ministry to add Race Rocks to the list of protected areas.

“Remarkably,”says Garry, grinning,“Prince Charles, the United World Colleges’ chair, came here for a board meeting. We told the ministry the Prince might announce that Race Rocks had become an ecological reserve. Our proposal was approved in record time.”Garry began serving as the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve warden and reported on the Pearson team’s ongoing research. He urges others to propose ecological reserves and has developed an“adopt an ecosystem”template to develop proposals, which can be found online.

MEANWHILE, A MICROWAVE tower delivering live video of island life was built.Two cameras still run today.

Race Rocks Lighthouse was one of the first two built in BC. Race Rocks Lighthouse was one of the first two built in BC. islands are too small for visitors,” says Garry.“So Pearson grad Ken Dunham developed the network that allowed live- streaming internet video—one of the first such projects in North America. During an Apple conference in New York, I was in a boat off Race Rocks live webcasting with a diver filming underwater (Apple later provided access to live streaming on their network). Our students were very hands-on and we delivered other live webcasts of Race Rocks’ intertidal and subtidal zones to schools. It was new and exciting at the time.”

IN THE ‘90S, David Scott (disclosure—my husband) and Ged McLean and grad students from the University of Victoria’s Institute for Integrated Energy Systems took on separate research studies on the feasibility of obtaining electricity from solar, wind and tidal energy at Race Rocks.“These were tests to determine if any of these alternative energy sources were feasible in this natural laboratory,” says Garry.

A BC ministry funded the solar panels and, with an array of batteries, provided the electricity to help power the islands, thereby reducing the diesel needed to run generators. With additional collectors, they still function today. “The 40 solar panels generate enough power in the summer to make the islands energy self-sufficient,” explains Garry. Solar was judged to be more practical than wind and no windmills were built.

THE CLEAN Current Tidal Power Demonstration Project at Race Rocks was the first such project in Canada and the sponsor, EnCana, wanted to assess if the turbine placed in Race Passage could produce electricity during both ebb and flood currents. UVic and Pearson students collaborated on the project.“This was a case study,” says Garry. “Our students dove often to apply coatings that might prevent fouling of the turbine’s blades.”

Alas, the experiment was discontinued after six years. Photos show that giant barnacles and other ocean life had colonized the turbine. “It was just too expensive to maintain,” says Garry.

Pearson continues its protection of Race Rocks. After the federal government destaffed the lighthouse, the College signed a long-term lease and pays for an eco-guardian to provide a constant human presence on the island.

GARRY, now retired, has been recognized for his imaginative and enthusiastic use of technology in the classroom. He’s active in environmental issues. He condemns the doubling of the Trans Mountain Pipeline and has been an intervenor at the National Energy Board hearings. He cultivates and sells mason bees to augment the population of pollinating insects. He’s analyzed the Race Rocks’ water temperature and salinity data collected since 1921.

“Every month, the median temperature is at least one degree Celsius higher than in 1921,” he warns. As a part of a UVic research program, he’s installed malaise traps on his property to help establish baseline data on insect biomass.

Further reading:
metchosinmarine.ca
ecoreserves.bc.ca
racerocks.ca
gfletcher.ca

Decade Comparisons:Sea Surface Temperature at Race Rocks-

Link to Race Rocks Mean Monthly Sea Temperature 1921-present,

Monthly temperature averages in degrees Celsius for Race Rocks
1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 Average Month
Jan 6.4 7.1 7.1 6.6 7.8 7.6 6.9 7.1 6.5 7.0 Jan
Feb 7.1 6.1 6.4 7.3 6.9 8 7.4 7.3 6.3 6.6 6.9 Feb
Mar 7.3 6.6 6.7 7.7 7.3 8.6 7.8 7.8 7.1 7.1 7.4 Mar
Apr 7.7 7.5 7.6 7.9 8 9.2 8 8.6 7.8 8.2 8.1 Apr
May 8.5 8.3 8.6 9 9.2 10.1 8.8 9.7 9 9.3 9.1 May
June 9.5 9.5 9.3 9.8 10.1 10.7 9.8 10.2 9.8 10 9.9 June
Jul 10.3 10.5 10.3 10.5 11.1 11.1 10.5 10.8 10.8 10.6 10.7 Jul
Aug 10.5 10.3 10.5 10.3 10.8 10.9 10.9 10.9 10.8 10.8 10.7 Aug
Sept 10.3 10.2 10.6 10.2 10.2 10.5 10.3 10.3 10.7 10.6 10.4 Sept
Oct 9.8 9.3 9.6 9.2 9.2 9.8 9.7 9.2 9.8 9.4 9.5 Oct
Nov 9.1 8.4 8.7 8.8 8.3 9.1 8.6 8.6 8.8 8.6 8.7 Nov
Dec 8.2 7.1 7.9 7.3 8.2 8.5 7.6 7.9 7.8 8 7.9 Dec
8.8 Decade
average
Average
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Jan 8.2 8.2 7.7 8.7 8 7.5 7.9 8.1 8.8 7.8 8.1 Jan
Feb 8.6 7.8 7.9 9.2 7.8 7.7 7.7 7.9 8.5 7.9 8.1 Feb
Mar 8.8 8.4 8.1 9.7 8.1 8.1 8.1 7.7 8.7 8.3 8.4 Feb
Apr 9.2 9.2 9 9.9 8.9 9.1 8.7 8.7 9.2 9.1 9.1 Apr
May 10.2 10 10.3 10.4 9.5 10 9.7 9.4 9.9 10.4 10.0 May
June 11.2 10.4 10.9 11.4 10.4 11.1 10.6 10.5 10.9 11 10.8 June
Jul 11.8 11.5 11.7 11.7 11.1 11.3 11.3 11.2 11.3 11.8 11.5 Jul
Aug 11.5 11.5 12.2 12.3 11.5 11.7 11.4 11.7 11.4 11.9 11.7 Aug
Sept 11.3 10.5 11.6 12.1 11.9 11.4 11.4 11.3 11.4 11.2 11.4 Sept
Oct 10.2 9.9 11.3 10.7 10.1 10.3 10.2 10 10.9 10.6 10.4 Oct
Nov 9.4 8.7 9.9 9.8 9 9 9.2 9 9 9.4 9.2 Nov
Dec 8.9 7.6 9.3 9 8.5 8 8.3 8.8 8.5 8.6 8.6 Dec
9.8 Decade
Average
This analysis has been done by Garry Fletcher using the monthly averages of the daily temperatures.
See this file for the complete set of monthly data1921 to present
The following is a comparison between 1951-1960 and 2001-2010

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
1951 7.5 6.9 6.7 8.1 9.2 10.2 10.4 11.1 10.9 9.5 8.5 7.7
1952 6.9 7.1 7.6 8.2 9 9.6 10.4 10.5 10.2 9.8 8.6 7.9
1953 7.8 7.9 7.6 8.1 9.3 9.8 10.6 11 10.6 9.9 9.3 8.5
1954 7.1 7.3 7.5 7.9 8.7 9.3 9.9 10 10 9.4 9.1 8.4
1955 7.5 7.1 6.7 7.5 8.4 9.3 9.8 10.2 10 8.9 7.5 6.6
1956 6.7 6.4 6.3 7.6 8.7 9.6 10.2 10.4 10.1 9.2 8.1 7.1
1957 6.3 6.2 7.2 8.1 9.3 10 10.3 10.5 10.5 9.8 8.8 8.3
1958 8 8.3 8.6 9.3 10.3 10.7 11.5 11.5 11 9.9 8.7 8.1
1959 7.6 7.4 7.9 9.1 9.7 10.4 11.3 11 10.4 9.7 8.3 7.8
1960 7.1 7.5 7.5 8.6 9.6 10.3 11.4 10.8 10.1 9.5 8.6 7.9
Mean 7.25 7.21 7.36 8.25 9.22 9.92 10.58 10.7 10.38 9.56 8.55 7.83

2001 7.9 7.7 8.1 8.7 9.7 10.6 11.3 11.4 11.4 10.2 9.2 8.3
2002 8.1 7.9 7.7 8.7 9.4 10.5 11.2 11.7 11.3 10 9 8.8
2003 8.8 8.5 8.7 9.2 9.9 10.9 11.3 11.4 11.4 10.9 9 8.5
2004 7.8 7.9 8.3 9.1 10.4 11 11.8 11.9 11.2 10.6 9.4 8.6
2005 7.7 8 8.8 9.4 10.7 11.2 11.6 12.1 11.5 10.4 9.5 8.3
2006 8.61 8.49 8.41 8.75 10.08 10.86 11.66 12.09 11.49 10.55 9.29 8.5
2007 7.8 7.9 7.9 9 10 10.2 11.2 11.6 11 10 9 8
2008 7.46 7.33 7.68 8.06 9.36 9.77 10.84 11.3 11.16 10.14 9.39 7.87
2009 7.29 7.2 7.5 8.4 9.54 10.4 11.4 11.74 11.8 10.5 9 7
2010 8.11 8.68 9.12 8.96 9.54 10.36 11.16 11.93 11.08 10.37 8.98 8.5
Mean 7.95 7.96 8.22 8.82 9.862 10.58 11.34 11.71 11.33 10.36 9.17 8.24

Monthly Means
2001-2010 1951-1960
Jan 7.96 7.25
Feb 7.96 7.21
Mar 8.22 7.36
Apr 8.83 8.25
May 9.86 9.22
June 10.58 9.92
july 11.34 10.58
Aug 11.71 10.7
Sept 11.33 10.38
Oct 10.36 9.56
Nov 9.17 8.55
Dec 8.24 7.83

See also https://www.env.gov.bc.ca/soe/indicators/climate-change/sea-surface-temperature.html

Archive of Seawater Temperature Data 1921 to present

Note, The blanks for the years 1940-41 are due to the Second World War. Apparently during that time, data was not collected by a lightkeeper.Original data was sent by the Lightkeepers and now by the Marine Protected Area Guardian of Race Rocks to the Institute of Ocean Sciences where it is compiled and displayed at
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/oceans/data-donnees/lighthouses-phares/index-eng.htm
Decade analysis by G. Fletcher.. NOTE probable evidence of climate change
Race Rocks Light Station: 48.2996 123.5318

 

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
1921  — 7.13 7.39 7.75 8.53 9.57 10.31 10.53 10.35 9.88 9.21 8.25
1922 6.4 6.1 6.6 7.5 8.3 9.5 10.5 10.3 10.2 9.3 8.4 7.1
1923 7.1 6.4 6.7 7.6 8.6 9.3 10.3 10.5 10.6 9.6 8.7 7.9
1924 7.1 7.3 7.7 7.9 9 9.8 10.5 10.3 10.2 9.2 8.8 7.3
1925 6.6 6.9 7.3 8 9.2 10.1 11.1 10.8 10.2 9.2 8.3 8.2
1926 7.8 8 8.6 9.2 10.1 10.7 11.1 10.9 10.5 9.8 9.1 8.5
1927 7.6 7.4 7.8 8 8.8 9.8 10.5 10.9 10.3 9.7 8.6 7.6
1928 6.9 7.3 7.8 8.6 9.7 10.2 10.8 10.9 10.3 9.2 8.6 7.9
1929 7.1 6.3 7.1 7.8 9 9.8 10.8 10.8 10.7 9.8 8.8 7.8
1930 6.5 6.6 7.1 8.2 9.3 10 10.6 10.8 10.6 9.4 8.6 8
1931 7.8 7.8 8.2 8.8 9.9 10.6 11.5 11.1 10.7 9.6 8.6 7.7
1932 7.1 6.8 7.3 8.2 9.3 10.4 10.8 10.9 10.7 9.6 8.9 7.7
1933 7.1 6.7 7.1 8 9.1 10.2 10.5 11.5 10.1 9.6 8.6 7.7
1934 7.8 7.9 8.3 9.2 10 10.8 10.9 11.6 10.7 9.7 9.2 8.4
1935 7.2 7.2 7.5 7.8 9.2 10.1 10.5 10.5 10.7 9.7 8.2 8.1
1936 7.9 6.7 7 7.8 9.3 10.4 11.3 11.3 10.5 10.1 8.6 7.9
1937 6.6 6.4 7.7 8.7 9.9 10.9 11.7 11.5 10.9 9.9 8.5 8.1
1938 7.4 7.2 8.1 9.4 10.6 12.3 12.7 11.9 11 9.9 8.6 7.5
1939 7.4 6.6 7.1 8.6 10.3 11.4 12.2 11.1 11.4 9.7  –< 8.5
1940 7.98 8.28 9.06 10.09 11.49 11.69
1941 10.87 10.54 11.29 11-05 10.66 9.97 9.07 8.60
1942 7.9 7.9 7.8 8.5 9.6 9.8 10.5 11 10.3 9.5 8.4 7.9
1943 6.8 6.7 7.1 8.2 8.8 10 10.3 10.6 10.3 9.6 9 8.1
1944 7.7 7.5 7.3 8 9.2 10.5 11 10.9 10.5 9.6 9.2 8.1
1945 7.8 7.7 7.6 8 8.8 9.8 10.1 10.5 10 9.5 8.1 8.1
1946 7.7 7.3 7.7 8.1 9.4 10.2 10.7 10.8 10.3 9.4 8.1 7.7
1947 7.1 7 7.7 8.4 9.5 10.4 10.6 10.9 10.5 9.9 9.1 7.9
1948 7.5 6.9 7.2 7.9 9 10.2 10.8 10.7 10.4 9.5 8.2 7
1949 6.1 6.1 6.9 8.3 9.4 10.1 10.3 10.2 10.5 9.5 8.7 7.8
1950 6.2 5.8 6.6 7.7 8.7 9.4 10.1 10.4 10.3 9.3 8.5 8
1951 7.5 6.9 6.7 8.1 9.2 10.2 10.4 11.1 10.9 9.5 8.5 7.7
1952 6.9 7.1 7.6 8.2 9 9.6 10.4 10.5 10.2 9.8 8.6 7.9
1953 7.8 7.9 7.6 8.1 9.3 9.8 10.6 11 10.6 9.9 9.3 8.5
1954 7.1 7.3 7.5 7.9 8.7 9.3 9.9 10 10 9.4 9.1 8.4
1955 7.5 7.1 6.7 7.5 8.4 9.3 9.8 10.2 10 8.9 7.5 6.6
1956 6.7 6.4 6.3 7.6 8.7 9.6 10.2 10.4 10.1 9.2 8.1 7.1
1957 6.3 6.2 7.2 8.1 9.3 10 10.3 10.5 10.5 9.8 8.8 8.3
1958 8 8.3 8.6 9.3 10.3 10.7 11.5 11.5 11 9.9 8.7 8.1
1959 7.6 7.4 7.9 9.1 9.7 10.4 11.3 11 10.4 9.7 8.3 7.8
1960 7.1 7.5 7.5 8.6 9.6 10.3 11.4 10.8 10.1 9.5 8.6 7.9
1961 7.9 8.2 8.4 8.8 9.4 10.3 10.9 11.3 10.6 9.4 8.2 7.5
1962 7.2 7.3 7.3 8.4 9.3 10 10.4 10.5 10.5 10 9.3 8.7
1963 7.5 7.5 7.8 8.5 9.6 10.2 10.5 10.8 10.6 10.3 9.9 8.7
1964 8.2 7.9 7.7 8.2 8.8 9.6 10.3 10.5 10 9.4 8.3 7.4
1965 6.9 7.1 7.2 8 8.8 9.8 10 10.2 10.3 9.7 9.2 8.5
1966 7.7 7.6 7.7 8.5 9 9.1 99.9 10.7 10.1 9.5 8.7 8.6
1967 7.9 7.7 7.6 8.1 8.9 9.6 10.3 10.5 10.5 9.7 9.1 8
1968 7.3 7.3 8 8.3 8.7 9.5 10.2 10.2 10.4 9.3 8.8 7.8
1969 6.5 6.3 7.2 8.1 9.1 10.2 10.4 10.5 9.8 9.2 8.7 8.1
1970 7.5 7.7 7.9 8 8.7 9.6 10.2 10.2 10 9 8.3 7.5
1971 7 6.9 6.7 7.5 8.5 9.1 10 10.6 10.4 9.3 8.3 7.3
1972 6.4 6.2 6.9 7.6 8.8 9.5 10.5 10.6 10.2 9.1 8.4 7.3
1973 7 7.2 7.9 8.4 8.6 9.2 10.1 10.3 10 9.2 8.2 8
1974 7.2 7.2 7.3 8.1 8.5 9.7 10 10.9 10.6 9.7 8.6 8.2
1975 7.3 6.8 7.2 7.7 8.7 9.4 10.2 10.4 10.4 9.6 9.2 7.8
1976 7.2 7 7 7.8 8.7 9.3 10.1 10.1 10 9.4 8.6 8.1
1977 7.6 7.9 8 8.3 8.8 9.7 9.9 10.8 10.3 9.2 8.6 7.9
1978 7.6 7.9 8.3 8.9 9.4 10.3 10.4 10.9 10.5 9.8 8.2 7.3
1979 6.5 6.9 7.5 8.3 9.5 10 10.8 10.7 10.5 9.8 9 8.6
1980 7.7 7.6 7.9 8.6 9.5 9.5 10.6 10.9 10.5 9.9 9.2 8.6
1981 8.3 8.3 8.8 9.2 9.4 9.9 10.3 10.5 10.2 9.7 9.3 8.5
1982 7.2 7.5 8 8.8 9.9 10.7 11.4 11.8 11.4 10.3 8.8 8.3
1983 8.6 8.6 9.3 10 10.6 11.3 11.7 12.4 11.4 10.3 9.5 7.7
1984 7.5 7.8 8.4 9 9.7 10.3 11.4 11.6 10.6 9.7 8.5 6.9
1985 6.8 6.8 7.2 8.2 9.6 10.6 11.5 11.6 10.8 9.6 6.8 6.4
1986 7 6.6 8 8.4 9.4 11 10.9 11.8 10.8 9.8 8.4 7.8
1987 7.6 7.9 8.3 8.9 9.8 10.6 11.1 11.5 11.1 10 9 8.2
1988 7.4 7.5 7.5 8.6 9.6 10.4 11 11.4 10.6 9.6 8.7 7.9
1989 7 5.8 6.8 8.2 9.5 10.7 11.3 11.2 11 9.9 8.9 8.2
1990 8.1 7.7 8.2 9 9.9 10.8 11.8 12.1 12.1 10.7 9.9 8.2
1991 7.1 7.7 7.9 8.4 9.7 9.7 10.8 11 11.2 10.1 8.9 8.3
1992 7.9 8.1 9.5 9.5 10.2 10.7 11.1 11.4 11 10 9.1 7.8
1993 6.7 6.7 7.6 8.6 9.7 10.8 11 11.2 11 10.1 8.5 7.9
1994 8 7.4 8.6 9.3 10.1 10.6 11.6 11.5 11.3 10.7 9.3 8.4
1995 8.2 8.6 8.8 9.2 10.2 11.2 11.8 11.5 11.3 10.2 9.4 8.9
1996 8.2 7.8 8.4 9.2 10 10.4 11.5 11.5 10.5 9.9 8.7 7.6
1997 7.7 7.9 8.1 9 10.3 10.9 11.7 12.2 11.6 11.3 9.9 9.3
1998 8.7 9.2 9.7 9.9 10.4 11.4 11.7 12.3 12.1 10.7 9.8 9
1999 8 7.8 8.1 8.9 9.5 10.4 11.1 11.5 11.9 10.1 9 8.5
2000 7.5 7.7 8.1 9.1 10 11.1 11.3 11.7 11.4 10.3 9 8
2001 7.9 7.7 8.1 8.7 9.7 10.6 11.3 11.4 11.4 10.2 9.2 8.3
2002 8.1 7.9 7.7 8.7 9.4 10.5 11,2 11.7 11.3 10.0 9.0 8.8
2003 8.8 8.5 8.7 9.2 9.9 10.9 11.3 11.4 11.4 10.9 9.0 8.5
2004 7.8 7.9 8.3 9.1 10.4 11.0 11.8 11.9 11.2 10.6 9.4 8.6
2005 7.7 8.0 8.8 9.4 10.7 11.2 11.6 12.1 11.5 10.4 9.5 8.3
2006 8.61 8.49 8.41 8.75 10.08 10.86 11.66 12.09 11.49 10.55 9.29 8.5
2007 7.8 7.9 7.9 9.0 10.0 10.2 11.2 11.6 11.0 10.0 9.0 8.0
2008 7.46 7.33 7.68 8.06 9.36 9.77 10.84 11.30 11.16 10.14 9.39 7.87
2009 7.29 7.20 7.5 8.4 9.54 10.4 11.4 11.74 11.8 10.5 9.0 7.0
2010 8.11 8.68 9.12 8.96 9.54 10.36 11.16 11.93 11.08 10.37 8.98 8.5
2011 7.77 7.49 7.77 8.53 9.32 10.35 10.76 11.38 11.17 10.14< 8.66< 8.01
2012 7.29 7.35 7.63 8.73 9.82 9.76 10.37 10.98 10.92 9.66< 8.85 8.32
2013 7.64 7.44 7.48 8.27 9.05 9.72 10.96 10.76 10.65 10,10 8.69 7.68
2014 7.63 7.25 7.90 8.80 9.72 10.30 10.79 11.36 11.20 10.72 10.14 9.03
2015 8.75 9.00 8.96 9.40 9.88 11.17 11.97 12.23 11.30 10.55 9.61 9.01
2016 8.45 8.77 9.05 9.71 10.21 11.16 11.90 12.52 11.27 10.40 10.42 8.63
2018 8.06 7.71 8.00 8.81 10.31 10.63 11.40 11.50 11.11 `0.27 9,54 8.72
2019 8.45 8.96 10.05 10.87 10.98 11.26 10.85
2020
2021
2022
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Steller sea lion with plastic around neck rescued on Vancouver Island

From The Goldstream Gazette BC LOCAL NEWS

Sep. 22, 2019 12:00 a.m.
PHOTOS: Steller sea lion with plastic around neck rescued on Vancouver Island

Rescue staff determined the plastic band cut the protected animal’s neck approximately two inches

A Steller sea lion is recovering after being disentangled from a piece of plastic that cut its neck approximately two inches.The male sea lion, weighing approximately 500 kilograms, was reported to the Vancouver Aquarium marine mammal rescue centre team after it was seen near Sooke with a plastic packing band wrapped tightly around its neck.Rescue staff, along with officers from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and a veterinarian from the SeaDoc Society, joined forces Monday at the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve to rescue the animal, which is protected in Canada as a species of special concern under the federal Species at Risk Act.

Rescue staff joined forces with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the SeaDoc Society to disentangle the sea lion at the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve. (SeaDoc Society photo)

Since Race Rocks is made up of rough terrain and has strong currents, it took hours of jockeying positions for Martin Haulena, the head veterinarian at the aquarium, to dart and sedate the sea lion. Haulena did this from a distance using an air-powered dart containing immobilization agents.

Over the past two decades, Vancouver Aquarium head veterinarian Martin Haulena has helped develop a precise drug combination to ensure that sea lions can be safely freed, without harming itself or others. (SeaDoc Society photo)

The sea lion entered the water after being darted, which Lindsaye Akhurst, manager of the aquarium’s rescue centre said is a common response. Then, with the help of Race Rocks Eco-Guardians in the lighthouse acting as “eyes in the sky,” the team was able to spot the sea lion in some kelp and remove the plastic band that had cut into the animal’s neck approximately 2 inches.

Once the sedated sea lion was located in the water, the rescue team discovered that while the top of the plastic band was still slightly mobile, the bottom, or ventral portion, had cut into the animal’s neck approximately two inches. (SeaDoc Society photo)

A release from Ocean Wise said “the depth and severity of the wound indicated that the plastic had been there for some time.”

In between darting attempts, the Vancouver Aquarium marine mammal rescue team had to pause rescue efforts due to the presence of Southern resident killer whales from J and K pods. (SeaDoc Society photo)

Team members tagged the sea lion’s flippers so if there are further reports about it rescuers will be able to identify the animal.

READ MORE: Entangled humpback calf rescued off west coast of Vancouver Island

To date, rescue centre staff have rescued over 20 entangled sea lions.

B.C. surveys have documented hundreds more entangled sea lions in recent years, the release said, with some of the worst plastic offenders being ghost gear, including nets and ropes, and discarded trash such as the plastic packing bands used in packaging and shipping, which ensnare animals.

Not only are plastic items uncomfortable for marine mammals, Akhurst said, but the sea lions continue to grow while the plastic around them does not, which sometimes results in death.

READ MORE: Brand new vessel for Massett Marine Rescue

Akhurst said Ocean Wise is working with the Fisheries and Oceans Canada on a stronger disentanglement program that specifically targets pinnipeds, a group that includes seals, sea lions, and walruses.

In late fall, a multi-day outing is planned that will focus on this problem on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

READ MORE: Sea lion tangled in rope on Vancouver Island

If you see a marine mammal that you believe is in distress, stay back, keep people and pets away, and call the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre at 604-258-SEAL (7325), or the Fisheries and Oceans Canada hotline at 1-800-465-4336.


karissa.gall@blackpress.ca