Author Archives: Don + Nina

The Sun is Shining Again

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Ecological Happenings

  • Sea was still quite rough, with a large swell. Weather cleared up with calmer winds and clearer sky. A warmer day all in all.
  • Sea Lions were taking the opportunity to dry up.
  • A lot of feeding has been taking place – many bones have been found around the island, as well as fish scales over the solar panels.

Marine Vessels

One tour boat and one pleasure vessel within the reserve.

Maintenance

  • Commenced cleaning the buildings and other infrastructure.
  • Adjusted the pipes running from a broken vent (on the roof) into the indoor composting unit. The pipe (meant for airflow into the unit) was rather, leaking water into it, causing malfunction of the system.
  • Rewiring of the electric fence to the west of the island.
  • Treated the water tank with chlorine, as one step towards addressing water issues.
  • Trouble shooting remote controls for Cameras 1 & 5.

Other

  • Staff meeting this morning with PC, reporting the goings-on at RR.
  • No visitors.

Gust, Swell and Rain

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Ecological Happenings

  • Another wild weather day as RR. Gusts throughout the morning and afternoon, with showers and just moments of sunshine. Wind/gust warnings are still in effect until midnight.
  • Humpback whale spotted feeding towards Port Angeles.
  • Fresh propeller cuts spotted on a Sea Lion.
  • Animals continue to shift around the island and surrounding rocks, adjusting to the weather and moving away from the swell.
  • Number of geese on the island increased significantly from 13 to at least 48 today.
  • A necklaced Sea Lion spotted today near the dock.

Marine Vessels

  • Three tour boats
  • Two pleasure vessels

Maintenance

  • Camera 1 & 5 remote controls via RR website are not functioning – this is currently being troubleshooted.
  • High pressure hose requires a new pump. Attempts at rebuilding it have not been successful.
  • Electric fence repair attempts continue…..

Other

  • No visitors today.

 

 

Gusty Halloween

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Ecological Happenings

  • Four whales (likely Humpback) sighted in the RR reserve today!
  • Very rough conditions, with rains and gusts of up to 36kts. Wind and gale warnings have been in effect.
  • Sea Lions have been shuffling around the island (and moving further up the island), avoiding the white wash.
  • Second dead gull found in the week
  • Birds bathing in the water puddles from the rain

Marine Vessels

Only one tour boat seen today.

Other

  • End of month reporting in progress
  • No visitors

Rough Conditions

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Ecological Happenings

  • Rough conditions with winds of up to 39 kts
  • Sea Lions have left the rocks to the East of the dock, and moved to the west
  • Elephant Seals have moved far up the island close to houses and main access paths
  • Two Elephant Seals are seen battling/courting continuously

Boat Activity

Given the conditions – not many vessels were seen today, aside from 2 tour boats.

Other

  • End of month reporting is being completed
  • No visitors today
  • Thorough house clean
  • Good responses received from tour companies re the friendly reminder on the speed limit within the reserve

Animal Census

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Stellar Sea Lions 327
California Sea Lions 621
Harbour Seals 61
Elephant Seals 6
Cormorants 328
Gulls 2197
Canada Goose 15
Spotted during the week
Bald Eagles 3
Whales 2
Dunlin 1
Black Turnstone 24
Great Blue Heron 1
Oyster Catcher 21
Surf Birds 29

Sea Lion Rescue Attempt

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Ecological Happenings

  • Animal Rescue! After many attempts at locating necklaced Sea Lions, no rescues were made. The animals seen previously, could not be found today. 9 DFO staff, 1 Vancouver Aquarium staff and 3 Pearson College staff (including the Eco-guardians) were all on the job and worked hard to spot the animals. Until next time…..
  • 29 Surfbrids spotted today
  • Another young Elephant Seal on the dock
  • Brand Y40 Sea Lion spotted

Marine Vessels

  • 2 DFO vessels equipped for today’s Sea Lion rescue
  • 5 tour boats – travelling at good speed out of the reserve after yesterday’s friendly reminder
  • 1 pleasure vessel

Other

  •  There were 2 visitors – Jeff from Pearson College and a chimney sweeper.

 

Friendly Reminders

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Ecological Happenings

  • Tangled Sea Lion was spotted in the morning and again on dusk, in preparation for the rescue attempt tomorrow.

Marine Vessels

  • Three tour boats, one fishing/pleasure craft seen today.
  • A number of the local whale watching operations were sent a friendly email to remind their captains about the speed limit within the reserve (7kts).

Maintenance

  • Inspection openings cut into the drywall of the student’s house for access to the chimney.

No visitors today

Elephant Seal Pup

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Ecological Happenings

  • After last nights’ strong winds, many of the regular Sea Lions on the North East of the island were not there, but returned towards the afternoon.
  • Four Elephant Seals were on the dock (where the California Sea lions usually lay), including one pup. The pup was tagged (B228). It had a hard time getting off the dock to return to its mother (see photographs below)
  • Great Blue Heron, spotted today by Camera 5 on the high coastal rocks
  • One more tangled Sea Lion was spotted in preparation for the Vancouver Aquarium rescue on the 28th of October. The two that were previously sighted, could not be found today.

Marine Vessels

Four tour boats, no fishing/pleasure vessels seen today.

Maintenance

  • Davis weather station was offline – this has been resolved.
  • Troubleshooting the pressure hose, in preparation of some cleaning on the island.

No visitors today

 

Strong Winds

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Ecological Happenings

  • One whale (possibly humpback) spotted today, close to the reserve
  • Active salmon feeding (birds and Sea Lions)

Marine Vessels

  • Four tour boats today. We encourage boats to maintain a speed of 7kts max when within the reserve. Take the time to travel slowly out of the reserve when heading back to Victoria, and watch for wildlife!
  • Three pleasure vessels

Other

  • Four students made a brief visit to the reserve today
  • Strong winds of up to 36 kts today

Mario and Luigi

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Weather

Winds of between 11-18 kts from the ENE. The barometer dropped to 101.2. kPa Winds tonight to 15kts, chance of showers. Strong currents in the reserve.

Boat activity

  • Four tour boats, one speeding in the reserve.
  • Three fishing boats.
  • One dive boat.

Ecological happenings

  • Humpback whales spotted to the East.
  • Bald eagles still at North Rocks.
  • Very active salmon feeding in the reserve.

Maintenance

  • Plumbing featured heavily in today’s activities. We seem to have stopped the leak in the student’s house, but the system is now out of action as we had to remove the in-line filter for use in the keeper’s house.