5 First Year and 2 Second Year students are finishing their project week today. Their service and enthusiasm was a fantastic component of my last week at Race Rocks. Alex Fletcher is staying on the island as he starts his shift. Best of luck to everyone at Pearson College and Race Rocks, thanks for these amazing 3 years! There were 10 visitors to the island today. (Ryan Murphy)
Author Archives: Ryan Murphy
Humpbacks pass to the south
(2) Humpbacks passed South of Race Rocks today before 14:00 (Ryan)
Tagged elephant seal #6375
A new arrival TOPP#6375 was photographed on the S side of Great Race.
Total Elephant Seals: 5 (Ryan)
Catrin and Bio class out
Northern Sea Lion count: 129.
The nursing pup is still here and is very vocal for most of the day. It is surprisingly spritely given the ungainly proportions of its flippers!
Erik, Catrin and her first year Biology class came today to for work on the u/w camera installation and study of populations and communities respectively. There were 16 visitors to the island today.
Sea lion juvenile
As Ecological Reserve Warden, I was concerned with the report of continued blasting by the DND given the recent noting of a nursing northern sea lion at Race Rocks. The following is an account of the concern, starting with an e-mail and pictures from the Ecoguardian, Ryan Murphy
Subject “New Development”
Sept 27,2011
“I’m not sure if the LGL guys noticed this or not… but we have a nursing Steller sea lion pup on Great Race. You’ll see in the photos that the mother is definitely lactating and the pup is nursing on the rock above the jetty (West side). Since Eumetopias jubatus is listed under SARA as Special Concern, I believe this is very significant. DND’s activity at Bentinck Island has not included intervals between blasts to reduce sea lion stampedes, and this pup is definitely at risk of trampling if DND continues their activities as they have for the past 2 days.-
Subject: continued blasting
Date: September 28, 2011 8:30:18 AM PDT
“No need to worry about DND blasting, the landing of LGL personnel and subsequent standing around at the jetty caused a mass stampede with about 50 animals taking to the water including the pup.”
Subject Update
Date: September 28, 2011 9:26:18 AM PDT
“Just so you know, the larger blasts are still coming back to back. I don’t know if LGL communicated the need for increased intervals, but regardless there is no change. The sea lions continued to be disturbed and take to the water with the rapid succession blasts.”
Subject: update
Date: September 28, 2011 4:57:03 PM PDT
“The pup has been back since at least 14:30. I have not seen its mother and it is sporting a fresh 2″ cut on its shoulder. Otherwise looks to be ok, it has been sitting upright trying to stay awake and nodding off as babies will.”
Subject: Re: New development
Date: September 29, 2011 7:04:02 AM PDT
“The pup is still here this morning, the mother is not with it.”
Subject: DND report
Date: September 29, 2011 9:21:24 AM PDT
“As per the log at 9:21 this morning:
Two absolutely massive explosions that shook the house occurred only 10 seconds apart. The glass panes in the windows rattled against their metallic frames. At least 70 sea lions stampeded into the water, completely clearing out entire haul out areas. About 20 sea lions stampeded through the area where the Steller pup was resting.”
As a result of this account of events, I sent an e-mail to BC Parks and DND administration stating the following:
From: Garry Fletcher
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2011 10:20 AM
Subject: Fwd: New development
I was very concerned to receive the following reports and images from Ryan Murphy our Guardian at Race Rocks. I think it warrants a followup considering the concerns we have for marine mammals being disturbed by human activities, especially those which are SARA listed.
Surely they have enough data by now to show that the window for doing this blasting program might perhaps be reconsidered. We would appreciate hearing of any followup .
FOLLOWUP: So far ( November, 2011) there has been none. The juvenile and mother were not seen again, research by LGL (LGL who are referred to are the DND contracted research group who is at the island again this year to make observations on the effects of detonations at Bentinck Island.) The disturbance to animals by DND blasting continued unabated over the next few days. Their previous reports up to 2010 are included here. The report for this year will be added here when it is available.
Tagged elephant seal
-241, ‘2011-09-26’, ‘Elephant Seal’, 1, ‘Small female TOPP tag 6375 is hauled out at the jetty.’, ‘Ryan’, ’16:41:39
Tagged female elephant seal
‘Elephant Seal’, 1, ‘Small female TOPP tag 6375 is hauled out at the jetty.’, ‘Ryan’, ’16:41:39 ,
High count of black oystercatcher
black oystercatcher count : 26, The most I’ve seen this time of year.
Elephant Seal: 1Small female TOPP tag 6375 is hauled out at the jetty.
Pelagic Cormorant Juvenile
‘Another first for my stay here at Race Rocks. This evening a trio of Pelagic cormorants flew along the N side of Great Race. The first is that the third was miniature version of what I assume to be its parents. I have never seen a juvenile pelagic cormorant before!’, ‘Ryan’,
California Sea Lions
California Sea Lioncount: 87. Most of the California sea lions cleared out this morning before I could get a proper count. LGL continues to monitor the DND blasting. Brand c867 is near the jetty this morning.
LGL continues their monitoring today.
Erik and Evgeny arrived to work on the underwater camera. I am very excited for this to be online. In just a few seconds of watching I’ve seen 4 species of fish and a couple sea lions swim by. There were 4 visitors to the island today.