The different horizontal header images that appear on this website and the log with the title “Race Rocks Ecological Reserve”, were made from images taken at Race Rocks and contributed over the past few years by the Ecoguardians of Race Rocks. A big thanks and acknowledgement to Ryan Murphy, Raisa Mirza, Adam Harding, Alex Fletcher, Julie Bowser and most recently many by Mike Robinson.
Category Archives: Admin
Ahhh June in BC
Typical June day in BC
It always surprises me how long it takes for “summer” weather to arrive in BC. Today it is overcast, blowing 30 with driving rain, and 11 degrees (which feels like 7 with the wind chill). For Race Rocks weather records see this link.
A very buoyant Harbour Seal
3 male elephant seals and I are the only mammals on Great Race Island but this big female Harbour Seal calmly shared a lovely sunset with me at the sea side…
Yoga E-seal
On a nice afternoon a few days ago Chunk was showing his flexibility by doing backbends and chewing on his hind-flippers.
Seal Salutation
Yesterday I spotted 2 Bald Eagles raiding gull nests. I had never seen this before.
Wary Allies
And finally this interesting shot! Nesting Gull and Tower.
Day 2: Solar panel maintenance
Wednesday June 5/13
Day two: Fog and moderate winds early in the morning. A good part of the morning was spent cleaning the Solar panels on the roof of the Energy building of all the accumulated bird guano. I took note of the power output pre-cleaning : 650W; it jumped to 980W after being cleaned.
One pleasure boat in the Reserve this morning 0945hrs
We were visited by BC Parks’ new Area Supervisor to familiarise herself with the site and the Race Rocks File; and to meet the crew.
A trip with BC Parks Staff to Race Rocks
On the morning of Wednesday June 6 , I went with Andy MacDonald, the Vancouver Island Region (South) Parks and Protected Areas Section Head, and Zsana Tulcsik, the new BC Parks Area Supervisor from the Goldstream Office out to the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve. ( A report by Garry Fletcher, Race Rocks ER warden)
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- Two young elephant seals, probably second year. Note new coat on the left and still shedding on the right.
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- Elephant seal male and nearby glaucous -winged gull nest.
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- Grass enclosure after just over one year. When the Canada geese have not been able to graze, a thick turf builds up.
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- Armeria maritima, sea thrift is in full bloom and looks very striking at this time of year.
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- The Glaucous-winged gulls are in full nesting mode, with several nests just built and several with eggs and parents incubating.
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- Black Oystercatcher nest near docks. It is unusual to be in a grass
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- Several large areas where the grass was matted and smothered by the sealions hauling out last fall, now have a prolific growth of this newly arrived plant, Matricaria discoidea , or pineappleweed. It is the tallest growing samples of that plant I have seen. Another plant in the same areas is the fiddleneck, Amsinckia menziesii
College staff member Erik Schauff skippered Second Nature and we met Chris Blondeau , Director of Operations for Pearson College UWC on the jetty. He is the relief ecoguardian at Race Rocks for the week .
The elephant seals co-operated and were basking in the sun on the grass in the centre of the island. There were 4- 2 year olds and one large older Male, which may have been Chunk … the inflamed right eye from an injury administered by Misery was a good identification mark.
Two Northern sea lions were observed in the water . I thought it was notable that there were very few harbour seals which usually have pups at this time of year, and none on the southern islets where they usually haul out. I will have to check over the next few days on the tower camera, as they may have been out foraging.
The glaucous-winged gulls are well into nesting season, with several nests containing three eggs. The image from the window of the science centre shows the distribution of pairs. Another picture above shows a nest precariously close to the elephant seal haulout spot.
There was an abundance of pigeon guillemots on all corners of the island where they have their nesting burrows. They should be visible on camera 5 now out near the edge of the cliff to the west. They have certainly been a success story in increasing numbers in the past few years. There must be well over 60 pairs nesting in the hidden burrows under the rocks. Ironically good habitat has been produced in several areas because of human activity in the past by the blasting of rock for the helipad construction by the Coastguard, and other construction on the islands done in the 1900s before it was an ecological reserve. This is a rare example of habitat enhancement that humans can claim, as usually it is the other way around.
On the return to the docks we were impressed with the clumps of Thrift in full bloom. Chris mentioned that the Black Oystercatchers had been in the area on the rock right off the sidewalk by the docks and we soon spotted the nest. This is the same area they have used for many years. The videos of the hatching oystercatchers in this link are from the same area.
In addition to the vast monocultures of pineapple weed as shown above, this is the second year we have noted large patches of Fiddleneck, Amsinckia spectabilis in the same compacted and richly fertilized areas where the grass was killed out by the sealions and intense Canada Goose grazing.
Special Heritage Protection for the Race Rocks Lighthouse and Ecological Reserve.
This proposal was submitted to Environment Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in June, 2013
The response came in September, 2013:
by Garry Fletcher
Race Rocks Ecological Reserve Warden
4645 William Head Road
Victoria, BC
In 2012, I submitted a petition by 25 members of the Metchosin Community to Environment Canada for including Race Rocks lighthouse on the list of heritage lighthouses in Canada to be protected by the heritage lighthouse protection act. Environment Canada subsequently confirmed that the application had been approved. In order for DFO to authorize the disposal of the lighthouse, if indeed it is owned by the federal government, someone has to submit a business plan within five years of the enactment of the Lighthouse Heritage Protection Bill, ie by May 2015.
I am proposing that :
1) The historical branch of Environment Canada will assume responsibility for the long term maintenance of the Heritage Light tower at Race Rocks. It could be under a special designation as marine view-scape heritage.
2) Since Race Rocks and Fisgard Lighthouse were built together concurrently over 150 years ago under the direction of the First Governor of the Colony of Vancouver Island, Environment Canada could include both lighthouses in a National Marine Historic Park.
3) That the Department of Fisheries and Oceans support financially the maintenance of this tower as part of its continued use as an Aids to navigation.
The reality is that there will be no business plan for the change of ownership of the Lighthouse. Most people in British Columbia and Canada assume that this historic structure should be totally funded and maintained by governments on the basis of it’s historical significance as well as continuing function as an aid to navigation.
This proposal provides background information for this alternate proposal to the business plan required by DFO for heritage protection for Race Rocks lighthouse. Although I am a retired faculty member of Pearson College UWC, and am currently the Ecological Reserve Warden appointed by BC Parks for Race Rocks, I am submitting this proposal as a private citizen, so the views presented herein are entirely my own.
The Canadian Lighthouse Heritage Protection Bill was designed to protect historic structures such as Race Rocks, in fact it was referred to in the house and senate debates as an example. The early announcement of disposal of surplus lighthouses by DFO was certainly not intended with the legislation, and it has led to the unfortunate situation of a lack of protection for some of Canada’s most significant lighthouses. There has to be an alternate designation that would ensure the protection of the light tower. Ideally a special designation is needed that recognizes the light house as a federally protected and preserved structure, perhaps the focal point of a marine viewscape heritage park. Continue reading
Watch change over
Chris Blondeau on watch at Race Rocks @ 1600hrs
It has been a while since I have been here for more than a few hours. I am looking forward to reconnecting with the place and its inhabitants.
Mike will be off for the rest of the week, so I will have time to get the full experience
It was both fun and a bit daunting to pull the boat out, run the generator, do the seawater sampling (9 deg C) after so long. It all came back though; just like riding a bike as they say.
One whale watching vessel at approx. 1730hrs
One overflight approx. 2030hrs
Remote Control Camera 1 will be used for Swiftsure coverage this weekend.
Swiftsure sailboat, 2009, photo by Ryan Murphy
The annual Swiftsure sailboat race this weekend has been given control of Camera 1 from Friday 3-4 PM until Monday 9:30 AM.
FoER Field Trip ——–May 12, 2013
The Friends of Ecological reserves sponsored a field trip to Race Rocks On Sunday May 12. Chris Blondeau, Director of Operations for Lester Pearson College operated the boat and Garry Fletcher led a group of ten on a tour of the reserve. The following gallery of images shows some of the activities.
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- The group of 10 members who boarded the college’s “Second Nature” to travel to the reserve.
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- Elephant seal juvenile male and females lined up on the island
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- A young female elephant seal tagged Green # 6360
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- A clear distinction of the head shape with the female above, and male below. Both probably 2-3 year old juveniles.
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- Elephant seals lined up on the centre of Great Race Island
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- This female was tagged as a weaned pup in February 2012 at Point Reyes National Seashore.
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- Bertha, the older female who has had 4 offspring on the island. She has a distinctive stomach scar.
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- A good example of the highest marine algae in the intertidal zone, Praseola, sp. and the vertical zonation of the upper intertidal.
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- a visitor near tidepool #13 and the boulder moved by the hurricane in 2006
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- A goose nest with numbered addled eggs.
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- Enclosure to prevent grazing to monitor vegetation change.
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- Enclosure to prevent grazing.
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- The area flattened by the sealions last fall has a layer of Blue green algae on a mat of hair, On the edges, this camomile is growing invasively.
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- This california sea lion has remained decomposing near the East lawn for the last 4 years.
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- fenced enclosure to demonstrate the effect of goose grazing.
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- Californa and Northern Sea lions on Middle Rock
references:
The tagging of elephant seals indicating their origin:
Race Rocks Now a 1% for the Planet Recipient
Lester B. Pearson College funds the operation of the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve by raising funds specifically dedicated to the Race Rocks Project. Recently this project has been accepted as a recipient for funding from the 1% for the Planet organization. Below is a statement from their web page . Click on the icon for more information and find out how you may help by persuading members of the business community to contribute.
“It’s about businesses recognizing that industry and ecology are inherently connected. It’s about realizing the positive effects of connecting businesses, consumers and nonprofits through philanthropy. And it’s about understanding that the true cost of doing business can be mitigated by a simple pledge to the planet.
Since 2002, 1% for the Planet has inspired members of the business community to contribute 1% of sales to environmental groups around the world. In return, this growing alliance of companies is given the opportunity not only to see their self-worth rise, but their net worth climb as well.”
Race Rocks exploration 11 April 2013
An IB Marine Science class from Lester Pearson College goes to Race Rocks for a field trip with Garry Fletcher on April 11.
Field trip to Race Rocks