Had a nice visit from a veteran ecoguardian Guy Ouradou along with a pearson college alumni member for a quick visit to the island.
Ecological
Some time in the night the mother elephant seal left the island to feed and let her pup become independent and eventually make it’s own way to the water.
Surprisingly Bernard (father elephant seal) has still been very close and protective to the two pups that are now side by side.
Sky: cloudy in the morning then cleared up by afternoon
Water: mostly calm
Boats/Visitors
Saw a few ecotours go by today
No visitors today
Ecological
The mother elephant seal is getting noticeably thinner from feeding the pup for weeks and not having eaten anything for some time now. I suspect she will be leaving her pup soon to feed and to let the pup tone up a bit before she makes her way to the water for the first time to feed herself.
Bernard (adult male elephant seal) has been doing a great job of protecting his two pups and female from the three other males on the island.
Sky: cloudy in the morning then cleared up by afternoon
Water: mostly calm
Boats/Visitors
Saw a few ecotours go by today
Two workers from Environment Canada came by for a few hours to inspect the weather monitoring equipment on the top of the lighthouse.
Kyle came out to deliver fuel and brought a student from Pearson college to see the island.
Ecological
There are now three other male elephant seals hanging around.
The older elephant seal pup has been sleeping away from the elephant seal family (dominant male, female and weaner) for the last few days now and the other males are starting to become interested in it. I really hope they don’t attack it!
New batteries were installed for the main energy systems. The generator will only need to be run once a week for 2-4 hours rather than 2-4 hours a day! Huge decrease in carbon footprint.
Ecological
The sea lions and seals were enjoying the sun today
Lots of black turnstones running around the lawn throughout the day
An eagle flew right over me and my friend right when she arrived to say hi.
Kyle came by with some food and a new cart for wheeling fuel around. New batteries for the generator and energy system are getting installed tomorrow which will greatly reduce the amount of time we will need to run the generator! Very exciting.
Ecological
Haven’t seen the young tagged C887 seal again
The elephant seal pups are getting so big, can’t believe how fast they grow. The weaner is so noisy, especially at night.
Lots of eagles and black oyster catchers out again today.
Had a few ecotours and divers go by today, no visitors
Ecological
There has been a consistent number of bald eagles, cormorants and black oyster catchers the past few days.
Elephant seal pups and mother are doing well. Still hanging around very close to the main house.
A younger male started to approach the female today but Bernard (the dominant male elephant seal) was quick to assert his presence and drive the young bull off.
Been able to see Mount Baker very well the last few days with the sunshine and clear skies.
