Category Archives: Ecoguardians Log

Census

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December 08, 2022

  • Bald eagle adult                          5
  • Bald eagle juvenile                     4
  • Black Turnstones                       14
  • Black Oyster Catchers                6
  • Gulls, Glaucous and Western    56
  • Cormorants                                  64
  • Canadian goose                          14
  • Crows/ Ravens(?)                        4
  • Surf Scoters                                  9

Mammals

  • Steller sea lion                          190
  • Harbour seal                                42
  • California sea lion                      124
  • Male Elephant Seal                      0
  • Female Elephant Seal  adult       1
  • Female Elephant Seal yearling   1
    • tag X188
  • Sea Otter                                      1

Several Humpback Whales visible from the reserve,occasionally venturing in

November 2022 Seawater Data

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DAILY SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY OBSERVATIONS
Institute of Ocean Sciences, North Saanich, B.C., V8L 4B2
Please email monthly to Peter.Chandler@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Station RACE ROCKS
Observer Derek month: November
YSI ID: 27 Year: 2022
YSI YSI
Temp Sal
Day Time ºC ppt
1 08:05 9.1 33.1
2 08:50 9.2 32.9
3 09:50 9.2 32.9
4 10:40 9.1 33.1
5 11:20 9.3 32.9
6 13:05 9.3 32.9
7 severe storm
8 14:25 9.1 32.7
9 15:00 9.1 32.9
10 15:30 8.9 32.7
11 16:00 8.9 32.7
12 16:45 9.0 32.6
13 17:30 8.9 32.7
14 18:00 8.9 32.7
15 07:00 8.8 32.5
16 08:00 8.8 32.5
17 09:30 8.8 32.4
18 10:30 8.8 32.3
19 11:00 8.8 32.3
20 11:45 8.7 32.1
21 12:30 8.8 32.1
22 13:05 8.7 32.3
23 13:40 8.8 32.3
24 14:30 8.7 32.5
25 15:00 8.7 32.3
26 15:45 8.6 32.8
27 16:30 8.7 32.5
28 17:00 8.6 32.1
29 18:00 8.8 32.6
30 08:15 8.8 32.3

Electronic issues

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(Full Internet is down again, therefore lack of pictures)

Ecological Notes:

  • Total of 12 Canada Geese on the main rock right now
  • High level of black, and brown Turnstones noted
  • Still lots of Humpback Whales in all directions around the reserve

Visitors:

  • 6
  • Greg, Marine and Seafront Operations Coordinator, transporting guests and IT tech
  • IT tech  to work on the tower end of the Internet backup system
  • College guests for a brief tour and intro to the reserve

Facility Work:

  • Modified the line on the flagpole, to allow the flag to be fully removed from the pole without risking losing the line up the pole.
  • IT restored the back up system for the internet for the facility (worked for a few days, then back down again)
  • Continuous repairs to the electric fence system
  • Weekly battery maintenance, as well as the monthly equalization charge to the system
  • Working on removing green growth from the buildings

DND events:

  • Ongoing detonations

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Ecotourism vessels enjoying the sights and sounds of the reserve.
  • A few private vessels also

Ecoguardian  Notes:

  • Although there’s lots of work to do out here, I’m often asked about what I do in my free time. Activities are varied, but this week I made some pickled eggs, pickled onions, pickled sweet peppers, and pickled habanero red onions!

Weather Events:

  • Primarily N/NE winds for the last week, overcast with some sun, no rain
  • Thursday November 17:
    • Sky: light overcast in the morning, then cleared off in the afternoon
    • Wind: N/NE winds 5-10knts
    • Sea: rippled to 2′ chop
    • Temperature Low 4 oC, High 8 oC
  • Friday November 18:
    • clear skies with slight, even haze throughout the day, able to see the outlines of the Olympic Peninsula
    • Wind:N/NE 20-30knts in the morning,10-15knts in the afternoon
    • Sea:  1 meter waves in the morning, flattening to less than .5 meters as the tide switched matching the wind direction
    • Temperature Low  4oC, High  7oC
  • Saturday November 19:
    • mostly clear skies, some haze in the distance
    • Wind: N/NE 5 – 10knots
    • Sea: Very light chop
    • Temperature Low  2oC, High  6oC
  • Sunday November 20:
    • Overcast skies, light rain starting in the evening.some haze in the distance
    • Wind: E/NE 5 – 10knots
    • Sea: Very light chop
    • Temperature Low  4oC, High  8oC

 

  • Tower weather electronics are still down, so wind numbers are estimates.

 

Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

 

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

Winter setting in ….

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Ecoguardian Notes:

  • (lack of photos due to no reliable  internet, and running this through a phone hotspot) Will try to add photos later!

Ecological Notes:

  • noted 2 Sea lions with raw injuries, trying to monitor them as they heal

Visitors:

  • 4
  • Greg, Marine and Seafront Operations Coordinator, and Cedric – grocery and fuel delivery, and help with some maintenance
  • 2 Techs form Environment Canada, to work on the weather electronics on the tower….. some success, but found more work than they anticipated

Facility Work:

  • Diesel delivery – 570L
  • We had wind speed (but no direction) on the monitor in the house, but now have wind direction, (but no speed!)

DND events:

  • A few blasts, scheduled to continue until Nov 13. Humpback Whales south, and west of reserve, none noted to the north.

Weather Events:

  • Yesterday (Tuesday November 08)
    • Sky: Mostly clear with some clouds moving past
    • Wind: NE 15-20 kts
    • Sea: Waves to 1 metre
    • Temperature Low 2oC, High 4oC
  • Today (Wednesday November 09):
    • Sky:Mostly high overcast, mixed cloud and clear overnight
    • Wind: N/NE 10-15 kts
    • Sea: 1/2 meter chop
    • Temperature Low  4oC, High  8oC

 

** All wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 

Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

 

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

Storm after Storm

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Ecoguardian  Notes:

  • (lack of photos due to no reliable  internet, and running this through a phone hotspot) Will try to add photos later!

Ecological Notes:

  • Many Sea Lions returned to the main island after the main storm, mostly on the east side of the island (although that may change as we now have strong NE winds)
  • Noted a few injuries to Sea Lions, from minor head and body wounds, to one that looked like it had a badly damaged pec fin

Facility Work:

  • Started fence repairs Sunday, only to have most of what was done blown/knocked down by Monday! 3Dprinting some more quick connectors for the wire tape
  • Internet troubleshooting is ongoing, biggest direct effect is lack of Opticsre system to closely monitor the battery levels
  • Topped up battery levels, and did Equalization charge

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • 2 highly skilled kayakers paddling around the reserve and “surfing” in the standing waves in the main channel. (I always do a quick assessment through the binoculars when I see an paddlers approaching the reserve.)
  • Just a few Ecotour vessels through the reserve on Sunday while the conditions permitted tours

Weather Events:

  • Yesterday (Sunday, November 06):
    • Sky: High cloud, occasional sunny breaks
    • Wind: Variable 5 – 10kts
    • Sea: rippled to 2′ chop
    • Temperature Low 5oC, High 8oC
  • Today (Monday,  November 07):
    • Sky: Mid level overcast, water level view to the Olympic Peninsula
    • Wind:N/NE 25-30kts, gust to 35kts
    • Sea: 1 meter+ waves and chop
    • Temperature Low  2oC, High  5oC … wind chill -2

 

** All wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 

Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

 

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

Back to the Rock, and prepared for the Storm

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A warm welcome back!

Ecoguardian  Notes:

  • Derek is happy to return to fill the role as Ecoguardian here at Race Rocks, after spending the summer and fall season exploring the Salish Sea as an Ecotourism guide. A special thanks to Jill for leaving the reserve and facilities is such tip top shape!
  • (lack of photos due to no reliable  internet, and running this through a phone hotspot)

Ecological Notes:

  • Dramatic mid week reduction of Sea Lions
  • Working to convince the Sea Lions to not use the ramp area, as pregnant Elephant Seals could be returning in the next month

Visitors:

  • During the Ecoguardian exchange and transfer, Greg delivered firewood and supplies
  • Greg brought out the IT manager to work on the internet and router system.

Facility Work:

  • Attempted repairs to the Desalinator system, realizing more parts were needed.
  • Ongoing troubleshooting of the Internet and wifi system.
  • Main official Weather Station on the tower has been not in operation for a week or so, awaiting outside support for repairs
  • troubleshooting the “local” station at ground level as it lost wind direction sensor during the high wind storm Friday Nov 04.
  • Although the were in good repair earlier in the week, the electric fences now need major repairs, but waiting for the wind to die down after the stormy weekend

DND events:

  • Many detonations on Wednesday Nov 02. Prior to them, I noted 10 to 15 Humpback whales between the reserve and the detonation area. During the blasting, most, if not all, moved west to just beyond Beechy Head. They returned to the area the next day.

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Canadian and American EcoTour vessels visiting the reserve, including regular visits from one company doing an educational program with elementary school children.

Weather Events:

  • Sunny and warm, with relatively calm seas, on November 1st for transfer day!
  • Yesterday (Friday, November 05):
    • Sky: Thunder Clouds throughout the day, mixed with high cloud cover
    • Wind: Variable, 15-30knts during the day, rising to 50knts in the evening, gusting to 65knts
    • Sea:  2′ – 3′ chop, larger swells developing as the wind rose in the evening
    • Temperature Low 7oC, High 10oC
  • Today (Saturday, November 05):
    • Sky: Shifting between  clear skies to high overcast with heavy rains and the low pressure system rolls though. Large hail mid afternoon.
    • Wind: W/WSW 25-30 kts
    • Sea:  2-3 foot waves
    • Temperature Low  5oC, High  8o

 

** All wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 

Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

 

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

October 2022 Seawater Data

Posted on by
DAILY SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY OBSERVATIONS
Institute of Ocean Sciences, North Saanich, B.C., V8L 4B2
Please email monthly to Peter.Chandler@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Station RACE ROCKS
Observer Jillian October
YSI ID: 27 Year: 2022
YSI YSI
Temp Sal
Day Time ºC ppt
1 18:08 10.2 32.6
2 6:55 9.9 32.7
3 8:05 9.9 32.7
4 10:12 9.9 32.8
5 11:20 10.0 32.7
6 17:00 10.5 32.0
7 13:00 10.3 32.6
8 13:45 10.0 32.8
9 14:30 10.0 33.0
10 15:00 10.2 32.8
11 16:00 10.0 32.8
12 10:00 10.0 32.8
13 16:15 10.0 32.6
14 17:20 10.1 32.4
15 18:10 10.3 32.3
16 6:30 9.9 32.6
17 7:25 9.9 32.5
18 9:57 10.2 32.2
19 15:05 10.7 31.8
20 11:30 10.5 32.0
21 14:00 10.4 32.1
22 12:40 10.3 32.2
23 13:15 10.3 32.0
24 13:45 10.1 32.2
25 14:18 9.6 32.7
26 15:00 9.6 32.6
27 16:00 9.5 32.8
28 16:10 9.5 32.9
29 16:50 9.5 32.8
30 5:30 9.4 32.9
31 6:30 9.2 33.1

In Memoriam : Pam Birley

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For many years we had the privilege of having many contributions to the Race Rocks website by Pam Birley of Leicestershire, England. Pam was a regular observer on our remote-controlled cameras, and she made the most observations of any outside viewer on the website. For 10 years, from 2004 to 2013, she produced a monthly set of images, which we consider to be  a most valuable baseline record of the animal life at the ecological reserve during those years,  https://racerocks.ca/pam-birleys-images-of-race-rocks-2004-2013/

Clicking on   https://racerocks.ca/?s=Pam+Birley&submit=Search illustrates how prolific Pam was in reporting on unique as well as regular events at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve.  In 2005 and 2008  we were able to accompany Pam and her husband Dennis on trips to Race Rocks. She loved keeping track of activities of the sea birds and marine mammals and several times she was the first to report the birth of an elephant seal pup early in the year. We also mused that if a shingle was loose on a roof of one of the buildings, Pam would be the first to let us know. 

We are so sad to hear recently of her passing and we will miss her contributions greatly 

Orcas Feeding and Humpback Whales

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From the moment light touched the surface of the ocean there seemed to be excitement around me. 6:55 I stood on the end of the jetty finishing up our daily salinity and temperature readings, I looked out just to see the brief moment a pod of Orca passed through the reserve and as I headed up to the house the spray of a humpback whale arose in the east. A few hours later I found myself captivated for over an hour as the T109A pod hunted and fed upon, likely a young seal that tended to be hidden within the north kelp bed to which the orca swam, jumped, herded and slapped their tails in. While hundreds of nervous sea lions popped in and out of the nearby rocks worriedly. As the meal ended they slowly made their way west out of the reserve, whilst 4 humpback whales passed back and forth through the south of Race Rocks Ecological reserve.

 

Weather:

    • Sky: Clear
    • Wind: East 5kts
    • Sea: Calm
    • Visibility: 10 nautical miles due to haze from smoke

Weekly Census:

  • Steller/Northern sea lions: 768
  • Female Stellar/Norther sea lion: 2
  • California sea lion: 1257
  • Female California Sea lion: 1
  • Harbour seals: 53
  • Black oystercatchers: 14
  • Cormorants: 127
  • Glaucous-winged gulls: 334
  • Juveniles Glaucous-winged gulls on Great Race Rock: 5
  • California Gull: 48
  • Hermanns Gull: 5
  • Harlequin Duck: 1
  • Black turnstones: 41
  • Fox Sparrow: 4
  • Surfbirds: 2
  • Raven: 1
  • Elephant Seal (female): 2
  • Humpback Whale: 4
  • Orca (T109As): 6

Visitors:

  • Students from Marine Sciences at Pearson College visited throughout the week.
  • Greg and Cedric delivered water along with another.
  • Dan from IT with another, worked on our internet connections (Sept.30)

Facility Work:

  • Cleaned solar panels
  • Cleaned windows
  • Electric fence repairs has become 3 times a day.
  • Rewired sections of electric fence
  • Built some bracing for electric fence posts
  • Ran Generator for a few hours to top up batteries.
  • Treated stairs
  • Removed 2 Flashers that had been entangled on sea lions and got stuck in rocks.

Vessel Traffic:

  • Many Canadian and American ecotour boats have been nearby and heading through the waters of the ecological reserve. Cruise ships are going by daily.
  • Many small recreation fishing vessels drift through observing wildlife.

 

September 2022 Seawater Data

Posted on by
DAILY SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY OBSERVATIONS
Institute of Ocean Sciences, North Saanich, B.C., V8L 4B2
Please email monthly to Peter.Chandler@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Station RACE ROCKS
Observer Jillian September
YSI ID: 27 Year: 2022
YSI YSI
Temp Sal
Day Time ºC ppt
1 17:50 11.1 32.0
2 6:30 10.6 32.0
3 7:28 10.8 31.9
4 8:30 11.1 31.8
5 9:50 11.1 31.7
6 11:24 11.2 31.9
7 12:30 10.8 32.2
8 13:25 10.4 32.6
9 14:25 10.8 32.3
10 14:59 10.2 32.8
11 15:39 10.6 32.7
12 16:15 10.6 32.4
13 16:55 10.6 32.4
14 17:25 10.3 32.5
15 18:04 10.4 32.4
16 6:35 10.5 32.1
17 7:20 10.3 32.4
18 8:30 10.5 32.2
19 10:45 11.2 31.7
20 11:59 11.2 31.6
21 12:28 11.4 31.6
22 13:25 11.3 31.4
23 14:50 11.7 31.5
24 14:15 11.5 31.6
25 14:45 11.6 31.7
26 15:08 11.1 31.9
27 15:20 10.7 32.2
28 16:05 10.1 32.6
29 16:20 10.4 32.5
30 17:15 10.1 32.9