Coast Guard 359 dropped off two techs to service the automated nav. aids
16 visitors today
Category Archives: Facility work
Red-tailed hawk arrives exhausted.
“On 9 October 2003, Virgil Hawkes and Mike Demarchi, of LGL Limited, were conducting a monitoring session as part of our research on the effects of disturbance on marine birds and mammals at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve, British Columbia. At 15:20, something scared hundreds of Thayer\’s Gulls from an area just north of the light tower on Great Race Rock. We figured it was likely a Bald Eagle or Peregrine Falcon, based on the gulls\’ behaviour. We then spotted an adult Red-tailed Hawk flying in from the northeast. It landed on a rock right in front of a large male California sealion (photo). The hawk looked very tired and was breathing hard. Perhaps it had attempted to migrate across the Strait of Juan de Fuca, but had to turn back (all day, wind direction was unfavourable for such a crossing). We figured it would just rest up then head back to Vancouver Island. At 15:38 we were observing it once again when suddenly, the hawk collapsed and fell backwards into a crevice. A few seconds later a surge of water flushed the bird into view. It was facing breast-down in the water, lifeless. The surge then drew it back into the crevice and out of view. We were interested in retrieving the carcass for further inspection of its body condition (besides it being a beautiful specimen), but in keeping with the conditions of our research permit and because doing so would have caused many sealions to charge off into the water, we refrained. We were just left to contemplate the strange event and consider ourselves fortunate to have witnessed one of nature’s fascinating dramas.–Mike Demarchi– See photo here: http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/marmam/sealion/redtail.jpg
Garry’
RRAB Meeting Dec 9, 2002
December 11, 2002 13:00hrs
Oak Bay Beach Hotel (thanks to Kevin Walker)
• Jim Morris from BC Parks provided an outline of the agreements, permits and Management Plan that BC Parks has approved and implemented for the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve and MPA. Jim also outlined the streamlined BC Parks regional management structure. It was acknowledged that BC Parks have fulfilled their commitments to the MPA project and a good operating relationship exists. BC Parks has contributed modestly to infrastructure maintenance costs as their budget permits.
• Kelly Francis and Al Gould from DFO outlined the ongoing discussions that are being held between DFO and local First Nations to reach an appropriate understanding and management structure for establishment of the Race Rocks MPA. It was pointed out by various RRAB members that DFO had made the task unnecessarily difficult by not following the Board’s original recommendations in this area. Concern was expressed that an inflexible approach by DFO would be inconsistent with the innovative vision of the MPA Strategy and the community consensus with First Nations. Ongoing meetings between DFO and First Nations are planned.
• Angus Matthews from Pearson College expressed the College’s concern that the ongoing protection and operation of Race Rocks is not financially sustainable. The RRAB agreed that long term DFO funding for protection of the area was a key recommendation and DFO should implement it as soon as an agreement could be reached with First Nations that would allow designation to proceed.
• It was agreed that a strong community commitment to the Race Rocks MPA has been the hallmark of the effectiveness of the RRAB and this energy must be sustained. A committee, including Jennie Sparkes, Dwayne Freeman and Angus Matthews will draft a Terms of Reference document that will reflect the appropriate current role for the RRAB. This draft will be circulated and discussed at a future RRAB meeting.
• It was agreed that a committee including Garry Fletcher, Marc Pakenham, Peter Arnold and Natalie Ban would be formed to examine interim and alternate measures that the RRAB could recommend that would offer protection for Race Rocks until such time as the future of the MPA designation is determined. A report will be circulated to the RRAB in advance of the next RRAB meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 14:20
Blue Heron spent several hours fishing
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 8.9 ºC »» Min. 5.0 ºC »» Reset 7.7 ºC
MARINE LIFE: Still seeing numerous fish balls mostly in the tidelines outside the MPA boundries but the number of sea birds is down considerably from last week. There were 5 Harlequins in the little bay on the east side of Gr. Race also one Blue Heron spent several hours fishing in the eastern kelp bed then just before sunset flew off toward Bentinck Island. There are 5 California Sealions hauled out along the north shore of Gr. Race that have fresh looking wounds, mostly in the hind flipper area, my guess, evidence of encounters with the transient Orcas that have been in the area quite often lately. There are still about 600 Cormorants in the area, another indication that the food supply is still good.
HUMAN INTERACTION: Second Nature in with Angus, Scott over to work on the the cameras and computers. Station boat out to return Scott to campus and to Pedder Bay. There were 5 Ecotour boats, 1 pleasurecraft through today.posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:05 PM
TEMPERATURE: Max. 8.9 ºC »» Min. 5.0 ºC »» Reset 7.7 ºC
MARINE LIFE: Still seeing numerous fish balls mostly in the tidelines outside the MPA boundries but the number of sea birds is down considerably from last week. There were 5 Harlequins in the little bay on the east side of Gr. Race also one Blue Heron spent several hours fishing in the eastern kelp bed then just before sunset flew off toward Bentinck Island. There are 5 California Sealions hauled out along the north shore of Gr. Race that have fresh looking wounds, mostly in the hind flipper area, my guess, evidence of encounters with the transient Orcas that have been in the area quite often lately. There are still about 600 Cormorants in the area, another indication that the food supply is still good.
HUMAN INTERACTION: Second Nature in with Angus, Scott over to work on the the cameras and computers. Station boat out to return Scott to campus and to Pedder Bay. There were 5 Ecotour boats, 1 pleasurecraft through today.posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:05 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy »» Vis. 15 Miles »» Wind North East 21 Knots »» Sea 3 Foot Moderate
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:25 AM
WEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy »» Vis. 15 Miles »» Wind North East 21 Knots »» Sea 3 Foot Moderate
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:25 AM
Herring Balls
TEMPERATURE: Max. 11.1 ºC »» Min. 7.7 ºC »» Reset 9.1 ºC »» Rain 0.8 mm
MARINE LIFE: There are fewer birds today, saw only 3 fish balls in the immediate area but could see a lot of activity quite a distance to the east with the scope.Still about 2000 gulls and Cormorants in the MPA.
HUMAN INTERACTION: Angus over in the Hyaku with Scott and Ken working still on the Camera 2 system, also 5 Ecotour boats.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:15 PM
DND blasting today
-2002-10-24′, ’23:34:55′, ‘MARINE LIFE: -Reported by Garry Fletcher) I had the opportunity to be at Race Rocks twice today. On first arriving at 11:45 AM it was obvious that the DND had been conducting their explosions on Bentick island. We have gotten used to the sealions building up their numbers over the past few weeks. The main island to the East of the House , and the whole northeast front have been covered with animals throughout the daytime. The major concentration however has been on the middle island, which if you have been checking on camera 1 these days has been covered with a mass of bodies. By 11:45 today most of these areas were bare.. only a few brave individuals had crawled back up on the rocks we will see tomorrow how many have returned, but if it follows the patterns of other years, their numbers will start to taper off if the harassment continues. This year the DND has decided to check out our allegations of harassment of these marine mammals. A contract has been let to the consultants of LGL to survey the effect of disturbances, so they have had observers in the tower on the two occasions of blasting this fall. Today the result was obvious. The irony does not escape one that this is an ecological reserve, an MPA and even that does not protect marine mammals in Canada.. For a video of the effect of a blast on the behaviours of the birds and mammals at Race Rocks, go to one I recorded on October 7 – its in the marine mammals archive at: http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/archives/viddndblast.htm‘,
‘Garry’, ’22:45:01 ,
LGL does contract for DND on Blasting
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 7.9 ºC »» Min. 5.0 ºC »» Reset 6.7 ºC »» Rain 0.8 mm
MARINE LIFE: The California Sea Lion with the injured hind flippers is still hauled out on the dock and keeps to it’s self. The poor animal is most likely in pain- looks quite thin, probably not able to manouever too well to catch it’s food.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 6 Ecotour boats, LGL observers boat. The Second Nature made two trips, one about noon With Garry and his class then again with Garry, Scott and Don to work on Camera # 2 system.
MARINE LIFE: (Reported by Garry Fletcher) I had the opportunity to be at Race Rocks twice today. On first arriving at 11:45 AM it was obvious that the DND had been conducting their explosions on Bentick island. We have gotten used to the sealions building up their numbers over the past few weeks. The main island to the East of the House , and the whole northeast front have been covered with animals throughout the daytime. The major concentration however has been on the middle island, which if you have been checking on camera 1 these days has been covered with a mass of bodies. By 11:45 today most of these areas were bare.. only a few brave individuals had crawled back up on the rocks we will see tomorrow how many have returned, but if it follows the patterns of other years, their numbers will start to taper off if the harassment continues. This year the DND has decided to check out our allegations of harassment of these endangered species — yes that is the category the Northern Sea Lions now occupy in Canada. A contract has been let to the consultants of LGL to survey the effect of disturbances, so they have had observers in the tower on the two occasions of blasting this fall. Today the result was obvious. The irony does not escape one that this is an ecological reserve, an MPA and even that does not protect endangered species in Canada.. For a video of the effect of a blast on the behaviours of the birds and mammals at Race Rocks, go to one I recorded on October 7 – its in the marine mammals archive at: http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/archives/viddndblast.htm
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:12 PM
Injured Californian sealion
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 11.1 ºC »» Min. 6.9 ºC »» Reset 6.9 ºC »» Rain 0.4 mm
MARINE LIFE: Fog most of the day, so thick at times the vis. down to less than 200 metres. Birds still numerous but not as active. There is a California Sea Lion on the boat dock that seems to have a serious injury to the hind flippers-wonder if it was an encounter with one of the transient Orca that has been in the area lately. Have seen the Orca grab seal and sea lions by the tail and fling them so an injury such as this could easily occur. Injured and sick seals and sea lions tend to haul out away from the rest of their group.The 6 geese here again today.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 7 Ecotour boats and 4 pleasurecraft. We did make a quick trip to Pedder Bay when the fog was not so thick but the return trip was in fog so dense that we needed the help of Chris in 2nd Nature with radar which unfortunately was ‘acting up’ had it not been for the fog horn we would have been lost in the fog! Maybe the large vessels don’t need the fog horns but the local boaters certainly do.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:47 PM
Orca sighted
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 14.1 ºC »» Min. 8.5 ºC »» Reset 11.8 ºC
MARINE LIFE: There are thousands of sea birds busy feeding in the many fish balls, a few inside the MPA but most of the action in about 1/2 to 1 mile past the boundaries. Many of the birds come into the reserve to rest ashore and in the kelp so there is a constant flow of birds back and forth. A small group of Orca were sighted southeast of Gr. Race travelling westsouthwest.1 Canada goose came ashore up over the rocks by the winch house causing a stampeed of sea lions. The gulls and other birds move among the sea lions all the time but for some reason, the goose rising up out of the water waving it’s neck and moving towards them was somewhat of a threat.The goose seems to have an injured left wing and moved into a protected area among some large boulders and except to pop it’s heard up every once in a while for a look around has stayed put all day. Cannot get close to the goose to assess it’s condition as any movement would disturb the 60 or so sea lions hauled out all along the shore.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 11 Eco tour boats and 7 pleasure craft through the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:25 PM
TEMPERATURE: Max. 14.1 ºC »» Min. 8.5 ºC »» Reset 11.8 ºC
MARINE LIFE: There are thousands of sea birds busy feeding in the many fish balls, a few inside the MPA but most of the action in about 1/2 to 1 mile past the boundaries. Many of the birds come into the reserve to rest ashore and in the kelp so there is a constant flow of birds back and forth. A small group of Orca were sighted southeast of Gr. Race travelling westsouthwest.1 Canada goose came ashore up over the rocks by the winch house causing a stampeed of sea lions. The gulls and other birds move among the sea lions all the time but for some reason, the goose rising up out of the water waving it’s neck and moving towards them was somewhat of a threat.The goose seems to have an injured left wing and moved into a protected area among some large boulders and except to pop it’s heard up every once in a while for a look around has stayed put all day. Cannot get close to the goose to assess it’s condition as any movement would disturb the 60 or so sea lions hauled out all along the shore.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 11 Eco tour boats and 7 pleasure craft through the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:25 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Clear »» Vis. 15 Miles »» Wind East 11 Knots »» Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:07 AM
WEATHER: Sky Clear »» Vis. 15 Miles »» Wind East 11 Knots »» Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:07 AM
Problems Concerning the DFO led Race Rocks Advisory Board Process:
On page 101 of the thesis by Sean Leroy , Public Process and the Creation of a MArine protected Area at Race Rocks British Coumbia, ( http://www3.telus.net/LeRoy/Sean/Research_archive_files/racerocks.pdf) the exerpt that follows provides a good summary of the problems concerning the DFO led Race Rocks Advisory Board Process:
Whatever the reasons, these sections in the Statement are a significant departure from the
consensus recommendations provided by the RRAB. Of even greater concern, the Statement claims that these provisions were recommended by the RRAB. Forester (1989, p. 38) would call this the management of public consent through misinformation, reaching decisions “without legitimate representation of public interests but appealing to public consent as if this were not the case” (see Table 4.2, p. 23). Foucault would further call this an example of ‘governmentality’, of the exertion of power through discourse (Layder 1994)42.
It is inappropriate to lay the blame for this on the RRAB, the facilitator, or even DFO,
which had no experience with the preparation of regulations for MPAs. The issue at hand is that DFO (Headquarters) was clearly unprepared for the recommendations proposed by the RRAB and approved by DFO (Pacific Region). This suggests the following:
• Consensus processes for the creation of MPAs should include representatives from
DFO (Headquarters), who are able to provide immediate feedback on the acceptability
of proposals on the table. In other words, DFO (Headquarters) should be treated as a
separate government agency; and
• If recommendations are to be rejected —by DFO, the Privy Council Office or the
Department of Justice— they should be openly rejected and returned to the consensus
table, where alternatives can be negotiated by the participants.