Nesting Seabirds, Migrating stopover species, and winter roosting species are portrayed in these videos.
Archived Video : Pearson College Diving Activity at Race Rocks
Underwater Webcasts by the Divers
The Underwater Environmental Data Sensor Bar.
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| In December 2000, the students and faculty of Pearson College install the first of the underwater environmental data sensors | Fouling -or succession– depends on how you look at it. |
Underwater Work for the Tidal Energy Project
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| ADCP deployment for the Tidal Power Project | Deployment and Retrieval of the ADCP from the Bottom of the Channel | Succession Study of coatings and materials | Chris Blondeau and Juan Carlos video the substrate at the site of the piling installation, and test the depth of the overburden. |
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| Turbine site hydroid survey by Chris Blondeau and Juan Carlos Yabar, 2006
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Pam and Jason from Archipelago Marine do their underwater survey of the location of the Piling Drilling for the Current Energy Project. | Video on the Pearson College, EnCana, Clean Current Tidal Power Demonstration Project at Race Rocks
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In December of 2007,The Pearson College Divers installed a set of junction boxes as part of a materials testing experiment for the tidal energy project. |
Archived Videos : First Nations at Race Rocks
On November, 2003, we hosted a group of First Nations divers from Nass River. Matt Hill provided information on the marine resources of that area.
On May 2, 2000, we were privileged to take several members of local First Nations to Race Rocks. The late Earl Claxton, councillor of the Tsawout First Nations and his grandson were among those attending. Joe Bartleman, councillor of the Tsartlip First Nations also helped us to visualize the importance of marine animals in the diet of the people.
They talked with us about the past and present role of coastal ecosystems in the lives of the Salish people. These people always have been an integral part of ecosystems such as this one at Race Rocks. These video clips convey some of the stories that Earl and Joe had to tell about their people and their interactions with marine resources.
“When the tide went out, the table was set” for First Nations people in this area. At Race Rocks this would have been particularly important because of the rich biodiversity in the intertidal zone.
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| Matt Hill explaining the Northern BC First Nations names of marine resources | Earl Claxton, councillor of the Tsawout First Nations and Joe Bartleman, councillor of the Tsartlip First Nations interviewed at Race Rocks offer comments on the role of First Nations people in the coastal ecosystem of the Salish Sea. | Earl tells us about the food and medicinal role of some marine algae from the intertidal areas | Transportation on the Salish Sea was so important to the cultures of the West Coast. While looking at an old carved canoe, Earl reflects on the types of canoes used . This canoe is used as a focal point for First Nations resources in our education program. |
The Salish First Nations have lived as part of the Race Rocks Ecosystem for millennia. We have been fortunate to have as our advisor on the Marine Protected Area Advisory Committee a long time friend of the Pearson College Community, Tom Sampson of the Tsartlip First Nation. Through his wise guidance, we have come to realize the importance of the Race Rocks area as a valuable resource for education about First Nations Values.
Archive of Scenes and Activities at Race Rocks
Archives: Videos of Science and Education at Race Rocks.
The students of Lester Pearson College are frequently taken to Race Rocks for educational field labs. Pearson College has, since automation in 1997, paid for the staffing and upkeep of the island. These videos portray some of the exercises that are done throughout the year on the island. The college biology and environmental systems classes, students on special projects, and outside researchers make extensive use of the facilities. In addition several videos portray the physical factors that help to make Race Rocks an unusual ecosystem.
Facilities on the Island and the MPA.
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| Installation of Composting Toilets at Race Rocks | The future of alternate energy at Race Rocks. Interview with Taco Niet, Masters student at the University of Victoria (June 2001) |
Race Rocks is officially declared a Marine Protected Area by Canada’s Ocean’s Minister Herb Dhaliwal and British Columbia’s Environment Minister Joan Sawicki. Also see the MPA day File. |
Underwater Research
at Race Rocks
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| Abalone tagging at Race Rocks with Pearson College graduate Jim Palardy | A dive with Dr. Scott Wallace for the Discovery Channel, May 7, 2000 |
Alberto Lindner of Brazil visits Race Rocks for research on the Hydrocoral Allopora | Dr. Gitai Yahel and research on Ecology of Suspension Feeders |
Physical Factors and their Effects on Race Rocks
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| Tidal Level Variation at Race Rocks | Surge Channel and Surge as an Abiotic Factor | The Flood Current at Race Rocks | Wind Storm at Race Rocks |
Archived Video on History of Race Rocks.
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| Demolition at Race Rocks: Shows the stone building originally built at the base of the tower and the wooden foghorn tower. Both removed in the ’60’s and 70’s. See this file on the foghorns. | Darcy Mathews explains his research on Burial Cairns at Race Rocks to the Anthroplogy students from Pearson College. |
Rusted parts of the old boiler from the engine room are carried up to a
collection of other old parts stored at the base of the tower.
Garden Escapes and Invasive Species of Great Race Rocks Island.
Throughout the year, on the main island of Great Race Rocks, a changing array of introduced garden flowers range over the landscape of the island. This island had been used by the British Colonial Navy and then by the Canadian Coast Guard since the 1860’s . During that time, many light keepers and their assistants had brought ashore soil and had planted gardens for their own provisioning. Along with the soil came many introduced species, and over the years, those species of plants that have been tolerant of the salt spray and the extreme drought of the summer months have survived. A further selective force was the “trimming and mowing” of the grass and the rock knolls on the island. Fire was always a hazard and as a result every attempt was made to prevent the build up of organic materials. In 1997 when Lester Pearson College started managing the environment on the island, a decision was made to attempt to restore the grassed area to a more natural environment by leaving it in its natural state. The introduced flowers are not cultivated, if they survived the conditions, they are allowed to flourish. Those that are unpalatable to Canada geese grazing now have an advantage. The unique thing about these perennials is that they often remain flowering throughout the winter since the air temperature, moderated by the surrounding waters keeps it the above freezing.
Link to other Posts on the Terrestrial Plants of Race Rocks
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| Hyacinthoides non-scripta: English bluebells. Native to Europe. | Matthiola incana: evening-scented stock, first discovered growing on cliffs above the sea in England. Also in picture with tower, above right. | Muscari racemosum / neglectum: Grape Hyacinth: native to Armenia | Crocus vernus subsp. vernus: Native to Asia. |
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| Sedum sp.: possibly Sedum album see also below This was introduced beside the assistant keepers house in the mid 1980s and has since spread over most of the rock-exposed parts of the island, partially because of increased pressure of Canada goose grazing on other plants | Calendula sp.: Native to the area from Macaronesia east through the Mediterranean region to Iran. Also shown beside the paths below where it self-seeds each year. | Cheiranthus allionii: Perennial wall flower, native to the Canary islands. This plant will flower throughout the year.In mild winters it does not stop blooming. | Cheiranthus allionii .–wallflowers near the residence with the tower in the background |
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| Sedum sp. | Pathway at Race Rocks with naturally growing border of Calendula.(Gulls will occasionally rip some out for nesting material.) | Gladiolus imbricatus : It is not yet in bloom in this picture, but several clumps grow in late May on the east side of the main residence. | G.imbricatusin bloom: Originally from south-eastern Europe/Turkey, it has been growing unattended here for over 50 years. |
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| This fiddleneck,Amsinckia spectabilis is a recent arrival to the islands, | Amsinckia spectabilis in bloom. Although not a garden escape, it has colonized many areas here possibly because of the unpalatability to Canada geese. | Close up of Amsinckia spectabilis in bloom.. | Fiddle shaped seed heads of Amsinckia spectabilis. Below are the seeds Unless otherwise stated, photos on this page were taken by G. Fletcher |
Web Cams gone Wild – The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer Monday April 4 2006 Note the webcams at race Rocks are listed in the listing of webcams on the last page
Video of Substrate at Tidal Current Energy Site
Chris Blondeau and Juan Carlos do another video of the substrate at the site of the piling installation prior to the pile drilling operation for the Tidal Current Energy Project. They document some of the species of hydroid, colonial ascidian and sponges which grow on the giant barnacles in the area. March 29, 2006.
Note: The video pauses on each clump in order to have a better view.
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- Sponges on barnacle
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- Sponge
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- Sculpin with barnacles
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- Closeup of mixed hydroids
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- Balanus Nubilus and hydroids
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- Hydroids
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- Tubularia sp. hydroids and Balanus n.
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- several sponge clumps
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- Club Tunicate with hydroid Garveia
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- sponges and hydroids
Substrate with Invertebrates at the Tidal Energy Site
Chris Blondeau and Juan Carlos do another video of the substrate at the site of the piling installation prior to the pile drilling operation for the Tidal Current Energy Project. They document some of the species of hydroid, colonial ascidian and sponges which grow on the giant barnacles in the area. March 29, 2006.
Note: The video pauses on each clump in order to have a better view.
Invertebrate Scenes from the video:
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- Several sponge cl;umps
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- hydroids on barnacle shell
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- Club tunicates and Garveia hydroid
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- Sponges
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- Sculpin woth barnacles
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- Sponges on Balanus nubilus barnacle
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- Closeup of mixed species of hydroids
