Effect of DND Blasting on Bentinck Island on Sea lion Behaviour at Race Rocks

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This video was made on October 7, 2002 in order to document the effect of the Department of National Defence demolition exercises on Bentinck Island on the behaviour of birds and marine mammals at Race Rocks MPA. In previous years we have observed considerable disruption by military exercises involving blasting on nearby Bentinck Island in the fall just after the sea lions have returned to the island. We have requested that blasts be spread out over a longer period of time during an exercise. Traditionally blasts have come in a series of three. The first one would alert the sea lions, the second would send a few in the water and the third would clear the islands. This year on this one occasion, only two blasts were held at five minutes apart. The results are shown in the video.

See the index of the effects of human activities on marine life at Race Rocks

DND Blasting

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TEMPERATURE: Max. 13.7 ºC »» Min. 10.1 ºC »» Reset 10.3 ºC »» Rain 0.2 mm.-2002-10-07′, ’23:42:00′, ‘First day since the sealions have returned this fall that the DND has conducted Demolition exercises at Bentinck island video archive at http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/archives/viddndblast.htm‘,

MARINE LIFE: With the blasting on Bentinck the sea lions were unsettled, ‘barking and growling’ well into the afternoon. At each blast the birds all took flight but returned fairly quickly. There is a juvenile Heermann’s gull with a broken wing, one California S.L. with a 16 cm scar near the right shoulder which looks fairly well healed. A Blue Heron spent some time sitting in the various kelp beds around Gr. Race, it was most likely here for the fish,as there is still a good supply of feed judging by the numbers of gulls and cormorants feeding. The seals and sea lions are catching some good sized salmon as well.

HUMAN INTERACTION: The LGL monitoring crew docked first thing in the morning, Garry over in Hyaku for most of the afternoon filming. There were 7 Pleasurecraft and 6 Ecotour boats through the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:07 PM

Branded Sealions

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Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 11.7 ºC »» Min. 8.0 ºC »» Reset 10.3 ºC »» Rain 0.4 mm
MARINE LIFE: California Sea Lion hauled out in group of about 80 ( 11 Northern ) has a brand # 823 and a yellow front flipper tag # 925.The Sea Lions are still being disturbed by boats approaching too close especially along the east tip of North Rocks and along the north shore of Gr. Race. They are very used to us coming and going along the dock, in fact there are 3 that particularly like the last step on the dock as a haul out spot and often stay put as we come alongside in the boat.Unfortuately the mess they leave behind does not always wash away with the high tide! Four Black Oyster Catchers spent several hours along the east ridge but were very quiet and did not see any of them feeding, mostly resting on one foot with bills tucked under their wings.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 11 pleasurecraft, 2 dive boats ( 1 charter, 1 milatary dive club ) also the LGL crew via zodiac – preparing for monitoring the DND blasting exercises tomorrow.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:07 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast »» Vis. 10 Miles »» Wind West 7 Knots »» Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:13 AM

Sealions and salmon

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Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 12.1 ºC »» Min. 9.9 ºC »» Reset 11.5 º C »» Rain 14.9 mm
MARINE LIFE: There is still good fishing for the birds and sea lions,in the span of about 1 hour saw 8 good sized fish taken by 5 California and 3 Northern Sea lions just off the end of the dock. The Northern Sea lions seem to spend more time in the water, maybe with their greater size they feed more often. The California S.L. sleep a lot during the day but judging by the noise during the night they are quite active coming and going.This afternoon one Blue Heron sat out on the kelp for almost 2 hours then headed back towards Pedder Bay. Nice to get the rain, the birds like it even if the puddles are small.
HUMAN INTERACTION: Second Nature out with some supplies, the station boat to Pedder Bay and back with a short stop at the campus.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:05 PM

 

Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast »» Vis. 3/4 Mile Lt. Rain and Fog »» Wind North 10 Knots »» Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:01 AM

Orcas and whale watchers

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Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 13.9 ºC »» Min. 7.5 ºC »» Reset 11.1 ºC
MARINE LIFE: There were about 50 Cormorants in the reserve today some on North Rks. but the majority along the ridges of the Southeast Rks. There are also over 60 Heermann’s Gulls. The geese family landed for a very short visit- about 15 minutes- but the real excitement was provided by the Orca, believed to be T10 group, transients. First sighted was the large bull near William Head just before 11:00. The Orca spent some time in the entrance to Pedder Bay then moved along the shore of Bentinck Island.After a wait of 10 minutes or so they then surfaced midway between North Rks. and the dock. While watching for the whales we listened to some of the tour boat operators on the VHF reporting the animals movements for the benefit of other boat operators.As the whales made their way heading east in front of the station the ‘Wildcat’ was entering from the west and followed the whales and at one point were so close I thought they were going to run over top of them! The whales moved south along the edge of the kelp bed to the east of Gr. Race then west along the southeast rocks and Gr. Race quite close to shore .2 boats Pr. of Whales (princess) and SeaFun Safaris followed along even though they were well within the reserve’s southern boundary which is the Rosedale buoy.The whales moved through the reserve passed West Race to the Pedder Bay area again and then about 14:00 headed West. At last report they were near Secretary Island. With all the sea lions and seals in the water, some Northern Sea lions in tight groups following quite closely I expected the Orca to have a kill, but then there were all those boats coming and going and staying????? for hours!
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 4 pleasure craft and 28 Ecotour boats through the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:09 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Clouldy »» Vis. 15 Miles »» Wind North East 5 Knots »» Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:14 AM

Salmon predation

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TEMPERATURE: Max. 18.3 ºC »» Min. 9.9 ºC »» Reset 15.1 ºC
MARINE LIFE: The fishing is good these past few days at least for the birds and sea lions, have seen some fair size salmon taken just off the end of the dock -a couple looked to be about 3kgs. The birds, especially the gulls rush to pick up any bits of fish that fly about as the sea lions toss and slap their catch at the water surface. There are also a lot of smaller fish which we see jumping, some clearing the surface by a foot or more.

HUMAN INTERACTION: Second Nature out with Garry and students(divers) for live web cast, also Hyaku with Angus and two guests from the Jason Project.The weather could not have been better, over a week now of clear skies and calm seas! There were 5 pleasure craft and 11 Ecotour boats through the reserve, unfortunately at approx. 15:00 one boat from Sea Fun Safaris approached the south shore of North Rks. too close and about half of the 50 or so cormorants took flight.Several sea lions sat up but fortunately did not rush into the water. The sea lions near the dock are quite used to us moving about as long as we move slowly, and don’t make a lot of noise or try to get too close.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:05 PM

Fall weather

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TEMPERATURE: Max. 17.0 ºC »» Min. 9.1 ºC »» Reset 15.7 ºC
MARINE LIFE: The sealions seem to enjoy the near fall sunshine as much as we do, many of them with their bellies up, soaking in the warmth.The nesting gulls are all but gone, the odd juvenile returns to search the old nest area for a free meal maybe but finding only a few feathers to peck at soon flies back out to sea.We are not too sad that the ‘bird’ season is pretty much over- spent the day scrubbing and washing down the porches – will take a few roaring northeasters to really clean things up! The sunsets are fantastic (check out camera # 1in the evening) and with the clear skies, the moon light is so bright, have to close the blind to sleep!
HUMAN INTERACTION:There were 7 pleasure craft, 6 kayakers( too close to North Rks.- scared about 20 sealions into the water),13 Ecotour boats,2 dive charter boats and 1 Fish charter boat-SeaStar- which we contacted via VHF to advise that they were approaching too close and disturbing wildlife ( sealions into the water and cormorants took flight)
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:03 PM

Tour boats stiill out to the reserve

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Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 15.0 ºC »» Min. 8.2 ºC »» Reset 13.7 ºC
MARINE LIFE: 1 pair of Black Oyster Catchers spent several hours in the east bay area mostly preening and sleeping, heard no vocalizing at all.The geese flew in just after 10 am but stayed only about an hour before heading off towards Pedder Bay.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 26 Ecotour boats, 3 dive boats, 1 sail boat, 9 pleasure craft and the DFO 3M boat in the reserve.The Station boat made a trip to Pedder Bay and back.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:03 PM

Turnstones and Orca

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TEMPERATURE: Max. 17.0 ºC »» Min. 9.9 ºC »» Reset 15.9 ºC
MARINE LIFE: several groups of 20 or so Cormorants are spending part of the day on North Rks. and the rocks on the southeast of Gr. Race. There are now about 60 Black Turnstones busy along the shoreline, you can often see them on camera # 3 hopping among the sealions foraging for sand fleas or beach hoppers.Most of the time though they are farther down on the beach where the food supply includes small crabs which they find by ‘turning over pebbles and small stones’ thus the name Turnstone.There was one identified transient Orca, a large bull known as Y1 through the reserve about 10 am. There were 4 or 5 other Orca with him including a calf. These transeints came in from the west between North Rks. and Gr. Race. They spent a while foraging about not far off the dock then circled Gr. Race rather slowly before moving off to the northwest. At about 11:15 heard a report from one of the Ecotour boats that there was a group of residents in the entrance of Pedder Bay, did see some tail slapping and breaching but too far away to identify any individuals.
HUMAN INTERACTION: Second Nature in with supplies this morning. While the Orca were in the reserve 4 boats followed them which is contrary to the guidelines. 3 of the boats were fishing charters ,Beasley, Adams and Island Outfitters. The 4th was an unidentified 5 or 6 metre open Lifetimer.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:12 PM