Start of the Canada Geese

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-2002-04-02′, ’16:13:49′, ‘Good Evening TEMPERATURE: Max. 10.1 1?4C ?? Min. 4.0 1?4C ?? Reset 7.7 1 4C

MARINE LIFE: Not much activity this morning, the north wind was really cold but the afternoon sun was very therapeutic.While I was out picking a few greens the geese waddled over to see what I was up to, they are quite tame and a bit like puppies. As I worked my way along the garden they they kept up about a foot behind me.They enjoyed the carrots I threw on the grass and they spent an hour or so after I went inside, up in the garden scratching about for more. The small pond was popular this afternoon with the gulls and crows. The geese tried to join the gulls in the pond but the gulls squawked and took off , the geese happily shared with the crows and starlings About 14:00 a Blue Heron flew over from Pedder Bay and sat majestically on the east ridge of Gr. Race and is still there as the sun sets. HUMAN INTERACTION: 2 Ecotour boats and 2 College boats this afternoon with students for a dive with Chris and filming with Garry.

Mike and Carol

Blue Heron flew over from Pedder Bay

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Tuesday, April 02, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 10.1 ºC »» Min. 4.0 ºC »» Reset 7.7 ºC
MARINE LIFE: Not much activity this morning, the north wind was really cold but the afternoon sun was very therapeutic.While I was out picking a few greens the geese waddled over to see what I was up to, they are quite tame and a bit like puppies. As I worked my way along the garden they they kept up about a foot behind me.They enjoyed the carrots I threw on the grass and they spent an hour or so after I went inside, up in the garden scratching about for more. The small pond was popular this afternoon with the gulls and crows. The geese tried to join the gulls in the pond but the gulls squawked and took off , the geese happily shared with the crows and starlings About 14:00 a Blue Heron flew over from Pedder Bay and sat majestically on the east ridge of Gr. Race and is still there as the sun sets.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 2 Ecotour boats and 2 College boats this afternoon with students for a dive with Chris and filming with Garry.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:14 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy »» Vis. 15 Miles »» Wind North East 20 Knots »» Sea 3 Foot Moderate
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:23 AM

Tidepool Lab on a Windy Day at Race Rocks

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In April of each year we begin to get tides that are low enough for intertidal research. This video starts with students measuring temperature and salinity in tidepool #4 , then collecting “harpacticoids ” in tidepool #10, then doing further measurements in the new artificial pool #13. The wind was blowing at West 25 kn., but it didn’t deter our class!

engaging in the preliminaries of early courtship

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Monday, April 01, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 10.0 ºC »» Min. 5.9 ºC »» Reset 7.5 ºC
MARINE LIFE: 1 mature bald Eagle today. The geese are still here but I expect any day now they will move on in search of better nesting sites. The two elephant seals have inched their way up the ramp to within 8 inches of the boat house door and show no signs of leaving. Many of the gulls are spending all day in nesting areas and some are engaging in the preliminaries of early courtship-very entertaining to watch- much neck stretching and head bobbing.It can get quite noisy what with the gulls, Oyster Catchers and 7 crows all vocalizing at once when the eagle flies over head, even the geese get in the act.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 2 Ecotour boats and 5 Pleasure Craft through the MPA today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:53 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy »» Vis. 15 Miles »» Wind West 17 Knots »» Sea 3 Foot Moderate
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:07 AM

Starlings

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Saturday, March 30, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 9.0 C  Min. 6.3 C  Reset 7.7 C
MARINE LIFE: only 1 mature Bald Eagle today. Still the pair of geese-will miss them when they leave.This morning they spent several hours by the garden area along the walkway watching the starlings flying nesting material into the air vent hole in the dessaliation plant building. The starlings raised 2 ‘clutches’ last year and it looks like we will again be able to enjoy the antics of the young learning to fly and then hunt for food. The Marine mammals are interesting and certainly impressive by their size but I find bird behavior fascinating.Here we are lucky to observe the full range of activity – courtship, nest building ,egg laying etc. and watching the way they will band together to drive away an eagle or other danger. Individual birds have personalities, some are very aggressive and always on the alert, then others much slower to take action.There are a few gulls already making attempts at getting a nest together but for most of them nest building is a few weeks off yet. The small elephant seal is still on the boat ramp – doesn’t look like we will be using the boat for a while!
HUMAN INTERACTION: 3 ecotour boats, 1 Pleasure craft, 1 College boat- brought some students over to spend the night(filming project)
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:02 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy  Vis. 15 Miles Wind West 17 Knots  Sea 1 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:07 AM

Eagle harassment

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Sunday, March 31, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 10.1 C  Min. 6.5 C Reset 8.5 C
TOTAL PRECIPITATION: Rain 92.5 mm Snow 20.2 cm Total 112.7 mm For the Month.
MARINE LIFE: 1 mature Bald Eagle today, it spent most of the day atop the ridge on the southeast rocks then late in the afternoon, much to the consternation of the gulls and Oyster Catchers, landed on a high point along the east of Gr. Race. There was a lot of noise as the gulls and Oyster Catchers tried to drive the eagle away, at times diving within inches of the eagle’s head.Finally after about 5 minutes the big bird flew off towards Whirl Bay and everything was quiet again.The Juvenile elephant seal has company now, about 17:00 another juvenile elephant seal, just a little larger, hauled out alongside on the ramp.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 2 Ecotour boats through the M.P.A. The college boat picked up the students about 14:30 to return to campus( hope they did not get too wet in the flying spray from the 30+ knt westerly)
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:03 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy �� Vis. 15 Miles �� Wind West 21 Knots �� Sea 3 Foot Moderate
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:50 AM

Early stages of Gull nest building

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Friday, March 29, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 8.7 C  Min. 5.9 C  Reset 7.0 C Rain 0.4 mm
MARINE LIFE: 2 Bald Eagles – 1 mature -1 pair Geese. The day started out quite promising however by 13:00 the westerly picked up to 23knts and gusting 30. The small elephant seal is still nosed up to the boat house door and shows no signs of leaving. Enjoy watching the geese which find the activities of the gulls worth investigating up close- as some of the gulls wander about doing what I call ‘ the best methods of nest materials gathering practice’ the geese waddle along behind and follow the gulls right into what will soon be a danger zone -the nesting area. The gulls tolerate the geese now but once they start constructing nests they will become very territorial and will drive off any threat including another gull. Poor friendly geese!
HUMAN INTERACTION: 2 Ecotour boats and 1 small sailboat through the M.P.A. today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:39 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast Vis. 15 Miles Wind West 11 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:26 AM

Turkey Vultures often land here during the fall migration—

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Thursday, March 28, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 8.1 C Min. 6.0 C Reset 7.1 C  Rain 2.6 mm
MARINE LIFE: 4 Bald Eagles – 3 mature, only one pair of Geese today. Another wet and windy day but did have some visitors of note-just before noon 4 Turkey Vultures landed on the ridge just west of the Learning Centre. The other birds were somewhat wary but did not try to drive away the big vultures as they do with the eagles.The geese were very curious and waddled over to have a look all the time waving their necks back and forth. Unfortunately by the time the geese made their way from the flagpole to where the vultures were, they had taken off towards Bentinck Island.Turkey Vultures often land here during the fall migration but this is the first time I can remember seeing them in the spring.The small elephant seal is still hauled out on the ramp,it’s nose just 3 metres from the boat house door, quite comfortable and unconcerned with us passing by even just inches away.
HUMAN INTERACTION: The College boat in with supplies and to pick up the power washer for return to campus.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:06 PM

Good MorningWEATHER: Sky Cloudy �� Vis. 15 Miles �� Wind South West 21 Knots �� Sea 3 Foot Moderate

posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:34 AM

3 Bald Eagles – 1 mature, 2 pair Geese.

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Tuesday, March 26, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 8.1 C  Min. 6.0 C  Reset 7.0 C  Rain 2.8mm
MARINE LIFE: 3 Bald Eagles – 1 mature, 2 pair Geese. Only the small juvenile Elephant seal hauled out today – 1 of the large bulls floated around at the end of the dock most of the morning but never came ashore. Another wet and windy day but at least the temperatures were fairly moderate,spring rain is good but some sunshine would be sooo welcome.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:09 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast  Vis. 15 Miles  Wind West 25 – 30 Knots  Sea 4 -5 Foot Moderate
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:49 AM

30 knt. winds, driving rain and constant spray!

Posted on by
Monday, March 25, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max, 10.9 C  Min. 7.0 C  Reset 8.0 C – Rain = 2.8 mm
MARINE LIFE: 1 mature, and 2 immature Bald Eagles arrived as usual at first light but stayed only until just after 10:30 am- maybe they didn’t like the 30 knt. winds, driving rain and constant spray! The rest of the birds were not too active either and for the most part huddled down stoically, with their beaks into the wind and rain. I always feel sorry for the birds when the weather is so nasty.Only the 2 large bull Elephant Seals hauled out on the ramp today – there was a little question of who had rights to the boat ramp today when Mike went down to get the sea water sample- the large bull elephant seals were not happy to be disturbed but at least tolerated the human ‘interaction’ since it was brief ! and careful !!
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:06 PM