Black Oystercatchers hatch

Friday, May 24, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 13.9 C  Min. 7.0 C Reset 11.0 C
MARINE LIFE: 1 mature Bald Eagle today which spent most of the time on North Rocks but did manage to circle over-head just before dark,the gulls and oyster catchers took flight as usual and drove the big bird out to sea. The eagle continued towards Bentinck island the ‘triumphant’ gulls returned to the usual noisy reception of the other birds.I can’t say things really quieted down as like the past few nights the birds are quite active. At times it sounds like we have neighbours living in the attic,noisy neighbours with heavy boots! Such small birds but they can make quite a racket especially when a bunch of them land at one time when all else is quiet! We have Oyster Catcher chicks! I saw one but know there are others. As I walked around to check out the nests the adult birds went into a frenzy of warning ‘chirps’ so I knew it wasn’t just eggs they were protecting. Did a boat tour this afternoon,counted 14 California Sealions, 6 Northern Sealions and 5 Elephant Seals hauled out on Middle Rock, also 5 California Sealions hauled out on the south slope of the SE rocks. A couple of Elephant seals are off the north shore of Gr. Race tonight, can hear them snorting so must be just off the dock.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 5 Ecotour boats, 2 pleasure craft. Station boat to Pedder Bay and back-had to get the flat tire on the truck repaired-was a great day to be on the water. Hope the wind picks up a little for the Swiftsure tomorrow -can’t believe I said that after all the complaining I’ve done over the last while about the wind! But really what is a sailing race without wind!
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:19 PM

 

Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Clear  Vis 15 Miles  Wind West 8 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:51 AM

The chicks are growing quite fast,not surprising as they eat their way around the island several times a day.

Thursday, May 23, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 12.3 C  Min. 7.3 C Reset 11.2 C
MARINE LIFE: 1 mature, 1 juvenile Bald Eagles today.The goose family still at 5 goslings.We look for them every morning hoping to count 5, so far so good. The chicks are growing quite fast,not surprising as they eat their way around the island several times a day.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 3 Ecotour boats and 1 orange inflatable with no identifying markings, one person on board. The boat made several trips around Gr. Race then sat out front for about 40 minutes before taking off toward the SW. Hyaku was out with Chris, several visitors and drums of oil for the diesel engine (oil change after repairs )
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:02 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy  Vis. 15 Miles  Wind West 17 Knots Sea 2 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:39 AM

Still 2 pair of geese and 5 goslings!

 

Tuesday, May 21, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 12.1 C  Min. 7.5 C  Reset 10.8 C  Rain 0.4 mm
MARINE LIFE: 2 mature and 1 juvenile Bald Eagles. Still 2 pair of geese and 5 goslings! 5 Sealions hauled out on the SE rocks first thing this morning but left just after noon.The gulls are still busy gathering what they can find for nest building,stopping every once in a while to squabble over territory.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 1 ecotour boat and 1 pleasure craft today. Mike spent most of the day in the engine room cleaning up oil-seems the duty engine has a leak in the fuel line, hope the standby engine keeps on ‘ticking’ or we will be in the dark and cold with nothing but the sound of the wind!!
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:07 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy  Vis. 15 Miles Wind West 17 Knots  Sea 2 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:23 AM

eagles were displaying some unusual acrobatics

Monday, May 20, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 12.2 C  Min. 8.8 C  Reset 10.0 C  Rain 3.8 mm
MARINE LIFE: 2 mature Bald Eagles today. The eagles were displaying some unusual acrobatics,they would take off, fly in circles closer and closer then one of them would go almost upside down right under the other bird and splay it’s talons towards the higher one.I have seen them fly at each other like this when one has some food the other wants but neither bird had anything in it’s beak or talons.We watched them for about 20 minutes until they were well north of the island.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 3 pleasure craft and 2 ecotour boats through the reserve also one rigid hull with divers,which at one point had obviously lost sight of it’s divers. Fortunately a tour boat out of Sooke was in the area and had spotted the divers and was able to guide the dive boat to them for pick-up. The dive boat made about 10 frantic trips around Gr. Race but the divers had drifted quite a distance SSW of the reserve when finally picked up.We are always nervous when there are divers out here and always relieved to see everyone return to the boats safely.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:03 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast Vis. 15 Miles  Wind West 4 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:29 AM

Managed to plant green onions and carrots

Sunday, May 19, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 12.2 C  Min. 7.0 C Reset 11.0 C  Rain 0.2 mm
MARINE LIFE: 2 mature Bald Eagles today.The Eagles did not make many attempts to come over Gr. Race today until early evening, could be because we were outside most of the time working in the garden.Managed to plant green onions and carrots with a little help from a budding 3 yr.olds green thumb! The showers are helpful but could do without the incessant wind! Enjoyed watching 3 crows trying to take a bath in a puddle no bigger than a tea cup,for some reason they don’t visit the pond as do the gulls,sparrows,geese and starlings.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 8 pleasure craft and 5 ecotour boats and 2 kayakers through the reserve today.Station boat to Pedder Bay.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:58 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy  Vis 15 Miles  Wind Calm  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:33 AM

International Boundary Survey Measurements.

Saturday, May 18, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 13.3 C Min 7.1 C Reset 11.9 C  Rain 0.4 mm
MARINE LIFE: 2 mature and 3 juvenile Bald Eagles today.The gulls were busy as usual keeping the eagles away from the ‘big’ island. The goslings enjoyed the pond this morning and needed more than a little ‘encouragement’ to move on by the adults! The other pair of geese spend some time with the ‘family’ but no sign of any more goslings.Counted 15 gull nests but so far no eggs.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 1 Dive boat this morning which returned for 2nd dive in the afternoon.There were 5 ecotour boats and 7 pleasure craft through the reserve today.  Station boat to Pedder Bay and back.We had three visitors from Washington State, David,Tim and Mike for the day long task of gathering the annual International Boundary Survey Measurements.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:08 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy  Vis 15 Miles Wind South West 7 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:47 AM

Mature Bald Eagles tried many times to land –thwarted at every attempt by the gulls and Oyster Catchers

Friday, May 17, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 13.0 C  Min. 7.3 C  Reset 11.1 C Rain 5.2 mm
MARINE LIFE: 2 Mature Bald Eagles today which tried many times to land on Gr. Race but thwarted at every attempt by the gulls and Oyster Catchers.With the great eyesight they have I’m sure the eagles have seen the 5 little tasty goslings running around. We look for the goslings every morning hoping to count 5! so far so good!
HUMAN INTERACTION: 3 Ecotour boats, 5 pleasure craft in the reserve today. The Second Nature in late afternoon with Laura, Garry and Marcus for a little filming.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:21 PM

 

Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy  Vis. 15 Miles  Wind North West 15 Knots Sea 2 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:02 AM

Enjoying watching the 5 little goslings

Thursday, May 16, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 12.1 C  Min. 5.9 C Reset 9.9 C
MARINE LIFE: 1 mature Bald Eagle today.Enjoying watching the 5 little goslings,they sure cover a lot of ground in a day trying to keep up with the adults. They are pretty wobbly on their feet but cute! We are watching the other pair of geese carefully but so far no more chicks.No Oyster Catcher eggs have hatched yet but should be any day now.The gulls are gathering bits of grass and building nests but have not seen any eggs as of yet.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 3 pleasure craft through the reserve today.Station boat to Pedder Bay and back early a.m. for groceries and mail.Second trip after 17:00 to bring Grandsons(and their parents) over for long weekend visit.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:28 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Clear �� Vis 15 Miles �� Wind West 7 Knots �� Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:27 AM

Environmental Systems First Year Exam at Race Rocks

For the last 24 years, the first year environmental systems students have had their final term exam at Race Rocks. In May of 2002, Laura Verhegge continued the tradition with her two classes. They endured the west wind and went through the six stations of the exam. In this video the students and Laura provide the commentary about the investigations.

Return to Education video archive index

Northern Sea Lion , (Steller Sea lion)


Several hundred Northern Sea Lions, Eumetopias jubata, formerly known as “Steller’s Sea Lion” visit Race Rocks in the winter months. They are now on the Endangered Species list as their numbers in the Northern Pacific have declined significantly in recent years. “I got this clip on a calm day when the swells were breaking on the islands and the sea lions were hauled out in a sheltered area just below the tower. By creeping up slowly on the ground, I was able to look down on them from a few meters distance without disruption. In this way, some of the normal patterns of behaviour can be observed. Note that there are a few Californian sea lions mixed in with this group and the occasional barking sound comes from them. The low growls are from the Northern Sea Lions.” (GF)

See other images of the Northern Sea Lion in the Race Rocks Taxonomy