Species at Risk in the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve

Organisms that are considered to be  Species at Risk which either stop at Race Rocks during migration , or overwinter there or are regular residents in the  Race Rocks Ecological Reserve are listed here: The image links to the page in our taxonomy and Image gallery:
Canada’s Species at Risk Act:

SARA: Species at risk
COSEWIC: Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada: The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) provides advice to government on the status of wildlife species and was established as a legal entity under the Species at Risk Act.

 

 Species migrant or resident at Race Rocks Link to Species at risk registry
Categories of Risk/concern
ancient Ancient Murrelet
Synthliboramphus antiquus
COSEWIC : SPECIAL CONCERN
swallowclose-2 Barn Swallow
Hirundo
Rustica
COSEWIC: Threatened
rmaug2410heronl Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias fannini
COSEWIC: Special Concern
hlark2 Horned lark
Eremophila
Alpestris
COSEWIC:Threatened
raisamarbmurrlet Marbled Murrelet
Brachyramphus marmoratus
COSEWIC: Threatened
1-25-2011 11-18-26 AM-S  Peregrine Falcon
Falco
peregrinus pealii
COSEWIC Special concern
raisamay1010redknotm Red Knot
Calidris
canutus
COSEWIC
rufa subspecies
Endangered
ACsealions Steller’s Sealion
Eumetopias
jubatus
COSEWIC
Special Concern

 

Recent Posts

Otters, Whales, and a Fur Seal…Oh My!

It’s the last day of 2024 and we are finishing it with a bang!

This morning I spotted an imposter among the sea lions near the jetty…a northern fur seal!

You may be wondering why thats significant, and its because this is the first northern fur seal documented on Race Rocks in 44 years! Northern fur seals are a pelagic species, meaning they live offshore and are not seen near the coast.

Occasionally they have been sighted in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the young or sick ones have stranded along the coast in previous years. However, a healthy adult male hauled out in front of the house here? Very rare! So rare that it hasn’t been seen since 1980 which I still haven’t quite wrapped my head around.

He’s been in and out of the water throughout the day, lots of grooming (they have a fur coat similar to that of a sea otter), and even nipped at a few California sea lions. I’m looking forward to seeing if he sticks around!

Speaking of sea otters, Ollie is also back! After spending the past few months  near William Head, I saw him on the South side of the island early this morning. I’m hoping to see more of him before I leave.

It appears not all of the humpbacks have gotten the memo that they should be somewhere warm, cozy, and tropical by now. I saw about 7 in total today which was a very nice surprise.

As for the rest of the animals around here its been status quo. Still no elephant seals but I’m not giving up hope yet. Doing my best to manifest one (or ten) arriving before I leave.

Happy New Year!!

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