Tag Archives: Bertha

Elephant Seal Pup Losing the Wrinkles

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Comparison of screen captures from the remote camera over the past 2 days shows that the pup must be nursing well as his wrinkled skin is gradually becoming filled in. The mother will lose up to 40% of her weight while nursing. She will stay with the pup, not returning to the water for several weeks. At that time the pup will have increased in weight and have the adequate fat storage to last it several weeks before it goes to the water on its own and starts to feed.

Elephant seals more durable than internet networks

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I  checked on the pup briefly this morning (so far unnamed as we will wait for a while to make sure he has a good chance of survival.)  I said “he” because Alex thinks it is probably a male because of a tell-tale opening midway from umbilical to tail.

Pup- 2014-01-15 at 11.10.50 AMThis picture taken at 11:15 AM from camera 1 shows all is well and the male Chunk (top) is not bothering the pup or the female. 

 

 

Hopefully you can take advantage of the documentation we have on the website of our observations of elephant seals at Race Rocks Ecological reserve.……more tomorrow…..

Elephant seal Pup at Race Rocks Jan 15, 2014

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These are images taken yesterday of the new elephant seal pup at Race Rocks . (by resident Ecoguardian Alex Fletcher). The pup has been nursing regularly and the male “Chunk” is not bothering it so far.

pupJan15-6927

 

The students of the Marine Science classes from Lester Pearson College were able to get out to Race Rocks to observe the new arrival first hand from a safe distance.  students-7490

Westerly

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Over the past 5 days we have had strong westerly winds reaching over 40 NMPH most days (in the evening) and over 50
NMPH on Saturday evening. There have been heavy swells as a result. Because of bad weather/low light I am having to run the generator longer most days, around 3 hours to charge batteries, than usual.

Chunk has mostly remained on main island with Bertha who continues to resist his advances. We are approaching the date when she gave birth two years ago. I have not been able to see the pup on middle rock for several days. The weather has made it harder to get a view over there.

On Thursday the 9th, 12 bald eagles were observed in the reserve. Still havent been able to get banding info on black oyster catchers.

Wednesday, Jan 8th: 1 charter fishing boat toured through reserve, 1 CG helicopter flew over.
Monday, Jan 13th: 1 CG helicopter flew over.

-securing things from wind
-following up on woodstove
-following up on furnace servicing
-cleaning solar panels
-fire wood cutting when weather permits

Elephant seal pup born on Middle Rocks

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Rain, wind N 10-15 NMPH

Chunk started going after Bertha around noon and was definitely trying to mate but without any luck.  He also seemed interested in something towards the West and was sniffing the air and poking his head up.  When i went outside to check on things I could hear the distinct sound of an elephant seal pup calling its mother.  Chunk and I both went over to the west side of the island to get a better look.  I could see two females on the rock and several eagles and seagulls around hoping to get some leftovers from the birth.  I could just make our the dark head of a pup poking up occasionally from behind a rock.  Chunk left the island and by dusk I could see him on Middle rock near the mother and pup.  Bertha is back by the science centre getting some peace and rest.

Chunk and Bertha

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Partly cloudy, wind 10-15 NMPH N-NE.

This morning Chunk was on the island taking an interest in Bertha.  He chased her around a bit and made what appeared to be mating attempts.  She growled at him and resisted.

Sealion death

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Clear sky, wind 15 NMPH NE, signs of frost overnight.

This morning the sealion that has been in poor health and isolation during the past weeks was deceased on the rocks in the east bay of the island.


Bertha still near centre of island.

One ecotour vessel was in the reserve today.

-replaced corroded electrical plug on flush pump in diesel building
-cleaned panels
-cut, chopped, wood
-cleared a new storage space in the water tank shed for more fire wood storage

Jan 4

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clear sky, wind varying between N and E throughout the day, 10-15 NMPH.

I went off island in the morning to run errands, came back mid afternoon. I noticed that the barometer reading from the davis instruments (racerocks.ca) is different from tower reading, will try to correct it.

Bertha hasnt moved much from her spot near centre of island.

There was 1 eco-tour vessel in the reserve while I was on site.

-picked up 40L gas at Pedder Bay Marina
-cleaned panels

Bertha returns

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Wind was gusting up to 45 NMPH W overnight, blowing 30 NMPH in the morning and diminished to calm by afternoon. The sky cleared up during the day.

Bertha arrived back on Great Race today, she looks good and pretty big. In 2011 she gave birth to a pup (Squall)  here on January 14. The other elephant seals are on Middle rock, it looks like 4 females and Chunk out there. There seemed to be another large female next to Chunk.

See the Elephant seal Index for other Elephant seal births at Race Rocks

A coast guard helicopter flew over in the morning, one ecotour vessel entered the reserve in the afternoon.

-cleaned panels
-replaced flag
-finished month end report
-did animal census
-cleaned cam 5 dome
-gathered drift wood from East shore
-cut, chopped wood

Bertha

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'Cranky Pants' (aka scabby molt) resting next to the desalinator shed. Her skin is healing and she is less cranky.

‘Cranky Pants’ (aka scabby molt) resting next to the desalinator shed. Her skin is healing and she is less cranky.

-Issues with underwater camera. Checked junction boxes and lines from jetty to tank house.
-Pressure washed South side of keepers house. Waiting for rain to fill water tank to continue.