The beginning of nesting season

I am here for four days to give Jillian Brown a chance to attend to her family. It is a special time for me because it is my birthday and the fourth time that I have been here on April 30 but only my second time in the capacity of eco-guardian. This is my third day here and I have updated the SOP to include the up to date log sign in details (Thank you Garry).

The weather is currently 15 knots west but over the past day has been as high as 30 knots, SW and NW. The sky was clear for 2 days and there was enough energy provided from the solar panels to take care of electrical needs.

Below is a picture of a tagged glaucous wing gull that I saw the May 22,2022 (see log entry that date)  in the exact same place. Although this may not surprise you it made me feel like the animals here are familiar. It does seem like the geese nesting by the fuel shed are the same aggressive geese as last year and the ones under the keeper’s house stairs the same mellower geese but I just never had proof. This gave me a feeling of community.

There are 6 elephant seals here, females and immatures, including the tagged yearling. I haven’t seen this year’s pup for 24 hours so perhaps all the newborns are now gone.

Visitors

Yesterday (April 29) I was surprised when 6 kayaks pulled up the jetty. They were from Pearson College and had been given permission to land. Of course the sea lions stampeded on their arrival. Luckily not many kayakers do come this way as the sea lions usually get right in the water even though motor boats come much closer without scaring them. Perhaps they should turn some music on LOUD as they approach?

There were only 2 or 3 ecotourism boats over Friday and Saturday but today there have been 8 in every size, perhaps tied to the massive cruise ship recently docked in Victoria?

Maintenance:

  • I am working on the wood pile, chopping and stacking in the house.
  • Swept the lamp room and continued sweeping the light house stairs.
  • Filled the batteries with distilled water.
  • This is month end so sent the salinity and temp chart to Sebastien Donnet.
  • Also have almost completed the month end report but need to review a few details with Greg.
  • Sent the info of tagged bird info to appropriate source.

 

 

 

 

 

A Wonderful Windy Weather Day

sunrise and fog

Weather: The morning sunrise was behind fog. It cleared up after an hour. Winds started as westerly. Beautiful sunny day charging the batteries to almost 100%. By 1800 hrs however a north wind started howling (24 knots)It has converted to a westerly as I write this, now at 29 knots. Very dramatic skies!

Visitors: several ecotourism boats, all slowed down and came close to the jetty to see the elephant seals.

Observations:  Besides the pictures below. There are currently 6 female elephant seals. The pup was not on the island all day. Brown-headed cowbird here all day.

Why do the geese eat this?

You won’t tell anyone?

white Brodiaea in bloom

camouflage for the young

ring billed gull? or is eye too dark?

never a dull moment

brown headed cowbird

Is this electric fence going to stay?

Is this electric fence staying?

savannah sparrow

the north wind bringing weather

the north wind bringing weather

Beautiful Spring Day

The wind didn’t do much until mid-afternoon when the westerly came up and blew 10 – 15 knots. Velocity kept increasing during the afternoon and evening and as the sun was setting it was blowing a steady 30, gusting to 35 knots. It was a very sunny day with 354,000 watt-hours per meter2 accumulated throughout the day. The barometer continued its slow descent begun on Saturday and is heading inexorably towards wet weather in the forecast. Although it is still supposed to blow west tomorrow, with showers, the rest of the week looks darker and wetter.

A couple of whale watching boats were observed in the Ecological Reserve today: both were proceeding with caution, at a minimal speed and staying a respectful distance away from the wildlife. These companies are practicing sustainable wildlife viewing practices. One rental boat was observed speeding in reserve.

The Northern Elephant Seal moult continues and is becoming more visible on the older animals. The measuring device was modified to allow for more accurate length measurements and the animals continued to cooperate by going one by one, down the ramp and into the sea for a swim. #5850, the young male tagged as a weaner in 2012 was stretching bull kelp stipes today, a biomechanics activity done by phycology students everywhere on the west coast. No teeth involved, so no confounding tearing factor.

Northern Elephant Seal #5850 tests the elasticity of  bull kelp.

Northern Elephant Seal #5850 tests the elasticity of bull kelp.

 

Another tagged and branded California Sea Lion was photographed today. This one is number 1960 (left side).

California Sealion with brand #1960 hauled out on South Islets. Photo lightened to show up number.

California Sealion with brand #1960 hauled out on South Islets. Photo lightened to show up number.

Two unidentified little birds made a brief appearance, they sounded like blackbirds or starlings some kind. I didn’t get a chance to see them again but caught them on camera.

Identification needed on this pair that made a fleeting visit today.

This pair of Brown-headed Cowbirds made a fleeting visit today. Identification by Dick Cannings Bird Studies Canada. (Thank you.)

There were no visitors today and chores were routine.

Spring flowers on the site of the original garden from the 1860s. A pair of Glaucous-winged Gulls in the backgroud

Spring flowers on the site of the original garden near where the first keeper’s home was built in 1860. A pair of Glaucous-winged Gulls on their chosen site.

What a beautiful day.

Molothrus ater, Brown-headed cowbird– The Race Rocks Taxonomy

Pam Birley of England took these photos using the remote camera 5 of the first cowbird sited at Race Rocks on May 17, 2010She also suggested the reference on Cowbirds and Conservation: http://www.audubon.org/bird/research/

Some interesting research about the population dynamics of these birds and the effect on the host species that they parasitize is contained in that article.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Passeriformes
Family Icteridae
Genus Molothrus
Species ater
Common Name: Brown-headed cowbird.

Other Members of the Class Aves at Race Rocks 
taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy

and Image File

pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.

Pam Birley