Tag Archives: Canada goose

51 ecotour boats, 13 pleasure craft,

Posted on by
Monday, August 12, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 21.5 C  Min. 10.1 C  Reset 20.0 C
MARINE LIFE: Happy to report, missing adult goose back with the group today, no signs of trauma and no clue to explain it’s absence.The geese arrived mid-morning and flew off again late safternoon. Saw a group of about 16 Canada Geese in the familiar V formation fly over William Head this evening so I guess it’s that time of year already! Another sign of the coming fall season is the nightly arrival of small groups of sea lions. This morning there were 8 Northern and over 30 California sea lions hauled out, mostly on the rocks just northeast of Middle rock. By noon some Californians were scattered along the ridge of North rocks and several small groups just floating about in the kelp beds. 1 California sea lion has the # 1233 branded on it’s back and saw another with yellow tags on it’s flippers but could not read the number although this evening we tried to get close enough in the boat. Many of the young gulls are finally in the water, the sea conditions were perfect today with barely a ripple, the usual afternoon westerlies did not materialize and it was one of those rare warm evenings on Race Rocks.There were quite a few gulls in the kelp just to the east of Gr. Race, some were Heerman’s gulls with their unmistakable plumage, black feet and red bills.I expect it was much cooler than sitting here on the hot rocks -the young gulls were all panting in the heat.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 51 ecotour boats, 13 pleasure craft, the Hyaku in from P.C. with Garry and guests about 13:30 and again about 18:30 -Ryan at the wheel- with a group tour of the M.P.A.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:37 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Clear  Vis. 15 Wind North East 5 Knots Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:15 AM

a group taking fish just off shore on the west side of Gr. Race

Posted on by
Sunday, August 11, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 19.1 C  Min. 7.3 C  Reset 12.5 C
MARINE LIFE: The geese, 1 adult and the 5 young, flew in late this morning and stayed around until about 16:00, then headed over towards Pedder Bay.They still come every day but there is really not much for them to eat, I expect they will eventually stop coming altogether any day now.We are used to the ‘barking’ sea lions all night, but the 30+ gulls landing and taking off from the roof still wake us often, why they fly at night I don’t know but they are noisy.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There was one dive boat, 6 Ecotour boats and 9 pleasure craft in the reserve today. Unfortunately there are still sports fishers who have either not familiarized themselves with the fishing regulations or are just ignoring them but today, because the tide was too low to launch the station boat we had to call Chris to come out in the Hyaku from the campus to speak with a group taking fish just off shore on the west side of Gr. Race. It is the responsibility of people to be informed of the current regulations as stated in the Tidal Waters Sports Fishing Guide issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.Race Rocks is a Marine Protected Area and is a no take Zone.The monitoring policy is that if you are seen fishing we will ask that you move out of the area and any fish caught be thrown back, your boat registration and/or operator’s name recorded and submitted to Fisheries. The boat in Question today is 14K 29105.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:14 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy �� Vis 15 Miles �� Wind West 5 Knots �� Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:43 AM

fixed the fog horn

Posted on by
Wednesday, July 24, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 16.3 C  Min. 10.3 C Reset 12.3 C
MARINE LIFE:Well what a change in the weather, the fog and moderate westerlies is a nice relief from the heat.The Coast Guard came out in the sea truck with someone to fix the fog horn which failed last night – it was strange to be in the fog and no horn sounding! Well the geese spent the afternoon perfecting their landing skills, with the 25+ knt wind getting airborne was the easy part, we will miss them but in a way glad to see them spread their wings and move on to greener pastures.There are 6 harbour seals with pups that haul out each night, some on the boat ramp and others on various rocks on either side of the dock. The past couple of nights we can hear pups calling out for their mothers which are most likely out feeding, it’s a rather mournful sound but in most cases the pups are not left all that long.
HUMAN INTERACTION: The Coast Guard sea truck made 2 trips from Victoria to service the fog horn. There were 3 pleasure craft through the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:43 PM

Good MorningWEATHER: Sky Obscured  Vis 3 – 5 Miles Fog  Wind West 27 Knots Sea 4 Foot Moderate With Low South West Swell

posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:17 AM

Bayside Middle School Visits

Posted on by
Wednesday, June 12, 2002
Good Evening:
TEMPERATURE Max 19.5C  Min 7.8C  Reset 19.5C
MARINE LIFE: Some large sea anemones spotted in the low intertidal today, many covered with shell grit as a protective layer from the heat. One Bald eagle sighting this morning, however none this evening. The Geese and Goslings were drinking from the freshwater pond frequently today, a sign of the hotter weather, however raising concerns about the eventual limits of the water supply.
HUMAN IMPACT: Hyaku docked with Garry and five students and their teacher from Bayside Middle School at low tide today. They participated in our live webcast as we showed them the special features of the island’s ecosystems. We have been particularly careful to provide a low-impact program so that the seabirds and seals are not disturbed. Zodiac left during the late evening. 6 ecotourism and three fishings boats through the reserve today. Michael Kiprop returned to Metchosin today to catch his flight home to Kenya tomorrow. We have appreciated his daily commitment to the technical aspects of our live mobile webcasts.
posted by at 11:20 PM

Westmont School, for the 10:00 AM live webcast

Posted on by

Tuesday, June 11, 2002

Good Evening:
TEMPERATURE Max 15.C  Min 9.2C Reset 9.2C
MARINE LIFE: A fairly quiet day on the island, perhaps due to the heavy fog which came several times. Two Bald Eagle visits this morning, however none this afternoon. A very low tide revealed some sun bleaching on the surf grass in the low intertidal. The Goslings are quite large now, perhaps double their size of last week. It is a shame to note that we saw no Sea lions today, they have not been present since the DND blasting a few days ago.
HUMAN IMPACT: 7-8 ecotourism vessels today, despite the fog. Second Nature emerged from the fog to dock with Garry and another group of 4 school children from Westmont School, again for the 10:00 AM live webcast. Garry noted that he had never seen the fog as heavy as this morning. Within a half hour it lifted. Zodiac was taken out twice in the afternoon. The divers went in around the docks at 18:30.
posted by at 11:17 PM
Good Morning:
WEATHER: Sky Overcast  Vis. 8 miles  Wind 20 – 25 Knots from West  Sea 2-3 Foot Chop
posted by at 4:33 AM

Goslings went for a swim with their parents this morning

Posted on by

Monday, June 10, 2002

Good Evening: TEMPERATURE Max 14.0C Min 9.8C  Reset 13.0C
MARINE LIFE: Two fly overs by a Bald Eagle today, however no birds taken. The Goslings went for a swim with their parents this morning, however only staying in the shallow waters. Several harbour seals moving about the docks this morning, probably hunting.
HUMAN IMPACT: Hyaklu and Second Nature both docked today. 6 ecotourism vessels and two fishing vessels moved through the reserve. Garry brought out a group of 4 students and a parent from West -Mont school today for the live webcast. They toured the island and the intertidal near the docks.
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Clear  Vis. 6 miles  Wind 25-30 Knots from West  Sea 2-3 Foot Chop
posted by at 5:03 AM

Crows are harassing the Gulls

Posted on by
Friday, May 31, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 13.0 C  Min. 8.1 C  Reset 10.0
MARINE LIFE: Another beautiful day here, with quite a lot of marine activity. The Glaucous Winged Gulls are actively mating and nesting, being very defensive of their nests. Crows are harassing the Gulls, Oystercatchers and and Pigeon Guillemots, in search of an unattended nest and egg. One of the pairs of Canadian Geese on the Island are nursing their five young Goslings, despite the Goslings rapidly increasing size the Geese continue to be very protective of their youngsters. Divers spotted some large Ling Cod around the docks, along with a healthy stock of smaller fish.
HUMAN INTERACTION: A lot of fishing activity around the reserve today, around 10 to 12 vessels on the reserve border actively fishing. Problems with both vessels motoring too quickly through the reserve and fishermen disregarding the reserve limitations and fishing around West Race Rocks. Four eco-tourism vessels moved through the park today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:33 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy  Vis. 15 Miles  Wind West 9 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.

Posted on by
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

Enjoying watching the 5 little goslings

Posted on by
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

First gosling hatch on Race Rocks

Posted on by
Tuesday, May 14, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 10.1 C  Min. 7.3 C  Reset 8.7 C  Rain 1.8 mm
MARINE LIFE: 1 mature Bald Eagle today.We can report that some eggs have hatched! How we missed the obvious searching for the hidden I cannot explain but we now have 5 downy, mustard coloured goslings! We have been or thought we had been over every metre of Gr. Race looking for Oyster Catcher nests and did not find the goose nest. We wondered if they would nest but the geese were always on the move, no obvious nest sitting -how could you miss a 5kg bird incubating eggs for 25-30 days? well it seems we did! Anyway the goslings are cute and on the move with both parents attentively herding them along.There is another pair of adult geese that seem to stay in the grassy area on the northeast corner of the island.We searched the area very thoroughly this afternoon but could not find anything resembling a nest nor did we see any eggs.It will be interesting to watch these little geese grow, evidently they fledge in 45-60 days.
No boats to report- windy with moderate seas all day.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:33 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy �� Vis 12 Miles �� Wind West 30 Knots �� Sea 4 Foot Moderate — Low South West Swell.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:14 AM