| Species | Current Population (Est) |
| Stellar/Northern Sea Lion | 175 |
| Elephant Seal | 8 |
| Harbour Seal | 200 |
| California Sea Lion | 200 |
| Glaucous-winged Gull | 150 |
| Herring Gull | 30 |
| California Gull | 6 |
| Surfbirds | 1 |
| Black Turnstones | 40 |
| Western Grebe | 2 |
| Brandt’s Cormorant | 30 |
| Sparrows | 12 |
| Horned Lark | 5 |
| Harlequin Ducks | 1 |
| Canada Goose | 8 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 |
| Black Oyster-catcher | 10 |
| River Otter | 1 |
| Pearson Students/Staff | 16 |
| Race Rocks Eco-Guardian | 1 |
| Rhinoceros Auklet | 100 |
| Common Murre | 100 |
Tag Archives: sea lion
The Sad Reality
Sea Lions are tough and resilient animals. They can deal with sharp rocks and pounding waves but like many animals they have difficulties with human plastic products. Sometimes they will swallow salmon that are already hooked, or get snagged by a jigging hook, or they get entangled in strapping bands or nets. The consequences are usually disastrous.
This Steller is dealing with his entanglement but I hope he doesn’t grow too much bigger…
Education is a very important piece in preventing marine debris from getting into the ocean in the first place.It is often a difficult decision when to intervene because of the real possibility of an animal drowning when darting, and often the debris does break off on its own over time (ie many animals with scars from previous entanglements).
This is a recent snag. The animal is still healthy.
Please do what you can to ensure that plastics don’t escape into nature and that if you fish, do it far from marine mammals. The ocean is their home first.
This poor fellow has suffered for a while now.
Even a small hook can handicap a pinniped. This guy doesn’t put weight on the flipper and crawls around on his face. Likely this hook will tear out eventually.
Sept 15th..up to 175 sea lions
Today I used the new seawater pump to fill the cistern which had gotten pretty low. We de-salinate water here for household purposes as there is insufficient rain and the roofs are quite contaminated with gull poop!
The reserve is busy today with tour boats and divers. I had to call one of the companies to ask their operator to slow down at the edge of the reserve. Usually they are pretty good but occasionally a new driver doesn’t realize the reserve boundaries. More troubling are the recreational boaters who frequently speed through the reserve. The problem is that unless you are a local it is unlikely you will know the guidelines. As much as I dislike signs this seems a reasonable place for a few “5 knots” and ” No Fishing” signs. There is simply no way I can ask them to slow down from my perch on Great Race Island…
The California and Steller sea lions are here in droves. I counted more than 175 Stellers in the reserve. The vast majority are bulls but there are a few cows and in the last few days a number of yearlings have shown up. I will get some pictures for the next entry. The view from the tower shows the commotion outside my house!
Hundreds of California Sea Lions adorn the lawn.
In other animal news, quite a few glaucous-winged gulls remain but i think all the chicks can fly now. A few cormorants have returned and about 50 black turnstones wander about between the sea lions picking off insects. I also observed some type of sandpiper picking insects off a dead gull chick. Very resourceful!
Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala)
Sea Lion Madness
Since the gale on Saturday night, about 75 Steller and 150 Californian sea lions have been hanging out under my window in the shelter of the house. It is hard to describe just how loud and smelly it is. I wish you could witness it for yourself! Well you can at: http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/video1frame.htm
Here are a few pictures. The Steller bulls (Eumetopias jubatus) are particularly impressive. Some of them weigh in at 1000 kgs.
Huge Steller Bull
Steller in the Middle
Sea Lions are extremely social and appear boisterous and argumentative. Smaller individuals will always move for the bigger ones, though they roar, growl and hiss in protest. Clashes are very frequent but damage is rare. Most of the contact actually involves just the whiskers (vibrissae), though nips to the skin do happen. Usually a smaller one will snap back in defence then lurch away across the backs of the sleeping neighbours who lazily complain til the commotion stops and they drift back to sleep. 30 seconds later it happens again… all day long and most of the night too!
Sub-adult males playfighting
Back on the Rock
Well it is good to be back on this beautiful little island, though the 100 California Sea Lions cuddling under my window are a tad boisterous and noisy. More arrive everyday…
Dozens of California Sea Lions around the house
The Steller Sea Lions tend to congregate on the south side of the island near the engine room. They truly are magnificent creatures, sort of the equivalent of an ocean grizzly bear. In fact I think “lions” is a misnomer and we should call them “Sea Bears”. What do you think?
Steller Bull congregation
Currently 5 young elephant seals are making good use of the boat ramp. Word is getting out amongst the species that this is a good place to relax and to get your picture on the Internet!
Young Elephant Seal
Perhaps because it is Labour Day weekend and the weather is so nice, there are lots of boats in and around the reserve. Sadly quite a few violate the rules about fishing or speeding in the reserve and unfortunately there is little I can do, except wave or gesticulate at them. Launching my boat is rarely an option, unless I want to disturb the elephant seals, and the boats that are speeding are long gone… As much as I dislike signage, we might be wise to post “No Fishing” and “5 knots” signs to alert the ignorant. It is hard to blame someone who doesn’t know the guidelines.
Many thanks to Julie who worked diligently over the summer to maintain the infrastructure and keep a close eye on things. She is off to southern climes for adventure and learning.
Guardian Changeover
I am making final preparations for my departure tomorrow and Mike’s return. The past two months have been very enjoyable being surrounded by the wildlife here and beautiful landscape.
The sea lions seem to be occupying every side of the island except the jetty. The right image is the rocky shore to the East of the house, the centre is the south side of the island, and on the right is West Race Rocks.
We now have 5 elephant seals on the island, although no big males have returned.
The past two days have been overcast and there was a light drizzle today. Sure makes for a beautiful sunset, though!
Orca Sighting
Mid-morning of 16 August a pod of orcas passed eastward on the north side of the island. There were only a half dozen or so, suggesting a transient pod. Of course, there were many whale watching vessels in the area. It saddened me to see some approach closer than the recommended 100m and not turn their motors into neutral and it sickened me to see an Eagle Wing Tour boat actually chase alongside the pod in the reserve. There should be more respect for these marine mammals, especially while in the reserve.
Orcas east of Race Rocks
Nonetheless, it was an amazing sight!
The sea lions have crept their way further up from the water. The image below was captured 18 August.
18 August 2012
Also, for the past 3 nights the bioluminescence of the phytoplankton (Noctaluca) in the water was been remarkable. The outline of the sea lions glow when they take to the water. This is curious because normally for phosphorescence to occur there needs to be rain and then sun and until today there has been no rain.
August 13 Update
Slowly the sea lions, both Stellar and California, are making their way to the main island from West Race Rocks. I’ve decided to take regular shots of their progress. The first image is August 7, after the first night of their arrival, and the next is of August 10.
7 August 2012
10 August 2012
The second is a notably less clear image because of the fog. Over the past week the fog has been incredibly thick mostly in the morning and late evenings. Just a few moments after that photo was taken the sea lions disappeared altogether.
The fog provides an obstacle for mariners which is why I was surprised to note half a dozen whale watching boats appear near the jetty at times of less than 50m visibility.
The last image illustrates only a glimpse of how dense the fog can be. It is taken from the tower facing westward.
Fog after sundown, 11 August 2012
Marine mammals and vessels
Stellar and California sea lions near sunset
The sea lions have moved in! Last night more than a dozen spent their first night on the main rock. Around sunset there were over 20 on rocks across from the jetty and in close waters. About 50-75 are still camped out on North and West Race Rocks.
I’m unsure if it is a coincidence, but the sea lions’ arrival was directly after the elephant seals’ departure. Although there are still 3 juveniles on site, our 2 alpha males and half dozen other seals haven’t returned since Saturday, 4 August.
Two of the 3 elephant seals left on the island
On another note, a Canadian Coast Guard vessel was tied up to the Rosedale Reef buoy on the edge of the reserve yesterday for a couple of hours late in the day. It’s the first time I’ve seen the buoy being used since my time out here.
On Sunday 37 whale watching boats entered the reserve as well 3 private boats. It’s a lot of activity for such a small area and I wonder about the effects it has on the wildlife. A new 2-deck whale watching ship of Orca Spirit Adventures has a capacity of 200 passengers. I can’t help but think the noise pollution created by this vessel that advertises its indoor dining area and dance floor does harm to the very animals they are in search of.
Coast Guard vessel at Rosedale Reef Buoy
Animal Census First Sea Otter at Race Rocks
Sea Otter in Race Rocks Kelp Beds, photo by Adam Bird on June 10/2012
Things have been fairly quite lately regarding birds and mammals here, though one of the eco-tour boats reported seeing a Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) in a kelp bed on Monday! The percussive blasts from Rocky Point military testing range scared off most of the Sea Lions last Thursday and only a few have returned in the last couple days. A large pod of orca passed through and near the reserve on Tuesday. Thanks to Suna, Doris and Ishmael for the census.
Elephant Seals: about 10
Steller Sea Lions: 2
California Sea Lions: 2
Harbour Seals: 204
Glaucous-winged Gull: 246
Surfbirds: 18
Pigeon Guillemots: 108
Canada Goose: 13
Bald Eagle: 3
Black Oystercatcher: 12
Northwestern Crow: 1
Raven: 1
Sparrow: 4
Sea Otter: 1
Caspian Terns: 6
Herring Gulls: 20