MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: May 2018

Thursday, May 31, 2018

5/31/2018 Monk Seal Dailies (part 1 )

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Team T&D, Lesley, Marilyn and Melody. Lesley's complete Ka'ena Point Update is dailies part two.

Team Billand checked out Paradise Cove early morning waiting for critters and not a critter arrived, so they left at 6:30 am to check another beach. As they were leaving they crossed paths with Melody, and about 10 minutes later they got a call from her letting them know there was a seal at the cove and she would put up the signs.
Team Billand made a U-turn and got to the site, the seal had been on the sand but entered the water. They were able to ID RN14 Kalani. I guess the boy is back from his visit back home to Molokai. He swam around the lagoon looking around and vocalizing. Around 7ish they lost site of RN14 and left the site headed for the next stop.

Team Billand and Melody headed off to the next stop the outfall to see if Kaale RH32 was anywhere around. But today he wasn't which is a good thing.

Next stop for Team Billand to a Leeward Beach where they found Kaale RH32 on the rocks looking very very green. He was resting peacefully, looking healthy no sign of hooks, fishing line, he was somewhat alert looking around now and then. Team Billand sat and waited just in case his buddy RN14 showed up but not today. Team Billand let Melody know they found the little butt head.

When they departed the Leeward beach, Melody let Team Billand know she would check Ewa Beach and Plains on her way home. Team Billand got a call from Melody and arrived at plains and there was Pohaku RO28. The life guards had set up the sign and ropes and called it into the hotline. Team Billand advised the life guards on how to properly set up the SRA, as the way they had the ropes from above could become an entanglement issue if she moved up. They complied and fixed the area. One of them must be fairly new because he spent a little time whistling to Pohaku. Oh well he'll get it soon. Volunteer arrived and the "team" shared the information on who Pohaku was, her markings and to keep their eye out for Benny because he's been on her tail for a couple of days.

Team Billand headed back to the Leeward side and made one more stop at 1:13, they spotted a seal offshore doing 7 minute dives. They could not make an ID between the glare and rough seas so they reported a U/U.

Team T&D (Tammy and Dave) walked out to Ka'ena point today and found RW02 PvKauai on the runway. There was also a seal in the pool next to the runway it was Ka'ena RO40. Team T&D were joined by Lesley and by that time she arrived RW02 left but Ka'ena remained in his pool.

Of course on the way out they stopped by the playpen. RL42 Leia and PO5 Napua were resting peacefully at the end of the beach. Just as they got to RN58 Luana & PO4 Puna, Luana was barking at him to go for a swim session. They only stayed a few minutes and they were still swimming when they left.

Marilyn checked in on Kaiwi and PO3 at 6 this morning (Day 38) and they were snoozing in one of the sand channels among the naupaka. PO3 is getting very plump and has lost most of his new born coat. At about 6:40 Kaiwi started towards the water with PO3 not far behind. From behind they look like two "manapua".
Marilyn had to leave for work. Then at 6 this evening Marilyn checked in on them again. The two were again up in the sand channel near the SRA fence. The pup was rambunctious for over an hour

before he finally settled into snooze mode. Kaiwi is not yet showing her ribs or hip bones, so it makes it hard to predict how much longer she will stay with PO3.

***In other news ***
Honey Girl's pup PO2 got her bling today ! She is now tagged with RK80/RK81. She is huge, but this is sooooo typical of R5AY's pups she grows them big and feisty.

Also I have been told RJ30/31 Wailea has been seen on the Mokes quite a bit this week. She doesn't seem to mind the kayaks or crowds.

RN14 Kalani

Ka'ale RH32

Pohaku RO28

Luana & Po4 Puna

RL42 Leia and Napua PO5

RW02 PvKauai

Kaiwi and PO3

Video of RN14 Kalani

https://youtu.be/lrNNosAD_IM

5/31/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 2) Lesley's Ka'ena Point Update

An early start but got stuck with a couple of issues before I could really get out and go.

First I went

down to check the playpens.

PO4 "Puna" D33 was driving his mama RN58 "Luana" crazy. We watched as she swam from side to side along the beach calling him. She was vocalizing out of the water and certainly under also. In the meantime "Puna" was diving in shallow waters playing with something. He kept bringing it up to the surface and letting it go, then down again after it he'd go. Three days ago it looked like half a can of Coca-Cola, yesterday and today rocks or things. Mom didn't seem to happy cause when he made it back to her she moved her body over his, kept a fore flipper or hind ones on him till they hauled out.

On my first check PO5 "Napua" D27 and mom RL42 "Leia" were having swimming session near their favorite cove. When I came back from the point they were freshly hauled out and in a cuddly mood.

I met up with Team Tammy & Dave at the point. On my way in I saw a big pile of nets and knew they had gone down to retrieve it.

Then I saw RO40 "Ka'ena" stretched out at the entrance of his pool. On our way back he was still there.

Team T & D hanged around for a while at the point, they had seen RW02 "PVKauai" earlier on the Runway but he had entered the water. We didn't see him again.

We checked every nook for RG40 "Holokai" but didn't see him.

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

5/30/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1 )

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Team T&D, and Lesley. Lesley's complete Ka'ena point update is part 2 of the dailies.

Team Billand arrived at Paradise Cove at 5:30 am and found Miss Pohaku on shore all by her lonesome. They called the hotline and put up a zone before the "humans" arrived. As they arrived Team Billand educate people as they arrived and kept them quiet and calm.
But they spotted two critters coming in.

A volunteer arrived and was surprised to see to see Pohaku RO28, took some pictures and had to leave to do a survey. Team Billand

was surprised they were leaving but was told they would get someone else to the site. Just after leaving the crowd got a little bigger so Team Billand did some fast talking with they spotted a seal charging in fast, with another seal behind him. The first critter was none other than da Benny RE74 and behind him was Kaale RH32 (butt head) following. ( Oh this is going to be interesting !!)

Benny wasted no time, came right up to Pohaku who wasn't too happy. She tried to roll over, to stay away. Benny got pissed at Kaale who was hauling up right behind him. Benny charged at Kaale and they got into a fight.

Meanwhile, Pohaku decided to make a run for it. She came toward the crowd and Team Billand, they ran and pulled the signs, she came up so fast, followed by Benny and Kaale.
Robert ran to get the folks out of the way in the corner with all their belongings, everyone went scrambling. Poor Kaale seemed so confused by Benny, his eyes so big and his nostrils flared.

All three seals ran to the corner, Pohaku in the lead followed by the boys. Pohahu entered the channel followed by the boys and all three running through the water to Lani's side. Team Billand called the hotline to report the 3 critters' actions and they were following them. Unfortunately they lost site of them and they were gone. Team Billand went back and dismantled the zone and left for other beaches.

Team Billand later found Pohaku doing 6 minute dives off shore at lagoon 2. They stayed and watched her forage for awhile and then left to check a few other hot spots.

A stop at a Leeward Beach they found little Ka'ale passed out a sleep on the rocks alone. They rechecked him on their pass by later and he was still there. I guess he was exhausted from all the excitement. They never spotted Benny again.

Team T&D (Tammy and Dave ) headed out to the North Shore today and on their hike they came across the beautiful Miss right Spot RO16. She is looking quite healthy and robust. As usual Team T&D go out and do more than check on the seals they did some clean up. They stopped by a "pool" that Ua Malie spent a lot of time. So in honor of our sweet Ua Tammy and Dave did some cleaning and Dave even got in the water with a mesh bag. Thank you both!

Their next stop was a big chubby find. PO2 is now a weaner neaner! They were told that Honey Girl was there yesterday but had not been seen at all today. It's sad this not so little weaner has to rest in so much debris.

When Team T&D were walking back they spotted a seal in the water, but could not make a positive ID. It appears to be a smaller seal not a full sized adult. Was reported as a U/U.

Pohaku RO28