I also would like to give our posse pal Gayle a big shout out ! The other day she called into the hotline that RK24 had a line wrapped around him and was hooked. NOAA responded and freed the little guy from the line.
Gayle has been sitting with RK24 since before he was born, she is out there every day, rain, shine and the god awful heat. It was her eyes and quick action that made a huge difference to RK24. http://www.kitv.com/story/38846122/a-hawaiian-monk-seal-pup-has-been-having-a-tough-time-lately?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_KITVThis story was on the news and all over social media, and while all the official agencies were acknowledged it is the people who are behind the scenes, the people who are out there everyday, the people who know these critters better than anyone, that make the difference. They DO NOT respond to calls, they make the calls. They are out there to make sure our beloved endangered monk seals are staying safe. SO thank you GAYLE!
Now back to the daily routine, Team Billand up and out early as usual, however when they arrived at the outfall they were surprised and scared to see three NOAA vehicles onsite. When they spoke with David Schofield from NOAA/PIRO he explained they had been there since 5 and concerned about some of the interactions with the seals (hmmm can anyone say Ka'ale). Team Billand spotted the seal that was there leave heading east. So they left the outfall and stopped at a nearby beach where they watched RN14 Kalani haul out. He galumphed all the way on the rocks and went into snooze mode.
They left him and headed back to the outfall.
Back at the outfall they spotted two seals foraging. They determined the two critters were RH32 Ka'ale and RK71 Kekoa Alii. Kekoa would leave but Ka'ale stayed going out to the right of the jetty.
That is when they spot another seal, this is seal number four. The seal approaches and greets Ka'ale nose to nose, but headed off to a close by beach, they landed for a moment. The two were fighting along the shoreline. Team Billand was able to ID Benny RE74 as seal number four. Ka'ale came back to the outfall and Benny kept going heading west. (looking for da girls)
The only other seal Team Billand spotted they were unable to ID as it swam by one of the west side beaches. It was green by just kept swimming heading west towards Ka'ena Point.
Team T&D (Tammy & Dave) did Ka'ena Point today, even though it was a gloomy and windy day, not to mention the rain. They found RN58 Luana near the water line of Hidden Beach. She was there on their way in to the point, and gone on their way back. But they did find that she had moved to 10 min beach.
On their way in they ID'd Ka'ena RO40 on the rocks by "BGs Pool". He was gone on their way out, must have been that passing shower.
When Team T&D finally made it out to the point, they spotted a white belly hight up on the rocks. They ID'd Puna RK88. He is a cutie starting to explore his surroundings. With the high tide and the west side swell the point was underwater. They did get some rain at point and then got soaked on the walk back. To quote Tammy "worth every raindrop"
RN14 Kalani
Kekoa RK72
Ka'ale RH32
Benny greets Ka'ale
UU Swim By
Puna RK88
White greenish belly
RN58 Luana
RO40 Ka'ena
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