October 19. 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Marilyn and Lesley. 
According to what I read on line and some monk seal posse pals, today was Monk Seal Count Day. I don't have any official numbers but heard there were 20 critter seen on Kauai.  
Based on Marilyn and Lesley's Ka'ena trek today they found 5 monk seals, so whatever
Oahu's numbers turn out to be, 5 were seen at Ka'ena point. 

Marilyn and Lesley found BG R303 and PvKauai RW02 at Camp Erdman, and it appears they had spent the night. BG was ID'd by the line scar on her head, female belly with scar by right upper nipple and no tags. RW02 was ID'd by his W77 tag, old coat and partially shaved male belly. Both these critters may molt soon. 

Their next find was RR70 RIP at 10 minute beach. He was ID'd by his old coat his R76 tag. He also looks like he is ready to molt soon.  RIP was still there on the hike back to the car.

At Hidden Beach they were delighted to find RN58 Luana. She was ID'd by her newish coat, the parallel line scars, female belly, upper chest scar and her N58 tag. She is looking good and healthy. She was still on the beach on the hike back to the care.

On the hike out from the point RO40 Ka'ena was in his pool. He was partially submerged but was ID'd by the line scar at the base of his RFF. 

Unfortunately Marilyn did not get to observe Rabbit Island due to an accident/incident in the Sea Life Park area. 

BG R303 & PvKauai RW02

 RN58 Luana (looking thin) 

 RN58 Luana ( looking chubby)  - it's all about the position of the seal

 Ka'ena RO40

 RIP

10/27/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1)

Today's dailies are brought to you by Marilyn, Lesley, and a news link from posse pal Janice from Kauai.  Lesley's complete Ka'ena Update is part two of the dailies.

Apparently today was monk seal count day which usually occurs twice a year. Way back when this day was a huge event to get the community involved and recruit new volunteers, or simply getting to know your beach neighbors.  If it wasn't for Lesley's mention, I probably would have missed noting the day. Having said that by my count Lesley found 6 seals and Marilyn found 4. So whatever the total number turns out to be at least 10 critters were seen by these two people.  GOOD WORK Ladies!

Here is some news from the garden island, enjoy the story pups born on Kauai doubled this year!
http://www.thegardenisland.com/2018/10/27/hawaii-news/its-a-wrap/

Marilyn spent her morning at pier viewing Rabbit Island to make sure they were included in today's count, in total she spotted four seal on Rabbit Island.

There were three critters about 10-30 feet right of the the 3BS and one near SRI.  She labled the trio near the 3BS as:
U/A (unknown adult) - this seal appeared to be adult size with and older darker coat. She never got a look at the belly or tags. About 10:30 am this seal headed for the water.
UJ#1 - this might be a weaner with a male belly, which could be RK24 who has never been reported at Rabbit ISland today. This UJ joined the UA soon after it entered the water.
UJ#2 appeared larger than UJ#1, Marilyn never got a glimpse of the belly or it's tags. It also joined UA and UJ#1 and entered the water at about 10:45 am.  She did not see any of these critters during her time at the pier.

At Seal Rock Inlet, she thinks this could be RH36 Kawena. She spotted a female belly, new coat and what could be N6 bleach on her right side. 

RH36 Kawena 

 Trio - Uknown Adult and two Unknown Juveniles

1/25/2017 GOOD NEWS! Hawaiian Monk Seal Population Rises to 1400 !

As many of you may have heard this wonderful news.... here is the link to Hawaii News Now!


http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/34338127/endangered-hawaiian-monk-seal-population-rises-to-1400

And here is the official Link from NOAA Fisheries Pacific Island Office

http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/stories/01242017_year_of_the_monk_seal.html

10/24/2016 Yesterday's News

Two tidbits of Yesterday's News:  First the cuteness... thanks to Jason O'Rourke who took these great shots of Kaiwi while she continues her stay at the Outrigger Country Club.

And Secondly the numbers from the monk seal count from an unofficial reliable source on another island. 

Kauai: 16

Oahu: 12

Molokai: 15

Maui Nui: 0

Big Island: 1

* would be nice if we had a breakdown of Oahu zones and counts.

5/21/2016 DB's Dailies: Sadie&Pup, RG32&Nani@Rabbit Island, Kaiwi&Cass@Kokee Flats, RIP&Kekoa@Maili Point, R8HY@Mokuleia, Buster@Diamond Head

Happy Seal Count Day !!! 61 bipeds and 16 seals was the count !!! (Per Dana’s email).

 Mostly I could figure out the locations, but in some cases I’m just guessin’ .

 RIP & Kekoa were Maili Point guys, and I think RL42 was at the 10min/15min/20min (depending on your trekkin’ prowess), I’m guessin’ that RW02 & Ka’ena might have been at KP, I know R8HY was at Mokuleia, and probably BG was there too but I’m unsure of that, Holokai was probably at TB, and maybe R5AY also. The remaining 6 animals were all in my neighborhood. Marilyn,Gina&Melanie found Cass & Kaiwi at Kokee Flats and I had Sadie&Pup(D#24), Nani&RG32 at Rabbit Island.

 Unfortunately, I had three Bad Guys who landed briefly at RI, and caused RG32 to depart.

 Team Billand called at 0611 with the report of RIP (RR70) at Maili Pt. When they went back at 0930, RIP was gone but Kekoa (RK72) was now there.

 Lusi&Jason Perry checked in at 0924 , advising that they had found R8HY at Mokuleia.

 A 1744 Dana mail advised that BG (R303) had been there earlier but was gone when the Perrys arrived.

 Colleen called at 1032 that she had my #3 son, Buster (RV08) at Diamond Head. Colleen advised he was still there at dark.

 1806 Diane Pike mail brought the count totals. It was a very impressive 50 animals total. Oahu=16, Kauai=16, Molokai=14,Maui=2, Lanai=0, Hawaii=2

Nani

 

 RG32

 Bad guys on Rabbit Island

 Sadie and Pup 

Kaiwi and Cass

 Big Momma and little greenie

 Cass

 snot nosed green kid 

 Kaiwi - Cass - Gina and Marilyn

R8HY

 Kekoa

 Rip

10/24/2015 Seal Count Numbers Oahu October 2015

1. Ewa Beach, White Plains, Nimitz Cove - No Seals
2. Ko’olina – No seals
3. Nanakuli/Maili Point/Maili Beach Park – (1 seal) N 28 Pohaku @ Maili Guard Rail 
4. Maili/Makua Cave/Yokohama - (1 seal) L42 @ Makua Cliff 
5. Ka’ena Pt. West – No Seals
6. Ka’ena Pt. North – (3 seals) R303 BG @ 10 minute beach, RO40 Kaʻena @ Runway Rock, and RW02 @ pool area below light house 
7. Mokuleia – No Seals
8. Pua’ena Point/Haleiwa Beach – No Seals
9. Shark’s Cove, Sunset Beach, Kewala Bay– No Seals
10.Turtle Bay, Marconi Rd, Kahuku Golf Course - (4 seals, 3 IDʻs made) Nihoa R912 @ Kuilima Cove /Olas, Holokai G40 @ keiki pool at Turtle Bay, Laʻakea K82 @ Kahuku Golf Course, 1 unidentified large female with tags @ Kahuku Golf Course.
11.Malekahana/Laie Point – No Seals
12.Hau’ula Beach Park – (1 unidentified seal) Found foraging in “alligator Pond” behind Kahikole Pl. Possibly RI37 or R5AY.
13.Kualoa Ranch – No Seals
14.Pyramid Rock – No Seals
15.Mokapu Point – No Seals
16.Lanakai – No Seals
17.Waimanalo/Bellows – No Seals
18.Makapu’u – (4 Seals, 3 identified) RL12 Aukai, RN04 Kainoa, RN46 Kea, and U/M adult near molt, DB thought maybe Kolohe, but could not confirm. All on Rabbit island via spotting scope. 19.Halona Blowhole– No Seals
20.Lanai Lookout – No Seals
21.Hanauma Bay/Spitting Cave – No Seals
22.Diamond Head/Kahala Park – (1 Seal) N11 Rocky @ Kaimanas
23.Magic Island/Kaka’ako – No Seals
24.Point Panic/Sand Island – No Seals

15 seals found, 12 identified. 50 volunteers all over the islands helped us find these seals!

10/25/2014 AND THE NUMBERS ARE IN

Congratulations!  Great work out there today to all the dedicated seal searchers..... 

The suspense is over! Our final totals for today's monk seal counts are as follows: 
late news... seems wonder woman on Molokai reported an additional 3 more seals... Way to go Diane!

Kauai 8 
Oahu 13 
Molokai 11   14
Maui/Lanai 0 
Hawaii 0 
TOTAL SEALS: 32 
Our total seal count for May 2014 was 50. 

Volunteer effort is as follows: 
Kauai 30 
Oahu 37 
Molokai pending 
Maui/Lanai 39/12 
Hawaii 25 

Saturday May 17th Monk Seal Count

Aloha good people!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the count... It was a hot day out there and I know several of you covered  lot of sand.  
Email message I saw this evening has Oahu count at 17 glorious seals!!!  Good job!

Here are a couple of photos that were sent to me from Mark at the Kailua Sailboard and Kayak tour guide.  Although this will most likely be a U/U this seal was on the mokes during the seal count hours....