MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: May 2012

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

5-30-2012 DB Dailies: Kolohe&Buster@RI, Benny@PC, U/U@WP, RI37@Mokuleia, Kerby@Maili Point

It was an exhaustive day of lookin', with no findin' for the Elves and I in the SE quadrant. Both Irma and Kaiwi were no shows today.

The Rabbit Island critters saved the day for me. Though my first 2 passes were zero, on the 1130 check I found Kolohe (RW22) snoozin' at the left end of the beach. At 1145 Buster (RV08) attempted to haul out to Kolohe's location but Kolohe wasn't goin' for it, and Buster never got out of the shore break. My RI photos were hideously poor so I'll spare you.

Dera called at 0902 with reports of animals at White Plains, and Paradise Cove. The Billands were able to confirm the Benny (RE74) ID on the PC animal, but could not stay, and could not respond to the White Plains site. At 0923 Dana advised that volunteers were dispatched to both locations. Dana called again at 1125 to advise that both animals were gone when the volunteers arrived.

Also at 0923 Dana advised of RI37 at the Mokuleia Beach Colony. Judy & Paul Nelson provided confirmation photos.

Team Billand reported Kerby (RW08) at Maili Point at 1410.

RI37 @ Mokuleia

Hoping she's doing okay... wish we had more information about her pregnancy status

This is SO Benny

Benny (somewhere in the background) and friends

Kerby @ Maili Point

Kerbmister

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

More Rocky and Pup Pics

Thank you Kim for sending some Rocky and Pup pictures.... so nice to see Momma Rocky being a good mom. I appreciate your thoughtfulness and sending them on to post in the blog.

Okay bloggers - lots of oooohhh and ahhs!

Oh... and I also received this link to a story in the The Garden Isle ...... it was written by a volunteer on Kauai, but more than that a long time resident.... I personally thought it was a good article, and answers a lot of questions. http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/guest/an-informal-history-of-monk-seals/article_34963726-9d9d-11e1-9bfc-0019bb2963f4.html

5-29-2012 DB's Dailies: Kolohe,Nani&Buster@RI, Irma@MB, Kaiwi@AD, Kerby@Maili Pt, M&M@WP, 2AW@NIM

At 0925 I found Kolohe (RW22) snoozin' on the beach front incline, 40 ft left of 1BS on Rabbit Island.

At 1141 I responded to an Ocean Safety call, at Makapuu, and found Irma (R010) waiting for me at the far right end of the beach. I cordoned her off, and she has remained all day. I picked up the rope and called it a day at 1945. Irma remains.

At 1306 I found Nani (RK60) 50 ft left of Seal Rock Inlet on Rabbit Island. She would be joined by Buster (RV08) at 1310.

Team Billand checked in at 0920 with the report of Kerby (RW08) at Maili Point.

They next reported 2AW fronting 1945, Nimitz Cottages. He departed at 1900.

At 1107 they found M&M (R020), fronting #1944 at White Plains. She departed at 1830.

I've saved the best for last. At 1005 posse member Gayle called with the report of Kaiwi (RK96) on the water front rocks near the "party tree" at AD. It seems that a fisherman mentioned to Gayle while she was doing a Kaiwi Kove check, that he'd seen an animal at AD.

I immediately notified NOAA personnel, and a capture response was underway. The capture occurred at 1408, and Kaiwi was transported to the Aquarium. X-rays showed that there were no hooks, and she was transported to Irma's where she was released at 1740.

Big Momma Irma @ Makapuu Beach

Nani and Buster @ Rabbit Island

Kerby @ Maili Point

M&M at White Plains

and thank you M+M for showing up today and not yesterday

2AW @ Nimitz

5-29-2012 The Kaiwi Adventure

The sweet Kaiwi resting having little seal dreams

What? what is going on?

Oh no not again....

and all this time I thought it was a bad dream

close encounter of the second kind!

I am out of here.....

Monday, May 28, 2012

5-28-2012 Kaiwi Video

5-28-2012 DB's Dailies: Irma@HB, Buster@SC&RI, Kolohe@RI, Kaiwi@SC, Nani&Buster@SC,Kerby@Maili Pt, Right Spot@Shark's Cove, UU@Kualoa , Benny @WP&KR

On my first pass through the quadrant I found nobody. That would change with a call from "Jack at the Bay" at 0656 reporting "N3" hauled out to mid beach, at Hanauma Bay. When I arrived I confirmed the Irma (R010) ID. I cordoned her off, and she has remained all day. Irma departed at 1808.

Marilyn (Missus Whisperer) called at 0715 to advise that Buster (RV08) had been seen on just one up. His N21 bleach was clearly visible. He appeared to move around the corner, in a HB direction. Jack , Marilyn & I did observations from on top, awaiting Buster's arrival at Hanauma Bay, but it did not happen. I continued the route. Jack would call again at 0953 with a visitor report of an animal swimming in the bay, so back I went to do observations at HB. Again, I found nobody.

At 0900 I found what would prove to be Kolohe (RW22) just hauling out of Seal Rock Inlet at Rabbit Island. He would later relocate to the left end rock flats, where he spent the rest of the day.

Posse member Kathy, called at 0922 to report Kaiwi (RK96) at Spitting Cave. Kaiwi would depart around 1000.

At 1231 on a pan I found Nani (RK60) newly hauled out, 60 ft left of 1BS on Rabbit Island.

At 1416 she would be joined by Buster (RV08). He would remain only a couple of minutes on his initial visit, but would haul out again at 1445 to join Nani, with no interaction, and remained the rest of the day.

Team Billand checked in at 0718 with the report of Kerby (RW08) at Maili Point.

Posse member Jeff Christian called at 0940 with the report of an animal along side the road, 1/2 mile past Kualoa BP. I notified Dana immediately. She had already received many calls. A volunteer did respond by no ID was ever gotten. The animal departed at 1154 per Dana. I've got 2 cats on R5AY but ????

Karen Bryan called at 1009 to report "N6", (Right Spot. R016) in the waters at Shark's Cove . There were never any reports of her having hauled out. Dana called at 1912 to advise that Right Spot had hauled out to Sunset Beach.

Posse member Momi called at 1045 with word that "a baby seal" was trying to haul out at Kaupo Beach Park, but that the masses were at the water line, and the animal was never able to haul out. While it must go down as an Unknown/Unknown, the fact that Nani hauled out shortly there after at Rabbit Island, tells me everything I need to know about that.

Team Billand called at 1057 to advise that they had been following Benny (RE74) from the Campbells area through Nimitz and finally to his haul out at Tower#1, White Plains. The blow by blow of the experience is once again a restatement of the nightmare of White Plains ,and the crowds there, who's behavior leaves much to be desired where haul outs are concerned. The Cobers and Willy deserve much kudos for responding and helping with the haul out and the hunt. Benny would thankfully depart White Plains at 1155, headed in a west direction. The hunt was on. Benny would eventually haul out to Kermit's Reef, on the west side of the Nimitz Jetty, at 1327. Barbara called at 1707 to advise that Benny had departed and was headed west, and away from the zoo. That was enough for one day.

Team Billand checked in at 1911 to advise that they had responded to a call a Banyan Tree Beach, but the animal was gone when they arrived. Witness photos confirm the Pohaku (RO28) ID.

Irma @ Hanauma Bay