4/10/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1)

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Gayle and Lesley. Lesley's complete Ka'ena Point Update is part of dailies part 2.

Team Billand was out for hours befor they found a critter.  They were on the Ewa side at 9:45 am and noticed a large seal with people right next to it.  They were upset to see this happening, so they hurried out, just as they approached the area they saw John Sadowski coming out with one NOAA sign and one written sign.  
They were able to ID Rocky RH58, she was looking up at the people and as John put up the signs, Team Billand asked the folks to move back. They immediately called the hotline and was told someone was on site who had already ID'd Rocky. Team Billand updated them on the situation, no volunteer on site and people were approaching Rocky.  They stayed and talked monk seal 101 to all, and gave John S. a big hug got putting up the signs.  

One of Team Billands posse had sent them a text of a seal at Plains, so they left Rocky and headed out at 10:40.  They got to the site and found Pohaku RO28 Pohaku on the ewa beach side of the fence line. The signs were up but very close to her, so Robert adjusted the ropes and signs. Pohaku was snoozing but watching with her eyes.  Folks came by to see the seal, some folks asked if was a manatee?  LOL sooo Team Billand did lots of outreach. 
These folks not only got monk seal 101 they got a history lesson on how Pohaku's mom was shot in 2009 on Kauai.  Unfortunately in that case the culprit only got 90 days in jail and a very small fine for killing a pregnant endangered species. (thankfully the awareness these days bring a harsher penalty). Pohaku remained alone in the zone resting. Hopefully someone came down and watched over her. 

Team Billand had no other seals to report.

Gayle found Kaiwi RK96 today and hung out with her for a bit. Gayle also made the rounds today and her only find was Kaiwi.  
She checked out Rabbit Island at lunch time and in the afternoon. The seal is a UU and is probably the same one who had just moved.  I double checked with my notes from Marilyn and based on the position of the Mom and pup, chances are this is not the Mom.  My notes indicated Mom and Pup were behind one of the rocks by the shore line which made it very difficult to see unless you were sitting on the Lanai at the pier.  
Based on this weeks sightings we can rule out: Kaiwi, Pohaku, BG, & Rocky as the Rabbit Island Mom. My money is still on Aukai... but we'll have to wait and see.

 Pohaku R028

 Rocky RH58 and the paparazzi 

 Rabbit Island 

 Kaiwi RK96