MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: July 19, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Friday, July 19, 2019

July 19, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, my Rabbit Island observation, and Team T&D from the Big Island.

Tammy & Dave are on the Big Island for a little R&R. Of course they they had to check a couple of the locations while on island. Today as they were walking the beach they spotted two seals swimming toward the shoreline. The first seal had an applied H1 bleach which makes this RW34. (looks like she has "Hi" on her side).

The second critter took a little time but a local volunteer was on the beach thought it was RB00, but wasn't sure, so Tammy got on the coconut wire and through our pal Val and some of her connections it was confirmed RB00. ( see how that works :-)

Team Billand's first critters of the day were at the outfall. There were three seals, and they were only able to ID RN14. The other two didn't give them much to go on, and neither did their pictures.

From there they headed over to check on Pohaku RO28, who they spent most of the day with. When they arrived they checked all the usual haul out spots and finally found her surrounded by people taking photos. Team Billand called the hotline.
All was going well until a man was meditating on shore and Pohaku was to the right of him. She suddenly went into the water swimming right to left, stopping at the man. Team Billand asked him to move back, he did not. Pohaku came closer to him and began barking at him. Team Billand once again pleaded for him to move, and that is when Pohaku became more vocal. The man moved, but unfortunately it wasn't soon enough her her so she left the area.

Team Billand followed on foot observing everytime people were getting to close to her she became very vocal. There were lots of people in the water and on the shores, in places where Pohaku appeared to want to haul out. She was extremely vocal with them, they would move and she would leave for another spot. Team Billand was having a hard time keeping up with her moves and all the people.

Finally they got in the car to check the areas. They did find her finally resting, so they notified the hotline. Volunteer Melina was on site. Team Billand pulled the signs and they put them up. At 11:40 (five hours into their Pohaku adventure) Pohaku had settled down, and Team Billand left for a break,

At 5:40 this morning Team Billand found RG28 spotted a seal on lower rocks at a west side location. They didn't stay with him as they were heading over to see Pohaku. When they returned to check on RG28 was in his water hole sound a sleep.

When Team Billand returned to check on Pohaku a turtle came up to rest on the shore. The poor thing had a tumor in left eye and some barnacles, also held his moth open. Team Billand told Melina who made a call and was told the Turtle was fine.

Team Billand checked back on Pohaku after their rest and lunch. When they returned she was in the shallows. She galumphed up on the shore and volunteer Karen moved the ropes and signs out. Lots of folks right there taking their cell phone photos. For the most part people were good, with the exception of those few.

I spent just over an hour at the pier observing Rabbit Island, where there were three critters when I arrived and the same three critters when I left. Other than a couple of turns they did not move much.
The critter to the far left is being reported as a UM, adult size, male belly. I have seen him several times on the island because I recognize a round dark mark on his chest.
T37/1KT was ID'd by male belly and a very faint applied bleach mark N3. Third seal reported as U/F female belly and a very very green coat.
When I was getting ready to leave a man with his kayak was on the far right of the island. It appeared he had just arrived and pulled his Kayak into one of the cave inlets in the shade. He sat and rested. I think he was getting some rest before he attempted to leave.

RB00 & RW34