September 18, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Team T&D, and Lesley. Lesley's Ka'ena update is part two of the dailies.

Day 18 at KoOlina for Team Billand, just as they arrived in the parking lot, they got a call "your seal is back",  and they were there in a flash. 
Nalani RH92 was snoozing her little heart away. Team Billand had no signs so security was notified, and they brought signs and a zone was put up. Team Billand immediately began educating people on site.  Must be a shift in visitors, since this mornings group new nothing about the seals.

Around 7:30, RH92 left and went across to mid beach. Team Billand grabbed the signs and pulled the ropes. A wonderful woman visiting from Maryland who offered to help Barbara with the signs. Thank you Lynn from Maryland for lending a hand.
People were yelling and getting out of the water, RH92 landed. Security came right out to put up the signs with Team Billand.  (Teamwork does work!). 

Team Billand was able to rest for a bit under a shady palm tree and have some breakfast.  With all the new visitors, gives Team Billand to win over a whole new group of people and turn them into seal protectors. They already recruited Lynn, who is a conservationist looks after the birds that are disoriented by the light on the mainland. 
Team Billand finished their breakfast at 9 am, and they spotted volunteer Melina. Time for her to take over and Team Billand left the site at 9:15 am.

Team T&D are still on the Big Island, and on this mornings survey they found RA20. She is looking nice and healthy, like she gained all her nursing weight back.  It was 6 months ago that she gave birth to RL50.

After hanging out down the beach from RA20, Dave decided to go exploring. Not 50 yards away Dave got Tammy's attention and let her know there was a seal. Tammy rushed over with her camera, to get some ID photos of the seal before she took off.

Turns out this is a young untagged female that has been seen before and noted as very skittish.  Lots of ID markers and pictures were submitted to PIFSC to see if they can ID her.

After a short break, Team T&D met up with Big Island volunteer in the afternoon. Luckily the three of them found a seal hiding, sleeping in the rocks. There was RL50 (RA20's kid).

 RH92

RA20

 sub-adult female untagged

 RL50