MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: December 29, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Monday, December 30, 2019

December 29, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand.
Also I managed down load a few of my photos from yesterdays' Rabbit Island observation.

Team Billand started there day at 7:15 am this morning at a west side location. They spotted a seal coming in to rocks to the right and the tide was still high. It was RW02 PvKauai coming in and settling down, his tags were visible. Team Billand left this site to check other locations.

At 7:45 they were at the outfall and spotted a seal coming in and doing dome foraging, not stealing fish. The seal did not stay long and they were unable to make an ID. The critter had two tags, clean and they didn't see any scars on it's back.

At 11 am they were surprised when they cam across Kekoa Alii RK72 at a westside location. He is a big clean critter, and hanging out in the waterhole sleeping. They spotted the scar on the right of his face, confirming his ID and so happy to have him back on Oahu.

Now they see Kawena RH36 to the right of Kekoa, sleeping on her side. She is looking peaceful, her tags were showing and she barely moved while the watched over her.

RW02 PvKauai was still there all the to the right, inland resting.

Team Billand spotted another seal hauling in and up on the rocks to the right. It's RH76 Kala, she lands and turns to rest on her side. The rising tide was getting to her, but she hung in there and spent the day.

Team Billand got a call from one of the folks at Paradise Cove to let them know a seal had hauled up. The woman wanted to help and wanted to know where she could find the signs and rope for put up for the seal. It's always nice when people from the community step up and sincerely want to help.
Building community relationships, outreach and respecting people are key to helping the Hawaiian monk seals.

When Team Billand arrived there was Kolohe RW22 resting near the waters edge. There were signs out and volunteer Brit was onsite trying to keep folks from entering the zone. But without ropes people just don't view the signs as a barrier.
Team Billand recognized Brit was working extra hard to keep folks back so they gave her some rope from their car. This made it easier for Brit and safer for Kolohe. win!win!

Team Billand headed back to the westside to check on the gang and

now there were six critters. RN14 Kalani had joined the others. He was way out on the rocks, in the glare it was hard to see his natural bleach or tags. He finally moved a bit and they got to read his N15 tag, see his natural bleach.
While observing Kalani here comes another.

Here comes no other than Ka'ale RH32 bosom buddy of RN14. Meantime volunteer Melina arrives. Ka'ale hauled up on lower rocks with Kawena, and surprisingly no interaction.
Seems this was the place to be if you were a seal today.

Four seals at 3BS (Sat 12/28/19)