MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: 03/05/2020 Thursday Monk Seal Dailies

Thursday, March 5, 2020

03/05/2020 Thursday Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Team T&D, Melody, and my Rabbit Island observations. Also here is the link to NOAA podcast update about Pohaku.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/podcast/line/pohaku-chronicles-podcast-2?fbclid=IwAR01ezJkMUlFRpA3QkICu6amZUZnohTsDsivUMsIHKlD9LlXTs5i1ZyFjPo

We have some REALLY BIG NEWS!!! And given all the difficult seal news as of late today was an AMAZING day. The NOAA Team went out to Rabbit Island to check on our mystery mom and PO1. They ID'd RF34! Doesn't ring a bell? Well that's because this girl has been MIA since 2014.
Pua was born on Rabbit Island in 2014 to Sadie RB12. She was about 5 months old when she was last reported. Many of us thought after years that she was gone. Then more recently her sister RH76 Kala has surfaced after being MIA for 3 years. I know we are all asking where have they been? And as much as that would be cool to know, the great news is they are back! This leaves the door open that MANY who have not been seen for long periods could still be out there. It gives me and I am sure others GREAT hope.

I want to give Gayle a shout out because in the last two weeks of trying to figure out who was out there, she and Marilyn had the conversation of Pua being a possibility. As much as I wanted that to be true, I had my doubts. When I got confirmation today while watching through the scope, I literally broke out in tears of joy. I know my sensei DB would have been over the moon thrilled. Today was the kind of day he lived for!

So the cast of characters on Rabbit Island today was RG32 male from Molokai born in 2015, next to RH76 Kala born in 2016 (Pua's sister) they were at Left Point Beach. RK38 Hail'a little female born in 2018 to Aukai was under the first blue sign.
Upon arrival on island NOAA noted she had a medium size hook. She initially left and entered the water shortly after they left. She returned a little later and NOAA Team called for reinforcements and by the end of the day they removed the hook ! YEA Team!

Team NOAA also bleached RG32 N11 on both left and right side. The left side is upside down. (who cares there's a bleach marker). RH76 Kala was bleached N77 on right side and that is upside down and a smeared bleach on left side.

Team T&D went out to Ka'ena Point today. Their first find was Holokai RG40 and Luana RN58 on the runway. Their next find was Kami RL74 on the flats between the runway and the main pool. Their last find of the say was Squinty R330 on the rocks in the main pool.

When Tammy got home to review the photos she noticed Squinty has a new CC bite, nothing major.

Team Billand arrived on a west side beach and found two seals together snoozing in peace. They were R3CU and R3CX Nalu.
They saw two seals coming in but they started to fight and took off out to open waters. They were not to get an ID. They did however see Kekoa Alii RK72 foraging off shore, ID'd by facial scar and bumps on his back. He hauled in to his favorite spot left high rocks.

While looking around they spotted movement to the left in the shallows. They walked over and ID RW02 PvKauai, he was already on his side sleeping with ripples of water over his body.
On their next visit he moved to the right shallows and then on the rocks.

At 9:15 am a mint green faced seal moved passed them in the water. They ran along to try and get an ID but it kept going. The seal was reported as an U/U.

At 10:30 they spotted Kawena RH36 at another west side location coming up on the rocks alone. Her tag was visible for a positive ID. She remained resting peacefully.

At 12:30 Team Billand got a text from Melody that RL20 hauled out. Team Billand got there and he was already snoozing but the waves were reaching him. He moved inward towards Kekoa, who was startled by the kid and whooped at him. RL20 Kalua stopped and stayed put!
Kekoa turned around and galumphed toward RL20, both met and kissed, unfortunately they miss the shot. RL20 Kalua turned to face the other way and went to sleep. Kekoa stayed close by.

Melody got a call late this afternoon from some residents down on the beach, that a seal just hauled out. Melody went down and found Rocky RH58 between two of the beach decks and settled in a deep wallow. She was snorting and vocalizing a little. The folks that live close by were happy to see her again especially because they had some mainland friends. Melody did some education and outreach to those stopping by.
Melody confirmed Rocky's ID by her natural bleach mark on LFF and called it into the hotline. Security brought down the signs and Melody put them up before she left for the night. She'll check in the morning.

DB this day was for you!