05/27/2020 Wednesday Safe-At-Home (64) Monk Seal Dailies

Aloha good people, I hope you are all safe and doing well.
I hate to start the blog with bad news, and these days it just seems to come up a little too often.
Kauia Seals reported the loss of  RKA6 who was Pohaku's 2018 pup.  It hurts to lose any of them, it touches our hearts when we watch a generation of seals going before they have a chance to contribute to the species. 
https://kauaiseals.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/monk-seal-monday-97-remembering-rka6/

Back to our daily sightings here on Oahu. 
Team Billand found R3CX Nalu on the west side alone on the rocks snoozing. He slept the entire time they were there and on their next visit in the same spot.

Their next find was RG28 Lefty who was alone today resting. He's looking pretty green these days.

Team Billand did not make it out to either pup site today, and Barbara mentioned how difficult it was after Nanea's death to think about getting involved with another pup again. But of course they have been out to both sites and after watching them with their irresistible faces and playfulness how can you not fall in love all over again.  It truly feeds ones soul.

BTW I heard from a reliable source today the Nohea is giving the volunteers a run for their money. She insist on changing locations which requires them to change the parameter.  Little rascal doesn't want anybody getting too comfortable. 

R3CX Nalyu

 RG28 Lefty

8/6/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1) RH32, RK72, RL42 and RR70.

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand and Lesley. Part two of the dailies is Lesley's complete Ka'ena Update.

Team Billand made their usual early morning stop at the outfall. They immediately spotted Ka'ale RH32 doing his thing. He was foraging eating and cruising the rocky side of the area. He came up with a fish tossed it about, bites the tail and swallows it. Team Billand witnessed him catch 6 fish, and one was given to him, and he took it. ( hmmmmmmm)  Team Billand left the site at 8:30 to take care of some personal business. 
They went back in the afternoon and Ka'ale had hauled out in a water hole , not looking too happy. Wonder why, maybe he didn't have a full belly.

After leaving Kaale and heading home Team Billand made one more stop. They spotted a seal on a west side beach. It was Kekoa Alii RK72 sleeping on the lower rocks or at least trying to. The waves kept getting bigger and covering him at times.  They waited for an hour to verify his tag, he finally moved but they were unable to get the picture. He was ID'd his bleach as he left and was swimming out. He was off shore foraging but did not haul out again.

Later in the day Team Billand found RL42 Leia and RR70 RIP at a Leeward Beach. Leia was on the rocks and RIP was in the water imitating a hippo. They saw his bleach on his side but sis not get a photo. They were both there before and after they made the Ka'ena West trek. Unfortunately there were no seals but Barb did meet up with Lesley. 

The brush fires continue to burn all the way at Ranches area, three choppers dumping water over the flames. Although it's better than the last two days,  but is still going.

And based on the news that hit facebook Rocky's pup has been moved to the Big Island Ke Kai Ola. Apparently "he" had switched nursing moms. Attempts were made to reunite Rocky and her pup but ultimately failed. Rocky left the beach, and to avoid PK5 from becoming to weakened the authorities (NOAA, and Veterinarians, and Kauai Response Team) decided best to send "him" to Ke Kai Ola. The Marine Mammal Center's hospital on the Big Island (Ke Kai Ola) has the experience, knowledge and proper facility to take care of this pup.  

 Kaale RH32

 Kekoa Alii RK72

 RL42 Leia and RIP RR70

 West Side Fires

07/17/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 2) Lesley's Update

We had a fun overnight island hopping where we got to spend family time with the kids, I hiked with Sealette Val and saw some of our HMSeal girls and their pups.

RK28 "KC" & PK3, RO28 "Pohaku" & PK4 

This morning I was early out monitoring.

RK88 "Puna" (M) D80 was hauled out on the beach sleeping. RK40 "Napua" (F) D74 was in one of the Keiki Coves sleeping using a rock for a pillow. A couple of hours later on my way back from the point they were both in the same places but now being wet by waves of a coming in tide.

I met with our hiking friend Ken at the gate. He was just coming back from the point. He told

me RN58 "Luana" & a possible R330 "Squinty" had just hauled out at Hidden Beach. As soon as I got there I confirmed both ID's. You've done well Ken !

Both seals were still there on my way back.

At the point, I thought I was going to be skunked, but RO40 "Ka'ena" showed up and hauled out on the Runway.

Most of the Albatross chicks have already left. I didn't check the top hill, on the bottom part it seems we have less than a handful still fledging.

While I was out there Ken texted me that he was with a tag I37 seal upon the Northshore - That's RI37 "Ipo/Bessie", R5AY "Honey Girl" oldest daughter. I called the hotline and gave them the location. Ken will send me pics later.

\

RI37  IPO

7/16/2018 BREAKING NEWS: (not really but we had to try) ROCKY Births her 11th Pup

Interesting day today..... Actually interesting couple of days in the Where's Rocky RH58?  Where will she give Birth? When will it happen?   What I find interesting is the RUSH to get the news out there.
Of course she has a huge fan base, after last year's birth on Kaimana Beach on Oahu.  

Here are few of the links I was able to pull off of social media, the earliest report of the birth was somewhere around noon, but that Rocky had arrived on Kauai hit the the morning newspaper.
I know as many wanted to know where Rocky was, there were a large group of folks wanting to try and keep the news quiet until Rocky and pup had a chance to settle in, and the volunteer group had a chance to pull together their resources and schedule.   

So here are all the links and in closing I will ask everyone to be respectful to the Kauai Team and  Rocky RH58,  a wild endangered species, her pup a gift of nature and all the hard work that goes into protecting this species.  

http://www.staradvertiser.com/2018/07/16/breaking-news/rocky-the-monk-seal-returns-to-kauai-to-give-birth-to-pup-no-11/

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/38617395/rocky-the-monk-seal-could-become-a-mother-again

https://www.khon2.com/news/local-news/monk-seal-rocky-expected-to-give-birth-over-the-weekend/1301768624

https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiMarineAnimalResponse/

https://kauaiseals.wordpress.com/

7/15/2018 Monk Seal Dailies:

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Marilyn and our seal pal Val.

We are still all anxiously waiting for Rocky news or sightings, but so far there hasn't been any news. Then again I haven't seen this evenings nightly news. :-)

Since everyone is waiting for Rocky news our Seal Pal Val sent us some updated photos of PK4 (Pohaku's Kid) and a picture of KC and PK3.  Val and Lesley (who made a family trip to Kauai) went to check on Pohaku and KC this morning with their pups. Seems like PK4 was being a big ham and gave them some great photos.  Thank you seal pals!

Back on Oahu, Team Billand was out at the crack of dawn checking the breakfast buffet. And yes little Ka'ale RH32 was taking advantage of the all you can eat seafood menu in the outfall. There were a group of fisherman catching their share as well. At one point Ka'ale left for a bit returned and then disappeared once more.  On a later check Team Billand found him snoozing at a nearby beach, he was chunky and content.  Oh, and Team Billand also observed a pod of dolphins passing by while checking in on Ka'ale.

Team Billand did the Ka'ena West hike and at the 20 mark they found Mr. RIP sleeping peacefully in a small waterhole. They decided to not stay lone as there lots of people out today. 
A little further into their hike they found RL42 Leia, alone and sleeping. She was on her side putting on some weight and looking green. Once again they left the site, but unfortunately seems like some people had already discovered her.

Marilyn stopped by the RK24 pup site on her way to Makai Pier this morning. Weaner RK24 was way out on the rock flats. Gayle was there (as she is everyday) and mentioned there was another critter near the inlet. Marilyn went to investigate and found 1KT (male from Nihiau) on the rock flats. He was ID'd by male belly which includes a C-shaped scar on the left side and both his 1KT and T37 tags. 

Marilyn's viewing of Rabbit Island showed two seals. She first located PO6 on the rock flats near Seal Rock Inlet, PO6 entered the water and about 15 minutes later, and a weaner hauled out near the 1BS. Marilyn determined this was PO6 by lack of tags and natural bleach mark low on left side. Marilyn "thinks" PO6 is a female, but we won't know for sure until NOAA gets out to the island. Marilyn and I have had many conversations about boy, girl, maybe boy, no I think it's a girl. LOL.
The other seal is an unknown juvenile male and has a fair amount of green in its coat. It was about 50 feet to the right of the 3BS. She tried to see if there was an applied bleach but did not see any.

Marilyn went back to visit with RK24 this evening. He was busy eating some sort of fish. He had spent about 10 - 15 minutes munching on his catch. According to Gayle RK24 spent almost all day in the water and did not rest, he was moving laterally by moving across the rocks and tide pools. (poor kid doesn't realize there is an easier method).

KC RK28 and PK3

 PK4 -  RO28 Pohaku's pup

Ka'ale RH32

 Wheeeee! 

Rip RR70

 RL42 Leia

PO6

 U/J

 1KT/T37

 K24 24 Karat Gold