November 22, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand.  Also Melody sent a link to the video she put together as a tribute to RL36 Makoa.  

At 7:30 this morning Team Billand went to see if Da Benny was around but instead they found what turned out to be a huge honu. He was resting peacefully, and then a group of tourist arrived with their cell phones and cameras out.  As Team Billand looked on they were grateful for the one gentleman who told everyone to move back. Thank you sir!

Their next find came at 9:30 when they found Kala RH77. She was alone on the lower rocks, looking cute and sassy. She's looking healthy and was tuckered out with all the big surf.  While observing this cutie they heard SNORT... SNEEZE there was another seal in the rocks.

The sneeze scared Barb and when she looked there was a trail in the sand patch below and then the flipper.  There was Kekoa Alii still molting. He would look around every time the wave touched him.  He was aware of Kala but he just layed there resting.
Later on their recheck both critters were gone. 

Last find for Team Billand came at 12:30 when they spotted a seal foraging at Campbells. They were not able to get an ID, only that it was an adult size doing 7 minute dives.

 Honu ashore to rest

Kala RH76

 Kekoa RK72 

UU foraging

Thank you Melody for the beautiful tribute

November 20, 2019 monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Melody, and posse pal Anissa K. 

Before I get into today's dailies I want to mention an announcement from NOAA. Here is the link to the official announcemnt: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/endangered-species-conservation/hawaiian-monk-seal-updates?fbclid=IwAR3rYkpkLGqT7GvP9GMOw_5jHadv_8NOTWJ5nrhyMcszZCU_chothHiGAEs
Many of you may have seen the news on social media, that we lost another precious seal. RL36 Makoa, Honey Girl (R5AY) pup from this year.  That is three losses here on Oahu in a couple of months.  There are probably more questions than answers, and I know I have lots of questions. I hope the powers that be will share information as it comes up and not be secretive so people can speculate. 

Having said that, I have to say I am just numb! I of course feel very sad, but honestly just numb.  Every loss feels huge when you/we spend hours/days/years trying to make a difference to help this species survive. When we have so few, we get to know them personally, we watch them grow, we watch them take care of their young and we watch them heal and survive the wounds that happen. 
I know there are dangers and threats with disease, but honestly WTH is going on here?  How do we stop the loss? How to we make the changes needed to continue to protect the species?  
I may not get out to the beaches as often anymore, but I spend a minimum of an hour every evening for the last 10 years caring and trying to make a difference.  It kills me to have watched R5AY lose so many of her pups, she has given birth to so many that are gone. What are we doing wrong that we can't protect her offspring?  I just can't make sense of it!  

BACK to today's dailies:
Posse pal Anissa sent a photo of RJ30 Wailea hanging out what looks like to be the Mokes. She is there fairly often and thanks to Kailua Beach Adventures and Twogoods Kayaks they make sure people are respectful out there. Not sure where this photo originated as it was posted on the My Kailua page. 

Team Billand found RH92 Nalani just before 11 am. When they got to her there were two signs up. She was resting on shore by the keawe bushes.

After leaving Nalani Team Billand headed to their next stop and found two males on lower rocks sleeping. They were able to ID Kekoa Alii RK72, RIP RR70. 
When they did their recheck both boys were still on lower rocks, however there were a few folks from the homeless camp nearby. Team Billand decided not to stay.

Despite their searching for Pohaku and not finding her they did come across a seal foraging at Campbells. They could not get an ID but knew it was not Pohaku. The Unknown Unidentified U/U was foraging doing 7 - 10 minutes dives. Between the glaring sun and choppy water getting a decent photo was challenge.

Melody went down to the beach this afternoon about 3:45 and sure enough there was Rocky RH58 snoozing. It appears she had been there for a while since there were no visible wallows from the shoreline. Melody called the hotline. As Rocky got closer to the water and decided to stay put for a while Melody called security to bring some signs. Melody left at 6 pm after educating and talking story to a couple of visitors. Melody will check on her in the morning.

RJ30 Wailea 

RH92 Nalani

Kekoa RK72 

 RIP RR70

 RIP and Kekoa

 UU

 Rocky RH58

September 26, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Team T&D, Posse Pal Vicki and Melody. 

Vicki brings updates from the "yesteday"  news department. On Tuesday she found the lovely Miss Sadie hanging out on a beach in Hauula.  
Then further north she found Makoa RL36 snoozing alone at one of the coves.  She also found Holokai RG40 and Squinty R330 out at the point.
On her way out Holokai was gone, but now Katy RK80 was there heading into the water.  It seemed as though she wanted Squinty to come and play, because she kept rolling around in the shallows looking over to him ( little flirt).  But Squinty was not interested and I can't say I blame him since he's in the midst of molting.

Team T&D made it to Ka'ena Point and ran into Lesley on her way out. Since they all saw all the same critters we'll just update from here. Their first fins was PVKauai RW02 on the flats.
Next they found Aukai RL12 on the coral beach looking beautiful.
And lastly they found RIP RR70 resting in one of the tide pools. As the tide and surf were rising all seals did move up. 

Team Billand out and about at 6:30 this morning and located RH92 Nalani back at the construction site beach. She was restless, whooping, rolling around and then landed. She finally settled in the shallows, the thing is she is normally pretty calm, but not today.
Team Billand called the hotline, updated them on RH92 and some of the characters hanging out by her.

At 12:30 Team Billand made a quick check on her and Nalani was now on the sand resting. 
Just before 3 pm Team Billand did their last check and saw a volunteer's truck and NOAA's Ted Kearns leaving the area. Team Billand checked to see if RH92 was still there and she was still resting alone.

Team Billand made the rounds and at 8 am they found Pohaku RO28 resting on shore peacefully. She did move up as the surf was rising.

At 11:40 am Team Billand spotted a green seal coming in heading higher up on rocks. It was RN14 Kalani, looking around. He must have given up looking for chicks and finally settled down only to get washed over by the waves.
On their afternoon check he was gone.

On their last leg, Team Billand checked to see if they could find Lei Ola, unfortunately they did not.
Instead, they did find their long lost butthead. Here was Ka'ale RH32 looking beautiful with his new coat, resting on the rocks.  His tags and belly were exposed, and he's still looking fat and happy.

Then news from Melody, she first spotted Rocky RH58 at 9 this morning.  It looked like she had arrived sometime during the night, since there was a wallow up on the crest of the sand, but no zone set up.  When Melody arrived she was partially in the water.  Melody captured a few shots before she entered the water and went for a swim.  Melody sent Team Billand a text to keep their eye open for her.

Then this evening just before 6 pm Melody went back down the beach to check if Miss Rocky had come back. After checking a few spots sure enough Melody spotted a head coming up over the crest of the sand. Rocky was just hauling out into her favorite spot in the morning glories.  
Melody called security and they showed up with signs about 10 minutes later.  As the crowds gathered there were lots of questions, which Melody was happy to educate and share Rocky stories.

Holokai RG40 

 Makoa RL36

 Sadie RB12 

 RK80 aka Katy

 Molting Squinty R330

Aukai RL12

 RIP RR70 

 RW02 Pv Kauai

RH92 Nalani 

Pohaku RO28

 RN14 Kalani

 Butthead is back Ka'ale RH32

ROCKY 

 Rocky with her morning glory lei