MonkSealMania.blogspot.com

Friday, June 3, 2011

Some Molokai News

Some of you may remember back in April a contest from National Geographic called Expedition Granted... the winning candidate would win a 10K grant that allowed them to complete their expedition. Well lucky us Dash Masland expedition is to help save endangered seal through research in Hawaii. Our very own Diane Pike got to hang out with Dash, one of the researchers from Greece, and our very own NOAA/PIFSC.

Diane was kind enough to share some photos with us. I for one was one of the folks along with many of you that frantically voted for Dash on the national geographic site... here is a link to the site that gives you a little background on our guest from New England! Hey Dash, if you are on Oahu, I happen to know a great pizza place in Kailua.... pizza just like home.

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/expedition-week-granted-dash

visiting monk seal researcher from Greece is Alexandros Karamanlidis

6-3-11 DB Dailies

Well, that was an interesting day , don't you think ? The lightning and thunder began out here in the SE quadrant around 0400, and has lasted all day (I just heard yet another boom !) The rain, though a nuisance, really didn't affect Rabbit Island observation that much. There were very few moments that I couldn't see Mom and the kid. The problem was that there was virtually no action. I found M&M (R020) and pup, on D#10, just below the Morning Glory, up behind Seal Rock Inlet, at 0641. Until 1100, all I ever saw was a small glimpse of the pup's head behind Mom. Thankfully, at 1100 it came around the the business side and did a feed, and after chow, and a bit of flopping and flapping in the sand, the kid moved back behind Mom, for the rest of the day. It was one of those perfect, cool , wet Monk Seal days, with no reason to move, so they don't.

On my 0710 Spitting Cave check I found Buster (RV08) for an unprecedented 4th consecutive day, once again doing 13 minute dives.

Team Billand was out there in the wild as usual, having just as interesting a lightning, thunder and rain day as I was having. At 0733 they found Makaiwi (R4DF) fronting #1703, at Nimitz Cottages.

At 0840 they began reporting Kermit (R4DG) off shore of Nimitz Cove, foraging. Though he would not haul out, he nevertheless came on shore to check for chicks, for a few seconds, only return to the water, and back to foraging, and slowly moving to the east. He hauled up in the shallows to check out Makaiwi, but after a few moments continued on, next checking Wind Sock, and then off toward Kalaeloa. The Team followed the whole while, and finally at 1407 Kermit finally hauled out the Wind Sock.

Maka'iwi @ Nimitz

Maka'iwi snoozing and Kermit swimming by

Kermit @ Windsock

bottoms up

Thursday, June 2, 2011

6-2-11 DB Dailies

My day began at 0600, with the smell of smoke, and a roaring blaze near "Pele's Chair at ADs. The FD had it under control after a couple of hours. It's a sure sign that school is out, and our "troubled youth" are out there for another summer.

On D#9 I found M&M (R020) and Pup , at 0639, high on the beach above Seal Rock Inlet, on Rabbit Island. They would move down and spend the day at the water line at SRI. Mostly it was snooze time, but after and afternoon feed the kid got active and started the shore break adventure while Mom watched. As the afternoon high tide began to show it's affects, M&;M was trying to get the kid to move up with her, but the little thing, kept scooting back to the water everytime she turned her back. She finally got the kid to move up at 1400.

On a pan at 1402 I found that Kolohe (RW22) had joined the cast, hauling out 60 ft left of Mom and the kid. He never approached.All were snoozin' when I departed at 1600. On my 0712 Spitting Cave check I found Buster (RV08) still there for the 3rd consecutive day, doing 13 minute dives.

Team Billand found Makaiwi (R4DF), fronting #1806 at Nimitz Cottages. She departed with the rising tide at 1639. At 0920 they found Irma (R010) at "Kermit's Reef" on the west side of the Nimitz jetty. The Billands reported that they too had a brush fire in the grass behind Kermit's Reef. Same summer...same youth.

Dana checked in at 1355 with a report from Jeannie Martinson about Right Spot (R016) at Gas Chambers , on the North Shore. Dana forwarded a shot from Courtney Pascua, confirming the Right Spot ID. Dera forwarded additional photos from Kelly Lowe, also confirming the Right Spot ID.

Buster @ Spitting Cave

M+M and pup day 9

Right Spot @ gas chamber

Irma @ Nimitz (she may not be due to pop for a while but she sure iz big)

Maka'iwi bathing beauty @ Nimitz

St. John Vianney School Kailua

HMSRTO volunteers visited Jean Compton's first grade class at St. John Vianney School. The classroom was treated to a presentation of "an endangered treasure" . Liz and Jan are so great with the kids they get the children very involved in a question and answer sessions. Looks like we have a couple of new recruits for our keiki patrol.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

6-1-11 DB Dailies

At 0620, M&M (R020) and Pup were the only non-winged Rabbit Island cast members. They remained all day. There wasn't a whole lot of action, but I did see 3 feeds, and once again the kid was off to the shore break at every opportunity. In the after, Mom even ventured into the shore break with the kid for a short time.

On my 0652 Spitting Cave check I found Buster (RV08) for the second day, still doing 9 minute dives. When I went back to SC for an afternoon recheck at 1423 I found Duke (RA12) doing 7 minute dives at a separate location from Buster.

Team Billand checked in at 0638 with the report of Makaiwi (R4DF), fronting #1806, Nimitz Cottages. She departed at 1624. At 1458 they found Pohaku (RO28) at Guard Rails Beach, Maili.

In the "Yesterday's News" department, Dana forwarded Liz Weske shots of what both Tracy and I think is probably KC (RK28), based on available info in the shots, but we both had some reservations.

Duke @ Spitting Cave