Jan 2, 2014: DB'd Dailies: RK36 & Kainoa@RI, Makaiwi,M&M,Kermit,Buster

Despite Melanie, Gayle & myself covering many a mile we never found either Kea or Kaiwi, nor anyone else on the beaches of the SE quadrant. Thanks gang ya’ done good ! wish we knew what was happening to the U/F from yesterday. :-(

　

At 0722 I found Kainoa (RN04) 40 ft right of 3BS on Rabbit Island.

　

On my 2^nd RI look I found RK36 30 ft right of 1BS. Both would remain all day.

　

At 0713 Team Billand checked in with the report of Makaiwi (4DF) at the showers, and Kermit (R012) fronting #1708, White Plains.

　

At 0809 they reported Haupu (RB24) between the bunkers just west of Wind Sock.

　

At 0830 the Billands found Buster (RV08) at #1708. He and Kermit were having words. Buster would depart at 1550.

　

At 1224 Team Billand found U’ilani (RN36) at the Reef Runway.

　

The Billands advised that somewhere between 1230 & 1330, M&M (R020) hauled out to join Makaiwi at the showers, WP.

　

They found Ewa Girl (RS00) at Wind Sock at 1417.

 Buster and Kermit

 Buster 

 Kermit

 MM

 Kermit Buster Maka'iwi MM

 Maka'iwi MM

 Maka'iwi

 Ewa Giel Windsock

 Haupu

 Little munchkin U'ilani

 all I know is... Barb must have been doing a dance seeing this little one today!

Jan 2, 2014: Yesterday's News: Jason O'Rourke Photograph Benny & MM

Hey Donna,

 

I managed to get out and about the island for the first time in a while, and made a stop at White Plains to visit the trio we had out there. I met/reintroduced myself to the Billands, met another volunteer (Brandie?) and even got a chance to say "hi" to our volunteer coordinator, Dana!

 

Now... I'm definitely going to owe a volunteer shift out at White Plains soon, after making a cameo with my fiancee and her mother (visiting from Taiwan) and getting to show off three of our regular seals: M&M, Benny and Kermit. My future mother-in-law was very happy to get the opportunity to see some of our Monk Seals in person, having only seen them in my photos before.

 

My first time photographing M&M and Benny, though I didn't get much to work with for M&M, due to the afternoon light and her facing away from it, but included one of her here too (and one of her in the background with Benny, plus the group shot on their own "private beach" at White plains).

 

Benny, though, got the full portrait package. I expect his mother will be ordering wallet sizes to send to all the relatives for the holidays. ;)

 

Felt great to get out, driving around the island again, and sorry for the late submission, but thought you might like a couple of these shots.

 

J

 Benny and MM

 Benny 

 Kermit little piece of the old skin left 

 

 Benny MM and Kermit.... oh and the rest of the world enjoying white plains beach

Jan 1 2014 DB's Dailies: Kainoa,RK36&U/F@RI, Benny,Kermit,M&M@WP, Buster&Makaiwi@NIM, Rocky@DH, Kea&U/U@AD

At 0721 I found an U/F attempting to haul out at 1BS on Rabbit Island. I saw fishing line the left side of the body, and she gave up on trying to haul out. She attempted another haul out at 1021-1025, but again was not able to do so. Once again I saw fishing line, but not a hook, impeding her attempt to haul out . A 3^rd attempt came at mid Middle Cliff at 1045-1050, and once again her thrashing attempt to move up was stopped. She definitely has some fishing line causing her distress. I did not see her after that. I called Tracy, and a NOAA team of Tracy, Michelle, Angie, Chad&Mark responded but the animal did not show up . They called it a day at 1639. I could never get a confirmed ID on this animal, though Kaiwi would have to be at the top of my list. Maybe tomorrow ???????? awww this is extremely upsetting.... if she was having a hard time hauling out... sending seal prayers to whoever is entangled and that she shows up for some assistance tomorrow.

　

At 1000 I found Kainoa (RN40)& to my complete surprise, RK36 (thank you Tracy) at 1BS on Rabbit Island. They would enter the water at 1100. RK36 would haul out again to the left end of the beach at 1428. Tracy got the ID during their survey of RI.

　

Dalin called at 1616 advising of a flurry of calls about 2 animals hauling out at what sounded like AD, with limited info . Marilyn took the Pele’s Chair end and I started from the AD wall. At 1715 I found witnesses, one of which was a caller, who saw 2 animals hauling out at the birth pond at AD, but returning to the water at 1200 , and again at around 1530. One of the callers had reported an "N43" bleach on the back of one of them. That is a common error in reporting Kea (N46). They both reentered the water, and on my check I found nobody but witnesses.

　

At 0700 Team Billand reported Benny (RE74) & Kermit (R012) at #1708, White Plains.

　

At 0805 they found Makaiwi (R4DF) at #1806, Nimitz Cottages.

　

At 0845 they reported Buster (RV08) hauling out to join Makaiwi.

　

At 1414 the Billands reported M&M arriving at #1708, WP.

　

Dalin called at 1458 with the report of an animal at Diamond Head. Colleen would confirm the Rocky (RH58) ID, and advised the she departed at 1840.

Good Morning 2014

 Benny and Kermit at White Plains 

 Benny Kermit and MM

 MM

 Buster and Maka'iwi @ Nimitz

 Boy she's giving him the what for!

 Shall we dance?

 Buster isn't going to give up on her

 and the spectators watch

 okay picture of the day.... and at the moment... picture of the year! (2014)

 Buster wondering where did I go wrong?

 Maka'iwi - Can't a girl get any rest?

Jan 1 2014 - Lesley's Ka'ena Point Trek

Kimo Lyman and I did Ka'ena Point monitoring today.

Out at the point we found RR70 "Rip" on Back Beach, sleeping near the waterline.
RW02 was sleeping on the reefs in the center on the Main Pool.


Although the Point was in all it's splendor, a beautiful day, albatrosses nesting everywhere, whales proportioning a show, 2 seals sleeping - it was a volunteers worst nightmare due to the amount of people that hiked out.

It was a special day, families were out in big groups to celebrate the first day of the year.

Twice I did a head count from where we were on the reef wall of Back Beach and both times the numbers were higher than 50 people around Main Beach.

We decided to sit back, choose the "leaders" of each group, do an occasional outreach and Q&A then watch them go back and share the info with the others. It was a successful formula.

We spent hours out there and when we left there were still lots of people heading to the point.

Back at Mokuleia, in the late afternoon, we were told by Kimo's family that RN58 "Luana" had spent the morning in front of the house (Mokuleia side of Birth Beach). We went down and saw "her" trails.

Kimo will check in the morning and let us know if she's around.  Aloha, Lesley 

New Year Day 2014 at Ka'ena Point  

January 1, 2014 - Looking Back

January 1, 2008
It was a cold rainy dark new year's morning when my phone rang close to 8:00 am.... A friend who had been running Kailua Beach called to say Happy New Year and oh by the way there is a seal on the beach near your house.  WHAT? a seal... there are seals in Hawaii? What kind of seal? How big is it? No time for questions... I threw on my jacket and ran across the street to the closest public access and got to the beach... I saw a small group of people gathered and headed towards them.... and sure enough there was a seal.

This seal was brown, long skinny and laying straight out close to the napaka.... he was very still, so still I took a closer look to see if he was alive.... I got within 3 feet when there was a snort... and backed away immediately... yes he was alive. But what's wrong with him? Why is he here?  Where did he come from?

I walked over to the small group of folks, who turned out to be property owners where this rather large brown seal decided to haul up to.  I joined in the discussion as to who to call about this seal.... Sea Life Park? The Aquarium? University of Hawaii? Animal Control? It's new years day.... who's open?  Then some one suggested NOAA.... This took me totally by surprise... what does a seal have to do with the folks that deal with the weather?  As all of us were scratching our heads.... Honolulu's finest arrived and put caution tape around this animal.... It took a couple of hours before an "official" person came along to explain to us what was going on.  This was the day I met David Schofield, Marine Mammal Response Program Manager of the Pacific Island Regional NOAA office. There it is again.... Of course I had to ask... Why would a federal agency that warns us about hurricanes, storms and such care about a seal.... This was moment I learned the real truth.

Here before me was a critically endangered marine mammal, federally protected.... I was looking at 1 of a possible 1200 Hawaiian monk seals.... I didn't even know there were seals here in Hawaii let alone they being endangered!  NOAA ( National OCEANIC and  Atmospheric Administration) hmmm OCEANIC all things having to do with the ocean was here to take care of this seal.... so now I think oh the task force rangers will be here any minute.... What? no one is coming? How can that be? Who the hell is going to protect this poor thing.....  Okay I think you see where this is going.....

The Hawaiian monk seal volunteer in me was born..... January 1st, 2008 Chester and me.... I sat with him for 26 days from sun up to midnight, waiting for him to return to where ever it was he came from.... He of course decided to molt.... a very long slow..... molt..... I learned a lot about monk seals, people, and how much work needed to be done. I met some incedible people that January.... Auntie Sharon is one of my closest and dearest friends.... not to mention her family.......  DB!!! (who I originally thought was a vet because people kept saying oh... DB was by today to check on Chester)...  Dr. Greg Levine, David Schofield, Tracy Wurth, Brenda, Shawn and so many of the NOAA/NMFS team.... volunteers, Patty who slept out under the stars every evening with Chester.... Brook who worked at Sea Life Park and earned the name Annie Oakley ( I don't know anything about how that happened :-)  All the Kailua firefighters who indulged us in Aunty Sharon's plea to help and stayed out overnight to watch over him.... Linda and the couple who were on vacation from Ohio who made it out every morning at sunrise to relieve the over night shift.... We this very small group of Kailua neighbors took it very seriously about protecting an endangered species.

I am proud to see the growth today.... our main island population is doing so well.... our volunteers are out there in forces, and organized..... (okay somewhat organized :-)   .... DB aka the seal whispered has given many many of us the wisdom and passion to continue on no matter what.... simply because if we don't, who else will.

It was six years ago when I met Chester, and I will forever be grateful to that old man of seal.... In the short time I knew him he changed my life forever..... We lost Chester in March of 2008.... it broke my heart, but I knew exactly what I had to keep doing.

With this rather long winded story.... I wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR.... and to say thank you for ALL your efforts, no matter how big or small. We are all here because we are passionate people who give a dam about a species that is fighting to survive, that deserves to survive..... 

oh and finally.... Happy Belated Birthday DB xoxoxoxoxoxo
My heart felt love and aloha
da blog lady....
p.s. the blog was born in February of 2008.... I will save that for later :-)