Donnelly Oceantics: May 2014

KAUAI: MONK SEALS

She is a great mom

Just as I had been reviewing research on monk seals for my book, we heard a pup had been born on Larson’s beach. It took a few days to get down there to see the youngster (male) now ten days old. The crew monitoring the perimeter said this particular mother wasn’t so good in the past but has perhaps grown into her duties. She had chosen a great location where she could see up and down the beach for would-be attackers (dogs are sometimes a problem). She had also chased away an unwanted bull seal.

Nice and secluded Larson's Beach

Here they are, a couple lumps imitating rocks

A little closer zoom, pretty content mom and pup 10 days old

She has five to six weeks to nurse him, fasting all the while herself. His weight triples and hers drops almost to half during that time. When she stops feeding him, he becomes a weanling, or as locally known, a weaner. During the first year on his own, while he learns to find food for himself, he loses some of the baby fat. During his first three years he is extremely vulnerable.

But for now he just has to convince Mom to let him nurse,

and figure out his own tail fins, while mom dunks her head,

and keep cool on a very hot day at noon.

This was a sweet, protected spot to take the little guy into the water to teach him to swim.

Back on the sand, Mom catches a nap, Jr. tries to eat

Happy Mother’s Day

Hawaiian monk seals are critically endangered and

losing the battle to survive.

Each new pup is a shred of hope.

If you see a monk seal hauled out on the beach

without any signs or perimeters set up

call the local hotline: 651-7668

If you do not get a response within 15 minutes,

call 888-256-9840.

Or join the group of volunteers that monitor the beaches

KP REFUGE - BIRDS, KIDS

KILAUEA POINT – REFUGE

ELEMENTRY SCHOOL ALBATROSS PROGRAM

In April, I worked with 8 year old Kauai students who are learning about the Albatross. They have had lessons on their biology and behavior since the fall term began and in the spring they get to do this field trip to see them for themselves. Education fosters caring and that leads to conservation. And they are 8 years old, so learning to use binoculars backwards is one of the highlights of the day!

Here they come!

Albatross Hill is across the way. 8 year olds learning to use binocs, pretty cool.

What they see: several juvenile albatrosses making their moves, dancing, calling

They also get to see them in the air

And on hand to greet them, two nene who live here

LIGHTHOUSE DAY

As the first Saturday of May is Lighthouse Day every year, this year we celebrated the 101^st anniversary. (see post May 2013 for centennial) The lighthouse is pretty cool in its own right but the location is breathtaking. Many festive attractions are sponsored for folks including free admission to the refuge and lighthouse tours. I gave morning tours and the last one was at 5:30pm.

Lighthouse tours are always popular

The setting isn't bad either - Crater Hill looms behind

Makana (Bali Hai) at far right

Secrets Beach at left

Red Footed Boobies overhead here

Frigattes were very active as well

The cove below Crater Hill, calm waters today

Local artist Patrick Ching teaching how to draw a monk seal

Step right up for a Lighthouse tattoo

The Waipa Singers setting up

What a treat to hear Jennifer Waipa sing between duties of being head ranger

Male red-footed booby in his full breeding colors

He is gathering nesting material for his mate's approval

Only on Lighthouse Day is the refuge open past 4pm.

Of course, we are there for the ceremonial lighting of the (tiny) light bulb in the lighthouse itself.

Double bulls eye on lens

Part of my morning tour explains the signature double blip of the Kilauea Point Lighthouse.

What I really love about Lighthouse Day though is that dusk is magical up there.

WEDGETAIL SHEARWATERS

While we often see the little Wedgetail Shearwaters (WTSH) nesting on land, at dusk we get to see the ones return that have been out feeding all day.

Wedgetail Shearwater - in the tubenose family of seabirds that nest on Kauai

This one is in a man-made tube that won't collapse

Wedgies moan

This one is moaning to his mate in the tunnel they built

His throat is distended here as he makes the sounds

Cliffside tunnels that provide shearwater condos

Mixture of Frigates and Shearwaters as the light ebbs toward dusk

At least 200 shearwaters "rafting" on the ocean before returning to their nests

Circling before landing

I caught this one landing, before he/she disappeared into the naupaka

Happy landing, Happy ending

Two shearwaters mating

The shearwaters and all the endemic petrels are erratic, quick fliers. Their body weight is only eight-tenths of a pound (.8 lb) with a wingspan about as long as the heavier tropic birds, boobies and nene. Fun to watch, they are extremely frustrating to photograph. While my equipment is small potatoes, photographers all along the perimeter were exasperated even with their large lenses and tripods. Here are a few out-takes and the coup de gras was getting hit in the head by a shearwater that didn’t expect a 5’5” obstacle in its path! For less than a pound, it was quite a wallop and I followed it until I was sure both of his/her wings were OK.

OUT TAKES

Quick!

This isn't the one that hit me in the head, but could have

I didn't see it coming!

Two more thinking about landing

Time to go home, Aloha

EASTER WEEK 2014

VISITORS, BIRTHDAY, EASTER

Having visitors makes the holidays and all the events on Kauai more fun. Gil turned a magic 66 and we celebrated mightily for a week or two - south shore & north shore. On the south shore we snorkeled and partied. On the north shore we witnessed another full lunar eclipse, hung out at Ke’e Beach, partied some more and had a full Easter Day.

Birthday Boy

L to R: Marion, Sharon, Siglinde

We love the new screened in lanai

Marion came up early to cook - this is the famous veg lasagna with fresh portobellos, eggplant, etc.

YUM!

POIPU

Racoon Butterflyfish

Gil got these underwater shots

He caught us

Siglinde upper left, Sharon right - each escorted by racoons

(interloper in the middle - unknown)

Surge Wrasse

Ornate Butterflyfish with his dorsal fin extended - rather punkish

He/she is waiting for a turn to be cleaned by the little cleaner wrasse on right

Everyone should know this one by now

Black Durgon with stress lines lit up

Orangeband Surgeon and Convict Tangs (above)

Just for comparison, we don't see this one often on Kauai

Pink Tail Durgon

Note notch in lower fin

ECLIPSE FROM PRINCEVILLE

Midweek we were scheduled for a full lunar eclispe and considered going out into Hanalei Bay to watch. However, it was also scheduled to have rain and significant cloud cover. We opted for a blanket in the front yard with a nice teapot going. We had to concentrate, the clouds would break momentarily.

Nearly half covered by earth's shadow,

it really feels like an orb during an eclipse instead of a flat disk.

Full eclipse - the smog and other impurities in the atmosphere make it red

KE'E - END OF THE ROAD, NORTH SHORE

The Na Pali coastline from Ke'e Beach

Up to the ancient hula heiau

The reef at low tide at Ke'e from the heiau

The heiau or site for sacred hula

Note Siglinde soaking up the tranquility in rocks at left

Wind and waves

Energy of the gods

Cove below catching a rolling wave

Meanwhile, back at the beach

Juvenile monk seal having nice dreams . . .

After such an incredible infusion of real Kauai energy, we decided to visit CJ, the albatross chick in Princeville. (see March 2014 for CJ as newborn)