Q: Who is a Murre's favorite baseball player?
A: Justin Murre-neau of the Murre-nesota Twins.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Farallon Pastoral
In honor of the Farallon pastoral.
I really have been fortunate to see the island in such a lush green stage. The winter and spring apparently had a number of storms come through bringing rain. Further in the last six weeks, we've had a fair amount of additional water too. Which has meant lots of various flowers and grasses. Pictured here is one of the most common native flowers and plants on the island, maritime goldfields.
In honor of walking in the shoes of various biologists who did the same work out here as I am doing now, I took a number of sepia-esque colored images through my other lenses. Since 1965 PRBO has been studying and monitoring the islands. Which, is remarkable given that seabirds are in general very long lived creatures and I'm currently studying and monitoring the same birds. Although perhaps the ocean wilderness around the Farallones is not typically considered pastoral, there is a certain radiating beauty surrounding the island's many flora and fauna.
Certainly Elephant Seals and Western Gulls would be emblematic of the continuity here. Even with changing management regimes from the Navy, to the Coast Guard, to the Fish and Wildlife Service, these animals have persisted. In fact, they have thrived.
The houses here have been around since 1878 and 1880 (some modifications of course). Not ancient, as far as culture is concerned, however for a wind and swell beaten island, certainly impressive.
I really have been fortunate to see the island in such a lush green stage. The winter and spring apparently had a number of storms come through bringing rain. Further in the last six weeks, we've had a fair amount of additional water too. Which has meant lots of various flowers and grasses. Pictured here is one of the most common native flowers and plants on the island, maritime goldfields.
In honor of walking in the shoes of various biologists who did the same work out here as I am doing now, I took a number of sepia-esque colored images through my other lenses. Since 1965 PRBO has been studying and monitoring the islands. Which, is remarkable given that seabirds are in general very long lived creatures and I'm currently studying and monitoring the same birds. Although perhaps the ocean wilderness around the Farallones is not typically considered pastoral, there is a certain radiating beauty surrounding the island's many flora and fauna.
Certainly Elephant Seals and Western Gulls would be emblematic of the continuity here. Even with changing management regimes from the Navy, to the Coast Guard, to the Fish and Wildlife Service, these animals have persisted. In fact, they have thrived.
The houses here have been around since 1878 and 1880 (some modifications of course). Not ancient, as far as culture is concerned, however for a wind and swell beaten island, certainly impressive.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Close-up California Sea Lion
I was working near the North Landing and noted this guy posing rather amazingly.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Puffin
Caught sight of this Tufted Puffin, while I was resighting murres yesterday. There were two amazingly close to the bird blind I was in. Same viewing spot as the last whale video I posted. In any case, pretty frequently now I've been seeing these football sized birds flying around the islands. They are much stockier and more football shaped than the murres, which might be roughly similar in size. My guess is that Brett Favre could wing one pretty good.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Additonal Gray Whale to the day
Last but not least, whale video number two from the island. Again, I was able to capture a likely migrating Gray Whale during work today. This whale came pretty close to land while I was resighting murres in the later morning.*
*The noise in the background is the murre colony. = ) They are very noisy, to say the least. Although perhaps not as loud or harsh as the local gulls.
*The noise in the background is the murre colony. = ) They are very noisy, to say the least. Although perhaps not as loud or harsh as the local gulls.
Sunrise to Sunset
Amazing day on the island. We started the day at the crack of dawn and finished as the sun set. Definitely one of those amazing days on the island. Very busy of course, but also very exciting. My apologies for any major grammatical errors, alas I am a bit tired. In any case, my day today was as follows.
To start the day, we tried our luck on some more pigeon guillemot banding at the same spot as before. In this case we were able to capture four birds and one was a recapture from earlier this week. Still, it seems to be a good start to be able to better understand how the guillemots are doing on the island year to year.
Photo-op, right before releasing one of the birds. The technique, (as seen in an earlier picture) is to give the birds a toss out towards the water and thus allow them time to fly away to sea.
Most commonly, my days start with resighting Common Murres in a specific study plot and noting attendance and eventually not chick raising success. Murre mornings, as I call them. Also, a wellspring of bad murre jokes and puns. (Q: What do you call a Murre colony in the Gobi desert. A: A Murre-age)
Every three days I'm also involved in checking elephant seals to see who is tagged and who is around. Specifically I note where on their fliiper they have a tag and depending on the color and number, I can note where the animal was tagged and who they are. In the case of the photo above. The seal was tagged near Big Sur, California. "X408" As it follows, today was a third day to check tags and this afternoon we systematically looked around the island for elephant seals.
Last but not least. Every day is ended at the lighthouse, conducting a survey for visiting sea gulls. Although it sounded very daunting at first, it actually is fairly easy and straightforward. I only have to look around intertidal zones, the Western Gull is dominant everywhere else. Also, only two or three other gull species are commonly seen. In any case, one of the perks, is afterward watching the sun set. Pretty nice view from my office. Feet up too.
To start the day, we tried our luck on some more pigeon guillemot banding at the same spot as before. In this case we were able to capture four birds and one was a recapture from earlier this week. Still, it seems to be a good start to be able to better understand how the guillemots are doing on the island year to year.
Photo-op, right before releasing one of the birds. The technique, (as seen in an earlier picture) is to give the birds a toss out towards the water and thus allow them time to fly away to sea.
Most commonly, my days start with resighting Common Murres in a specific study plot and noting attendance and eventually not chick raising success. Murre mornings, as I call them. Also, a wellspring of bad murre jokes and puns. (Q: What do you call a Murre colony in the Gobi desert. A: A Murre-age)
Every three days I'm also involved in checking elephant seals to see who is tagged and who is around. Specifically I note where on their fliiper they have a tag and depending on the color and number, I can note where the animal was tagged and who they are. In the case of the photo above. The seal was tagged near Big Sur, California. "X408" As it follows, today was a third day to check tags and this afternoon we systematically looked around the island for elephant seals.
Last but not least. Every day is ended at the lighthouse, conducting a survey for visiting sea gulls. Although it sounded very daunting at first, it actually is fairly easy and straightforward. I only have to look around intertidal zones, the Western Gull is dominant everywhere else. Also, only two or three other gull species are commonly seen. In any case, one of the perks, is afterward watching the sun set. Pretty nice view from my office. Feet up too.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Pigeon Guillemots
Amazingly cute birds. Pigeon Guillemots. Red feet. One large white stripe along each wing. Add in a dash of high pitched calls. Rather docile when caught.
Today was day one of our attempt to band a few of the adult birds. Nothing quite like watching the sun rise over the ocean and waiting for the birds come in to gather.
Fairly successful day, caught six birds. One was previously banded a few years ago when a program still existed to band some of the chicks. The hope is that this year 20 or 30 birds will be individually banded with three additional color bands to the one metal band. As such, subsequent resights will be easy to tell which bird is which.
Measuring the wing lengths.
Preparing for release.
Sending the bird off into the sunrise.
Today was day one of our attempt to band a few of the adult birds. Nothing quite like watching the sun rise over the ocean and waiting for the birds come in to gather.
Fairly successful day, caught six birds. One was previously banded a few years ago when a program still existed to band some of the chicks. The hope is that this year 20 or 30 birds will be individually banded with three additional color bands to the one metal band. As such, subsequent resights will be easy to tell which bird is which.
Measuring the wing lengths.
Preparing for release.
Sending the bird off into the sunrise.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Whale of a Day
Migrating North Pacific Gray Whales have been traveling through the islands traveling from the warmer waters off Baja California to feeding grounds North near Alaska. Also, one of them may have taken up local residence near the island. In any case, every day I am at the East Landing and I check the weather around 12:00 and collect some sea water and measure the temperature. Yesterday, a Gray Whale happened by pretty darn close.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Odds and Ends
Welcome to the Faralloness II. Go Duke! (wearing the hat to prove the fan hood)
Peregrine Falcon killed Western Gull. Woh. Usually we find Peregrine killed Cassin's and Rhinocerous Auklets. On this occasion, a seagull did not stand a chance.
First week here a helicopter came and picked up materials used to fix the crane. Thus, allowing the picture of me with the caption "Shark Bait". I took quite a few pictures of the day, however this one was taken as the helicopter flew away with gear hanging below.
Photo from this last week. Earlier we spent part of a day inventorying what auklet boxes needed repairs or new sun shades. As a result a whole lot of things needed building and then painting. I dusted off the old painting hat and went to work.
Last but not least, this last Saturday was the annual double-hand sailboat race. The boats leave from San Fran, loop around this island and then race back to through the Golden Gate and into the Bay. Throughout the day I saw 50-60 sailboats. Very impressive.
Peregrine Falcon killed Western Gull. Woh. Usually we find Peregrine killed Cassin's and Rhinocerous Auklets. On this occasion, a seagull did not stand a chance.
First week here a helicopter came and picked up materials used to fix the crane. Thus, allowing the picture of me with the caption "Shark Bait". I took quite a few pictures of the day, however this one was taken as the helicopter flew away with gear hanging below.
Photo from this last week. Earlier we spent part of a day inventorying what auklet boxes needed repairs or new sun shades. As a result a whole lot of things needed building and then painting. I dusted off the old painting hat and went to work.
Last but not least, this last Saturday was the annual double-hand sailboat race. The boats leave from San Fran, loop around this island and then race back to through the Golden Gate and into the Bay. Throughout the day I saw 50-60 sailboats. Very impressive.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Cassin's Auklet
So one of the big excitements so far on the island has been the nesting Cassin's Auklets. (A few of the others might have included helicopters removing gear, illegal jet skis near the island (totally wacky given the rough seas and our distance from San Fran), seeing my first dorsal fin (Russo's Dolphin), seeing epic waves, and perhaps the various desserts that people have made around dinner time.)
Although it is an el nino year and the Cassin's traditionally would not do as well. They have been nesting early on the island. The initial excitement was to find one in a box the first week I was here. The next was to find a few with eggs in a few boxes and the most recent is to find numerous in many boxes. Although they technically do not need to nest in the boxes, they naturally use old burrows and the boxes mimic natural crevices to the definite satisfaction of the birds.
In any case, whenever we find a bird in the box, we verify if it has been banded (if not, we band). Next, we measure bill depth and wing length. Lastly, we measure the egg size from the box, weigh the bird, and return the bird to the egg. Pretty simple procedure, however each bird is a bit different and it definitely takes time to check each box. (There are approx. 500 Cassin's boxes).
Although it is an el nino year and the Cassin's traditionally would not do as well. They have been nesting early on the island. The initial excitement was to find one in a box the first week I was here. The next was to find a few with eggs in a few boxes and the most recent is to find numerous in many boxes. Although they technically do not need to nest in the boxes, they naturally use old burrows and the boxes mimic natural crevices to the definite satisfaction of the birds.
In any case, whenever we find a bird in the box, we verify if it has been banded (if not, we band). Next, we measure bill depth and wing length. Lastly, we measure the egg size from the box, weigh the bird, and return the bird to the egg. Pretty simple procedure, however each bird is a bit different and it definitely takes time to check each box. (There are approx. 500 Cassin's boxes).
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