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September 2016 Salish Sea, Pacific Northwest
Autumn brings changes at sea as well as on land. As land creatures we tend to be more aware of conditions like the cooling temperatures, brightly colored foliage and falling leaves that mark the end of summer. The shift from summer to autumn in the Salish Sea is more subtle, and not just because much of the action is in the water. Rocks are rocks and the ocean doesn’t warm or cool more than 5 degrees over the year.
So how do we know fall is upon us?
One obvious change is the thinning out of visitors. Some folks come here sailing their own boats, others take tours with commercial operations to see the wildlife of the Salish Sea. In summer I see countless boats criss-crossing the Sea every day. When the weather closes down tourism drops to a fraction of the summer numbers, including whale-watch boats. Labor Day weekend was very busy; since then I’ve been seeing fewer each day.
Whale Rocks are prime real estate for marine mammals to rest, with fish nearby in the turbulent currents and kelp bed. Sea lions are much bigger than seals and monopolize the Rocks when they are in the Sea. The Sea Lions began trickling in from their breeding rookeries in mid-August but the whole winter population of 60-80 isn’t here yet. I counted approximately 15-20 hauled out and in the water this day, but also about the same number of Harbor Seals, some cheek by jowl with their giant pinniped cousins! Steller sea lions and Harbor seals are competitors, both opportunistic carnivores, and Steller sea lions in the North Pacific have been documented preying on young harbor seals, so it is surprising to see them lounging around together. No seal pups or weaners though.
More signs of fall in the Sea:
I’ve seen fewer GWGU chicks this year than usual, although this is anecdotal since I’m watching intermittently, from a distance, and never go ashore to check nests. I’ve read reports of starving gulls cannibalizing nests in recent years on another Refuge to the south, Protection Island. Fwiw, I’ve seen fewer baitballs this summer than usual (those masses of fish driven to the surface and swarmed by seabirds), but again that’s an anecdotal observation.
Kelp beds are at maximum right now having used the spring and summer daylight for photosynthesis. Kelp beds are like aquatic forests, with huge numbers of animals living in it. A few are visible in the “canopy" at the surface. The photo below has 3 kinds of gulls, 2 kinds of cormorants and a seal. Can you see the seal??
There are thousands of gulls around right now, typical for this time of year as migrating populations move through adding to the resident population.
Nesting success in the Sea varies year to year but worrisome trends are beginning to appear showing the effects of Global Warming. The sea temperature here is rising, as elsewhere, which affects plankton populations and the forage fish depending on them. Fewer fish leads to starving birds who are less able to raise youngsters, if they are even able to lay eggs.
Unlike annual seasonal changes, this climate transition is unknown to the wildlife of the Salish Sea.
Time for you to share what you’re seeing in your natural neighborhood . . .
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Friday, Sep 16, 2016 · 11:33:35 PM +00:00
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OceanDiver
The Sea Lions have arrived! We just returned from a trip out to the Rocks this afternoon and it is packed with those giant golden beasts. At least 60 and probably a bunch more in the water, but with this Full Moon there’s a ripping tidal current by the Rocks and we had to stay pretty far off. Not a single Harbor Seal on the Rocks.
In 2016, sometime between September 6th and 16th the main cohort of wintering Steller Sea Lions arrived at Whale Rocks.