Field Report: July 2011

RB24. Photo credit: Mary Miyashiro

Sub-adult female RB24 continues to be of concern.  Her condition has neither visibly improved nor worsened.  On July 13, PIFSC scientists returned to Kauai to get a full suite of biomedical samples from her, and to change out her larger cell phone tag for a smaller satellite tag.  She was also given a de-worming medication to help maximize her nutrition intake by lessening her parasite load.  Great work by our east-side volunteer team, who collected a fecal sample from her the following week – this will allow us to see if the medication is working!

W02. Credit: Mary Miyashiro.

The same day, three-year old male RW02received a cell phone tag, so

that we can track his movements and dive behavior to better understand his habitat use.

R315. Photo credit: Michele Bane

Adult female R315 (formerly known as Temp 365, mother of RA16) has been seen at least twice recently, looking very pregnant!  Since she did not pup last year, her due date is anyone’s guess.  She has been spotted on the northeast shore, and previously pupped at Larsen’s, so we may very well be looking forward to another pup event there!

A new unknown subadult female seal was spotted in the Anahola area earlier this week with a mysterious mark on her belly.  We would very much like to lay eyes on this seal again, in person, to determine whether this is a natural mark, an injury, or a foreign body.  If you see her, please photograph and report her to our hotline (808-651-7668) right away, so that we can come to the site to observe her.

Photo credit: Lloyd Miyashiro.

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Field Notes: June 2010

T12 wakes up from a nap just long enough to scratch his face.

Our first Kauai pup of the year, male RT12, is weaned, tagged, chubby, healthy, and exploring.  He has found some companionship in adult male RK02; they are often hauled out on the beach together.

T12 shows off his new bling.

Our second pup is also weaned and healthy.  He is also a confirmed male!  This little boy was too busy playing in the water to get tagged at our last attempt, so keep your eyes out for a relatively short and fat untagged pup!  We would love another opportunity to tag him before he grows up and begins to look like so many other young seals around the island!

‘Tis the season for more pups, too!  Females RK13, Temp 365, R5AY, and large unidentified female with a distinctive white “chin” area are all likely pregnant and pupping this summer!

Momona (RA20) and Noho (RA16) both celebrated their first birthdays this month, and both seals were spotted on their respective birthdays!  It’s wonderful to see these kids growing up healthy!!

Mahalo-eha (RA36), our 7-month-old Maha’ulepu pup, has been hanging out along the east shore these days, often seen at Nukoli’i and Fuji Beaches.

One unidentified adult male seal was fitted with a cell-phone tag by the NOAA PIFSC team on June 9, 2010.  The tag records GPS data and depth to help us understand the seals’ movement and foraging behavior. The seal also now has flipper tags 6FA/6FB, and his tag tells us that he headed straight for Oahu after receiving his tag.

RO28 has received her Hawaiian name: she is “Pohaku“, which means “rock.”  Pohaku frequently hauls out in the rocky areas around Poipu.  She is also a “rock” for our monk seal population – a healthy female, and daughter of RK06, another beloved strong female seal.

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