[CINC] 5 Orcas mug Vanguard crossing Thursday May 3 to Anacapa

[Marty Flam]

Thursday ~5 Orcas
Heading out ~five Orcas including ~two juveniles and adults of both genders, most swimming under and around the Vanguard for some 20 remarkable minutes, half-way out and a bit to the west of crossing to Landing Cove about the same time as Live Hike rangers saw breaches of could-have-been-grays from Pinniped Point.
Vanguard Crew- Capt. Jason, Luke, Andrea on the mic.
Sunny, clear, moderate seas.


Forty-seven kids and parents from Thousand Oaks elementary school 3rd grade involved by Channel Islands Restoration on IPCO education trip (Andrea educator/naturalist) plus about 35 open party passengers from around USA and Taiwan thrilled by Orca sighting as was your reporter.    Noting exciting new rain harvesting installations I led an open party hike and Andrea led the education program which I supplemented with restoration discussions. The park's Restoration Ecologist gave plant nursery tour to interested guests.  East Anacapa still green with Giant coreopsi, now has many three egg gull nests but none observed hatched.  

Wednesday about 15 adult volunteers organized by park cooperators Channel Islands Restoration removed ice plant, Australian salt bush and other weeds and installed nursery-propagated natives.

Wednesday and Thursday Live Hikes involved several hundred youngsters from Wisconsin? and other venues near and far 

I couldn't find sighting report forms in Vanguard Whale kit.

by Marty F., CINC