[CINC] Condor Express 2/15

[TARA BROWN]

2 Humpbacks
 
2 rehabilitated California sea lions released
 
Captain Dave, Matt, and Tosha
Naturalists: Marilyn Dannehower, Ginny Fischer, and Tara Brown
Visitors from Rhode Island, South Dakota, Minnesota, Chicago, and Fiji plus volunteers and friends of volunteers from CIMWI (Channel Islands Marine Wildlife Institute)
 
It was an unusual day in the Channel with waves from the east, wind, and whitecaps. Captain Dave had to face the glare to find two humpbacks near Platform Gail. Later in the day it was calmer when two California sea lions were released in China Bay.
 
The highlight for me was learning about the rehabilitation of California sea lions from Ruth and Jen of CIMWI and Tosha who volunteers for the Marine Mammal Center. This is a hard year for young juveniles. Last spring, there were more pups than normal born because of the healthy spring bloom and resultant food supply. But now it is much tougher. Both sea lions released Friday were Male, about 20 months old, rescued in January 23 & 24 as underweight. In three weeks, they gained 10.5 pounds (to 45.5 pounds) and 9 pounds (to 45 pounds) by being feed 4.25 pounds of Herring a day! CIMWI also gives them a daily multiple vitamin, probiotics, and salt, as well as Amoxicillin or Tagamet or other medication if required.
 
The shocking news is that CIMWI (which rescues in Ventura County) has cared for 18 pups so far this year, and last year for the entire calendar year they only had 33 rescues. Tosha reported that the Marine Mammal Center (which rescues in Santa Barbara County) now has 15 rescues it is caring for including a Northern Fur Seal which was found undernourished near the Santa Barbara Yacht Club.
 
My notes from one of our lectures say that there is a 70% survival rate during a La Nina, 35% during an El Nino year, and that only 10% of males survive to reproduce. I hope these two make it!
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