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Steller Watch
Researcher
Michelle Marcotte and her assistants are getting ready for a long
winter in Frederick Sound, Alaska. They recently constructed a
one room hut on Sea Lion Island (one of the Brothers Islands)
to observe sea lions for the next 12 months. Sea Lion Island is
home to the largest year-round colony of Steller sea lions in Southeast
Alaska, and is a perfect place to watch their every movement.
Marcotte has two primary goals. The first is to monitor and validate
an automated self-contained time-lapse photography system that has
been developed by SciFish in
Anchorage. |
Time-lapse Camera System
The camera system is designed to have minimum impact on the environment
and can sustain severe climate and interference from insects, birds,
mammals and weather. The camera can take photos at any specified
interval. A separate system uses night vision to capture night time
images. |
The camera system
may ultimately be installed at rookeries and haulouts throughout
Alaska to remotely monitor Steller sea lion numbers.
The second major goal is to document daily and seasonal haulout patterns
to shed additional light on foraging patterns, population trends,
disturbance effects, and the reliability of aerial survey counts.
The study will also attempt to determine the proportion of nursing
sea lions and establish the exact timing of weaning. |
Behavioral observations are made daily from 8am
to 4pm, and consist of half hour counts and 15 minute scans for individually
recognizable animals to record behaviors and associations. The population
consists of between 500 and 600 animals, and contains many one, two, and
three year olds.
Time-lapse Photos
of Haulout Site
These photos were taken once per hour over a 24 hour period at
one of the haulout sites on Sea Lion Island. Changes in tides
have a dramatic effect on the land the sea lions can
rest upon.
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 Sea
Lion Island is very small, with no fresh water or resident mammals (other
than the sea lions and 2 biologists)—and it only takes about 20 minutes
to walk around the entire island! Fortunately there is an abundance of
plants, some beautiful mature trees, and several species of birds including
oyster
catchers, pigeon gillemonts, bald eagles and ravens to distract the research
team. There have also been a number of humpback and killer whales
nearby. Just who will stick it out with the biologists and sea lions
for the entire winter remains to be seen. One thing is for sure though—there
will be 2 sets of eyes and 2 lenses intently watching.
14 September 2004
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