Rare Bird Sightings: Nazca booby and Black Oyster-catcher chic

Mike Bursk

Okay, I know, I know…..we are best known for our cetacean sightings and fluke videos. BUT, once in awhile, Mother Nature throws us a double-whammy that can’t be ignored. This week, two rarities occurred repeatedly, not 100 feet apart. Let’s start with the Nazca booby, an equatorial bird that seldom appears in these latitudes. At least one has been taking its rest on the tip of the long breakwater each day, prior to hunting. Each afternoon, it returns to the same spot. It is a beautiful bird, with a striking black/white color pattern. Even better, it’s a bit of a show-off, and seems to pose when our cameras are pointed at it, from 30 feet away. In the bird guides, the Nazca is listed as far North as central Baja; there is no mention of it visiting Dana Point!

The other rarity is the successful hatching of a Black Oyster-catcher chic, near the end of the same breakwater. Both parents guarded the egg for weeks, and the chic hatched on Thursday, July 25th. Initially a gray fuzzball, it is growing rapidly. Several times a day, one of the parents flies off to hunt and return with food. In these rare photos, our photographer MokiTom captured the moment when one parent offers bits of mussel to the chic. In the last 20 years, this is only the third chic that has hatched on the inner wall of the long breakwater.

This Saturday and Sunday, our wildlife cruise will DEFINITELY be slowing for a look at these rarities. Cross your fingers that neither fly the coop!

Pacific Marine Exploration Cruise: Whale Sightings

Mike Bursk

Saturday, January 8th, was our first Pacific Marine Exploration cruise on our Research Vessel, Sea Explorer, of 2019; and if it was a predictor of voyages to come, then 2019 should be a banner year. Under the darkening sky of that approaching rainstorm, we saw three different types of cetaceans. “Cetacea” is the order which includes all whales and dolphins. Exiting the harbor, we saw the blow of a Pacific Gray Whale, less than a mile from the harbor entrance. It was a sub-adult, about 30 feet long, paddling gently towards Baja. It allowed us alongside for a GREAT look, never broke stride, its body language calm and relaxed. Twice it showed us its flukes, and several times angled towards the Sea Explorer for a closer look.

Our coastal water is fairly turbid, and these whales can’t see very far underwater….so when they hear something interesting, like the purr of our idling engines, they often investigate.

After about 20 minutes, we said goodbye to our oceanic visitor and motored further out to sea. About 3 miles out, we found a resting Fin whale. Fins are the planets’ second largest animal, second only to the Blue whale. This one was about 50 feet, quite a sight. The Fin also took several very close looks at us and spent some time “coasting” just a couple of feet down. Clearly in a playful mood, twice it inverted and cruised belly-up for a bit. Check out our video of this adventure. The sky was so dark that day that the whale was difficult to see underwater because they have dark brown backs….but, they have white bellies and they absolutely glow when they swim upside-down.

Back nearshore, we found a pod of Pacific White-sided dolphin, another winter migrant like the Gray whale, and a staff favorite. They have a beautiful black/white two-tone paint job, and a sickle shape dorsal fin….much different than our resident common dolphin. They were hunting sardines, very busy seeking lunch, but nonetheless came over to bow-ride under the boat for a bit. Our “young scientists” aboard were thrilled seeing them up close and asked countless questions, including the single most common question I hear from kids: “Is that a boy or a girl dolphin?” We tell them the frustrating truth, that you can’t tell the boys from the girls in the Whale World! So they move on to their next question, and they never run out. That’s why we love this!

The Birds and the Bees: Do Animals Feel Love?

by Chelsea Huddleston; Ocean Institute Environmental Writer

The question of whether animals feel emotion has been argued for years, and while anyone with pets or who has spent a significant amount of time observing animals in the wild can testify to clear displays of fear, love, compassion, empathy and jealousy …. scientists have often been hesitant to take a stance on animal sentience. Yet there is a vast amount of research to back the ‘smile’ your dog greets you with when you walk in the door. One study from the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies at Claremont Graduate University showed significant increase in oxytocin, also known as the “neurochemical of love” in animals after they’d spent time together. In the field there are numerous documented accounts of animals putting themselves at risk to help others. In one case, a partially blind older woman had become lost and was guided to safety by a group of elephants. Another account reports a humpback whale carrying a seal on her back to aid its escape from killer whales. Chimpanzees have been seen holding hands to watch the sunset together, rats will sacrifice their food to save a drowning friend, and spotted dolphins mourn the loss of their young by buoying the limp bodies on their backs—as if refusing to give them up to the ocean.

Emotions stem from a part of the brain called the “limbic system” and some marine mammals have limbic systems four times larger than ours. While we are quick to assume those species with smaller limbic systems feel less emotion than we do, there is resistance to the idea that species with larger limbic systems might possess cognitive abilities that we do not. Conservationist and author of ‘Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel’ Carl Safina argues that animals might experience life more ‘vividly’ and in ways we can’t fathom. While civilization has brought many improvements to our quality of life, it’s also dulled our senses and resulted in less awareness of our surroundings—which can create a barrier to feeling a strong connection to the natural world and to each other.

Carl Safina is also author of ‘The Eye of the Albatross: Visions of Hope and Survival’ a story of one of the most emotive species existing—possibly even more romantic than humans. Albatrosses mate for life and are incredibly devoted to their partners, even though they spend 95% of their time in flight over the open oceans. It can take 10-15 years for an albatross to choose the right partner, but once committed they are faithful until death—which could mean another 50 years. As the ultimate example of a working long-distance relationship, birds will often go months or years without seeing their partner. But when together, they focus almost completely on each other and often sleep with the head of one bird resting on the breast of the other.

The romantic Albatross was first immortalized in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and since been a maritime icon. Coincidentally, Coleridge is credited for the origin of the phrase ‘the birds and the bees’ which makes one wonder if the Albatross was in fact the ‘bird’ to inspire this famous metaphor. While most Albatrosses are mostly found in the Southern Hemisphere, Laysan and Black-footed Albatrosses can also be spotted off the coasts of Southern California. They breed on remote islands, such as Midway Atoll which in recent years has gained notoriety as a symbol of the plastic pollution crisis and its devastating impacts. Artist and filmmaker Chris Jordan illustrates these statistics through chilling photographs of the contents of Albatross stomachs found on Midway, and his film “Albatross: A Love Story for Our Time from the Heart of the Pacific” is a stunning chronicle of the harsh reality facing these special and some might even say ‘emotional’ birds. Scientists estimate that by mid-century, 99% of seabirds will have plastic in their stomachs unless we make drastic changes to stop the flow of pollution.

Whether you believe animals can feel or not, perhaps the more pertinent question is how we can show compassion for other species and our environment. As you shop for Valentine’s Day gifts, consider looking for plastic-free and sustainably-sourced products to spread the love beyond your dinner date to the planet.

Bioblog: Tempo of the Tides

by Julianne E. Steers, Marine Biologist and Director of Husbandry

As we welcome winter along the Southern California coast, we also welcome extraordinarily low tides. Anyone who has spent time along our beaches is certain to notice that the water level of the ocean does not stay the same all day long. The percussion of waves lapping upon the shore is consistent, though water levels change as the day passes. Water rises for several hours and then recedes. This rise and fall of the ocean is known as the tide. A tidal tempo is at the heart of the concert of the sea.

Imagine our earth completely covered with a layer of water, its movement fueled by the gravitational pull of the moon. As the moon rotates around the earth, its gravity pulls the water out into a bulge on the side of the planet nearest to it. The centrifugal force caused by the spinning of the earth causes the water to bulge on the opposite side of the earth. These bulges make the high tides. Halfway between these bulges, on each side, low tides occur.

If the earth was covered with water of the same depth, there would be two identical high and low tide cycles over the entire surface during a complete turn. However, the shape of our lands and the size, shape, and depth of all the estuaries, bays, seas, basins and more hamper with this perfect cycle. Therefore, the resulting coastal shorelines have two high and two low tide cycles each day, others only one, and still others a mixture.

The tidal range along the Orange County coast varies from one foot to over eight feet. This may not sound like much of a rise, but you must remember that this is the actual water depth. This means that on a fairly flat beach, the water can move onto the shore 30 feet or more.

A world of marine creatures exists in the “Kingdom of the Tides,” the area rocked by the incoming and outgoing waters and tides which plays an important part in the ecology of the coast. As the tide sweeps in, it covers our rocky and sandy shores, stirs up nutrients, and brings rich oxygen to stagnant pools that remain from the previous high tide. When the incoming tide brings its tasty morsels to wash over the tide pools, the mussels open up, anemone tentacles reach out, and crabs scurry about feasting on the ocean smorgasbord. Likewise, fish surf in on the incoming tides to feed in the shallows.

As the tide recedes, our coastal pools expose many wildlife notes. The diversity revealed is certainly the delight for any beach-goer turned scientist. From sea hares to urchins to sea stars in every nook and cranny, there is a chorus to be found. Take a stroll, investigate and dance to the rhythm of the tides this winter.

Julianne Steers is a marine biologist and the Director of Husbandry for the Ocean Institute.

BioBlog: Winter Whales

By Leslie Kretschmar, Director of At Sea Programs

For many people, spending the winter months in California sounds like a dream. This also applies to certain whale species. Despite our year-round mild climate, the ocean off our coast is generally quite cold due to currents moving southward from Alaska. The perfect combination of our chilly water, climate patterns, coastal upwelling, and plenty of California sun contributes to our having some of the most productive waters in the world.

Phytoplankton and zooplankton thrive in these conditions and their presence drives the entire ocean food chain. The abundance and availability of these tiny marine algae and microscopic critters provide plenty of sustenance for a great diversity of fish, whales, and dolphins that call our small section of the ocean their home.

Just like people though, some opt to live here permanently while others only stay for a brief period during their migrations. And it is not only the ocean currents that move southward from Alaska. For many whales, November to March mark the months where thousands travel from their summer feeding grounds in the Arctic to warmer waters. Although Maui is a hotspot winter destination for humpback whales, many travel to Mexico to mate, give birth, and nurse their young. This is great news for California whale watchers, as we can often witness these behemoths as they pass our coastline.

Pacific gray whales follow the humpbacks’ lead and are known to make the longest migration of any mammal on earth. They travel between 10,000 to 12,000 miles round trip, annually, between the Artic seas and the warm lagoons of Baja, Mexico. These whales tend to stay close to shore during their migration and some biologists believe they take their navigational cues from the visualization of our coastline’s landmarks and by listening to near shore wave action. Another hypothesis is that whales respond to the earth’s magnetic field using small particles of magnetite (iron oxide) in their brain. Iron oxide particles act like a built-in compass for the whales. February through April is peak season to see gray whales migrating past Dana Point. During these months, many cow/calf pairs are making the return trip to the Arctic, and you don’t have to venture off shore far to witness them. Most of the mothers stay close to land with their young. This strategy helps the pair avoid predators that may be in deeper waters, such as pods of orca.

Not all whales and dolphins come and go from our waters. Some are year-round residents who make regular appearances. Common and Bottlenose dolphin, along with Minke and Fin whales, can be seen locally, year-round. While several other seasonal visitors include Blue whales (in the summer months) and Risso’s dolphin and Pacific White Sided dolphin during the winter time.

Ultimately, the ocean holds many gifts for us to discover. So, no matter what the season, whale and nature lovers in California will surely see something interesting.

BioBlog: Shiny New Shells

By Julianne E. Steers, Marine Biologist and Director of Husbandry

As the summer progressed, an abundance of crimson tails and shells populated the shoreline. Exactly like a teenager’s room full of clothes cast aside that were not fit for the first day of school. That right folks, it’s fall here in Southern California. New school year. New school clothes. Even our local, California spiny lobsters (Panulirus interruptus) get ready for picture day in the fall. While we have been enjoying the surf and working on our tans these past few months, our native inhabitants just beneath the waves have been working on their shiny new shells too.

Summer is prime time for lobster growth spurts. With a shell that is inelastic and rigid, to grow, our spinys must shed their shells to grow. A lobster wears its skeleton on the outside, a tough exterior built to withstand at least a few armed assaults. When it comes to expanding or growing, the shell is completely inflexible, leaving only one option: rip it off.

An exoskeleton (shell), of fixed size must be cast-off in the case of progress, so lobsters shed to grow; and with the steady increase of lobster abundance in our marine reserves these days, there is a pleasant sight of piles of molts of all shapes and sizes popping up in pockets under the sea and occasionally being pushed onto shore.

Shedding or molting (technically known as Ecdysis), occurs when a lobster extrudes itself from its old shell. Unlike soft-bodied animals, a lobster’s shell doesn’t grow bringing necessity for this intermediate growth process and grows throughout their lives.

Shortly before molting several things take place. Calcium moves temporarily from the old shell to hang out in the stomach for the process. Don’t worry, it will be re-absorbed, post-molt to help the new shell harden. Blood also takes a hike in the interim to assist the body shrink to about a quarter of their normal size and make it easier to disrobe from their old shell. Now, for hydration. Prior to molting, a lobster absorbs lots of water, which causes the new shell to swell, eventually pushing away the old one. Escaping from its old shell may take the lobster anywhere from several minutes to a half hour, depending on environmental conditions and the size of the animal. In our labs, lobsters molt just the same as in the wild and we’ve observed the entire molting process of many of our inhabitants in our live teaching collection over the years.

Now, if our California spiny lobsters were not the modest beings that they are, it would bring a whole new meaning to marine exhibitionists. Such exhibition would make normal lobster life impossible as they would be on the oceanic menu front-and-center, resulting in fewer lobsters in our rocky reefs. Naked and vulnerable post-molt, lobsters tuck away in the secure crevices in our reefs until their shells are solidified and ready for their close-ups.

BioBlog: Forest Under the Sea

By Julianne E. Steers, Marine Biologist

“Have you ever seen a forest without any birds, without any trees, without any bees? Have you ever seen a forest under the sea?” –Banana Slug Band

Even on our sunny days, our coastal, temperate waters may appear encircled by a forbidding, often steely grey sea, although there are those rare, magical calm days when its surrounding seas take on an altogether more inviting hue.

A look just beneath the surface can reveal a wealth of hidden treasures. Nowhere is this more so than in the great forests of kelp that are perfectly adapted to thrive in these tumultuous conditions. In fact, these waters bring renewed supplies of nutrients to our grand algae. Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) crafts our kelp forests densely packed seaweeds up to 100ft high with an anchorage on the sea bed and blades that float. Held upright by gas-filled bladders at the base of these leaflike blades, kelp fronds grow straight up to the surface, where they spread across the top of the water to form a dense canopy. It provides one of the most biologically productive marine habitats creating a rich environment for thousands of other marine creatures.

Key to the forest’s survival, and the over 800 species it’s supports, is the ocean water quality. Our sea is cyclical, at times stable, and undergoes ebbs and flows of temperatures and compositions throughout the year. Spring and summer, the briny coast warms. Fall instigates a cool spike, kicking off the reproductive cycle and making for a continued cool winter, optimal for growth.

Julianne Steers is a Marine Biologist and Director of Living Collections and Research at Ocean Institute. You can glide over the great kelp forests aboard one of our Whale Watches and Eco-Cruises, which are all guided by Ocean Institute scientists like Julianne.

BioBlog: Watersheds

By Jonathan Witt; Senior Education Director

This year we celebrate the Ocean Institute’s Watershed Education Program’s 13th year! With grateful thanks to the generous support of Miocean and the Massen Greene Foundation, over 25,000 fifth graders, from communities throughout Southern California, have been inspired to empower themselves, their schools, and their communities to be responsible stewards of our environment.

This three-part program first trains the teachers to engage students in classroom curriculum supporting the fieldtrip experience. The second phase is the student field trip where students are learning in labs and on our research vessel about the science of watersheds. The students use this field experience as the basis for the third part of the program, a community-focused research project. This team project is presented at the Ocean Institute’s annual Kids’ Conferences on Watersheds. Teachers, students, parents and community leaders attend the conference and are inspired to hear the innovative approaches and programs these student teams have developed to help protect our watersheds.

With the support and funding from the Massen Greene Foundation, the Ocean Institute is primed to intensify the program for our participating schools. This year we are adding fourth grade students to introduce scientific concepts earlier and heighten the experience for when they become next year’s fifth graders. With this two year approach we look forward to a more immersive, hands on experience for these fifth grade future scientists.

The Ocean Institute’s Watershed program will continue to grow and flourish due to the generous support from Pat Fuscoe and the Robert West Foundation who have earmarked funds for this important environmental initiative.