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Home My WebLink AboutMarch 28, 2010 Seals seeking harbor � �_ ---_ _ - -- _,,,..�r,.-_..-�m-�s�� ,:>-- : ...,._ � �_ rk _.....� f�� ::r.�'��-�� rt} ��-.,..i. . . . ..-..- , ��,. . .��` � �� ,,, , ..'� J'� _ ��` +'� ..r � t �; , x� . , � :� .y .:� ; '" ��i �;. _. — = c . .._-� =--a--=.�-'_--��z�'�---�.::._.�. ; *r r �;r �y..y. <�� - .i '� � ��,�� _ . .__ _.'.' - �. P �4 Iy�.�— � _ _ r _' 4�� .��-- _ - _ -= -- - __ �- - - _ - - - - - - � . ' . _ - -_- _ -�,� _ __� __ -—._ _ __,,. ��: ; _ __ _ i � . �s.• 's. . . �-��. -.. � . .�-. � � .�w :'�y,. .. �.s �. . . �'�"..., '- � _� . ` .. - _ -�� .�".i":,._. -�,,ga�A�S`''.. �r �. -.` �.'��..�r�.�i+�"� �r -'��.:- ��' � .. �� y,�,,.,.� VY��,a+". _� . ' . , , � t - - ---- � � � ..._ ... :,y �. .,.� ... „ ,. This harbor seal was enjoying the warmth of an early-March day when we were able to photograph it. It's not that unusual this time of year to spot one of these seals basking on a rock or even on your dock. If you see one, call the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation at 369-9840 ext. 15. chickadees, inc es,cow ir s,red- s we ate lunch during one of winged blackbirds,graekles,doves, tied together �i�er th� hcavv icc in the recent snowstorms,we blue jays,nuthatches,titmice,even a the creek pulled them out of the watched our world turn few tree sparrows and a fox spar- creek bottom.She said the seal white. It was March's way ot re�w—each one scurrying around �,ould go away each day between 4 saying,"You can't get rid of ��ctting its share.As all this was and 5 o'clock and then return.Being me yet."The trees in our going on,the suet feeders attracted a good steward of wildlife,she had woods turned white from the woodpeckers,along with an already checked with the Riverhead the driven snow that swept out of occasional crow that seemed out of Foundation for Marine Research the southeast.The back sides of the place.While looking at what was and Preservation at Atlantis Marine very same trees looked like weird going on,I spotted what I thought World to see if her seal was behav- black skeletons swaying in the w:ld, was an osprey on the top of our ing normally.After a few questions, swirling snow. windmill but,no,it was a turkey vul- they reassured her that it seemed to We had put out a good supply of ture headed into the wind with be okay.She then decided to give us birdseed,knowing the snow was wings outstretched trying to balance a call,which we appreciated.In no coming,and now there was an inva- itself. (We've been getting quite a time we were down checking it out. sion of birds of all sorts,each get- few reports of"buzzards.") �/e found the seal,a harbor seal. ting their fill of As we enjoyed the snow,along �ounging in the sun,completely �� seeds before with ow lunch,the conversation relaxed.Even though it has two lay- the snow cov- drifted back to the day before,when ers of blubber co keep it warm,it still �N ered every- the temperature had reached almost likes to feel the warmth of the sun. NATU RE thing up.We 60 degrees and we were out photo- -�e seals we see in our local waters, had the juncos graphing a seal.We got involved basking on sand bars,rocks,people's by Paul the when Sue called to tell us about a � StOUt@I1bu1'gh whitethroats, seal that was sunning itself on two docks,etc.,are from tae north,where song sparrows, floatin�dock poles.They had been ac m the classroom, with the help of their teacher,they decided to write a letter to the State Legislature in or not,t ey cover all of New York. hopes of stopping One interesting note here is that people from shooting once they have rehabilitated and t ey breed along the Canadian and seals.Their letter fell tagged the seals,they've been able New England coasts.Then,as it gets on deaf ears.The next year they to follow them by satellite as far colder,they head south to spend the decided to try again.This time,one of north as Greenland.Isn't that great? winter here in the relatively warmer the more ambitious students took the Mike called us Monday morning to waters. challenge and rode his bike all the say he found a great horned owl Phoca vitulina,the seal's scientific way to Albany to present their badly entangled in a soccer net at name,loosely means"sea calY'or request.The legislators were so Oysterponds School.Evidently it had "sea dog,"and it's well named.When impressed by the student's pedaling been out searching for food,followed it comes to the surface it reminds yo all the way from Long Island with its prey into the soccer net,and got of a dog swimming.Usually seals are the petition to halt the shooting of entangled.No one knew how long it wary of people,but this particular seals that they signed the legislation had been there.Had it been there seal was so comfortable it let into law.This gives you some idea of over the weekend? Lucky for the owl, Barbara walk almost up to it and the power of youth when headed in Mike found it and cut the net to get it take its picture. the ri ht direction. We're finding that seals are The best place to see seals is along free.Before callin�us he called the ammal shelter and they were on their becoming more and more common. the rocky shores at Orient or �'ay to help.We arrived just as they Not only harbor seals,but harp, Montauk points.Then there are the did and saw an exhausted owl lying hooded,and even gray seals are no inlets on the south shore but you on the ground.It was carefully placed showing up.Since 1995 the seal that never know where seals will turn up. g is most often brou ht �n a carrying cage,not carin much g In aerial checks of the East End,as What was happening.You could see into the research many as hundreds of harbor seals the large talons that are the business foundation is the harp can be seen.As a matter of fact,on end of this tiger of the night.No won- seaL At present there one day 700 were spotted. der this owl has little trouble picking are 34 of them being Seals are the largest marine mam- up a rabbit ar an osprey from its nest, cared for in the hospi- mals in our waters.The male harbor or even your familycat. tal.With the popula- seal can go 200 to 250 pounds and �e owl was taken to Narth Fark tion explosion of seals be five or 5 1/2 feet long.The Animal Hospital,where it was first comes conflict between sea s and female is shorter and may weigh fed by a syringe to help it get its ener- man,man being the fisherman only 150 to 200 pounds.They live a gY back.A day or so later we learned whose lobster pots get invaded and long life,somewhere around 25 that they had examined the owl and it nets torn apart by these large mam years.They're a bit awkward on seemed to be okay and was now mals.The research team recently ]and and have difficulty moving "perching"(holding on to a support) picked up one seal entangled in a fast. In the water they're a joy to and had even taken some frozen gill net in Shinnecock. In the world watch. If you ever get a chanee to mice.If it continues to improve,no of seals,everything is fair game, see them in an aquarium,you'll see doubt it will be able to make it back whether it's a squid,a codfish,a grace,speed and fluid motion,all flounder,or a lobster scurrying seemingly without effort. In the to the wild.How fortunate we are to along the bottom. ocean the can dive as dee as have a wildlife veterinarian and a res- I'm told that in about 1972 seals y p cue team from the animal shelter wh started to increase more and more >>500 feet. Keep your eyes out for care about the unfartunate.Thanks to seals.The Marine Foundation has them,and to Mike for untangling it every year around here.That was checked on 65 since January,and ��rom the soccer net,hopefully this the year that hunting of seals was with April being the month seals g�-cat horned owl will soon be ready outlawed.I have an interesting story are most abundant,the number to fly again. about that. I might not have all the could go over their highest count of PS.Sunday night,March 21:The facts exactly right,but you'll get the the year 2001,when they cared for owl was released tonight at the school gist of the tale. 187 seals during the winter. So stop, in Orient by Sue,a local rehabilitator, There was a young,enthusiastic sci- look,and hopefully you'll see a seal and her family.They were pleased to ence teacher named Art Cooley,who somewhere around our shores. If see it fly up to the swings and then to not only taught his students classroom you do,contact the Riverhead the basketball court.Finally it took science,but also took them out into Marine Foundation at 369-9840, off across the field.What a great cir- the field,where he taught them about ext. 15.They're interested in keep- cle of friends that owl had! Mike will real life.One of the field trips was lo in a count on all seals. Bclieve it continue to keep an eye out for it at one of the inlets,Shinnecock or the school. Moriches,I dodt remember which. There they saw someone in a motor- boat shooting at the seals that can usually be found near the rocks of the inlet. This so disturbed the students that