Preparing for the Marine Mammal Forum
- Ana Noel
- Apr 10, 2022
- 3 min read
Date: 4/5/2022
Event: Marine Mammal Forum
Today Debbie sent us the flyer for the Marine Mammal Forum. It is cool to see this event coming together and I can't wait to be a part of it. In addition, Islands and Ocean came out with all the tables that they will have at the Discovery Lab:
Welcome and information table
Sea otter table
Pinniped table
Toothed whale table
Baleen whale table
Humpback whale fluke ID table
Marine mammal sounds matching table
Marine mammal length comparison and any additional local research table
Marine mammal craft table
Since our class will be recorded, Diondre and I are able to table; Diondre is working at the sea otter table while I will work at the humpback table since I have experience with humpback ID from my internship from last semester.
Check out more details here: K-Bay Marine Mammal Forum | Alaska Wildlife Alliance (AWA) (akwildlife.org)
Date: 4/6/2022
Hours: 1
Event: Level A data on dead sea otter on Bishop's Beach
Today there was a report of a dead otter by the Seafarer's Memorial (see map below). Diondre and I responded and, when we got there, there were three eagles. One of the eagles was eating the otter, while the other two appeared to be mating. One eagle was on top of the other and was flapping its wings. After that, a dog came and scared off the eagles. We went to go take level A data and a women approached us to ask questions about what we were doing. She also asked about where she could see belugas and we told her we usually see them in the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers. We then took the level A data and left the otter tagged on the beach since the dump was closed. We did see a wound near its face that was due to the eagle eating it.
Date: 4/7/2022
Hours: 2
Event: Beach walk and level A data on dead otter at Land's End, filled out level A forms
Today I decided to walk the beach starting at Land's End (1 on map). Almost immediately I found a dead otter, so I took level A samples. It was very bloody around it's face and mouth and it was missing a canine tooth, possibly resulting in an infection. After that I walked along the beach up to the harbor (3 on map) and then on my way back, I picked up the otter to take to the dump. After that, I filled out 3 level A forms on this otter, the otter from Wednesday, and the otter from Peterson Bay.
Leighow, S. (2016, April 25). Homer. Alaska.
On my way home I noticed a gray whale statue at Land's End which I haven't seen before.
Date: 4/8/2022
Hours: 2.5
Event: Brochure work
Today I did some work on the educational materials for the Marine Mammal Forum. We sent the brochure and the OTTER protocol poster to Caroline and the SeaLife Center and they responded with some comments. I worked on editing the brochure which we will send back to Caroline to get printed for the Forum. In addition, Caroline sent us her data on boating so we will work on expanding the boating poster to include all her information.
Date: 4/9/2022
Hours: .5
Event: SeaLife Center!
Today the SBB class went to Seward to go on a wildlife cruise. We got there early so we went to the SeaLife Center to check it out. It was really cool to see more of what they do as well as see really cool marine mammals and invertebrates.
Date: 4/10/2022
Event: Reports of dead sea otters
Today there was a dead seal and a dead sea otter report. The otter was at the Seafarer's Memorial again in the same spot, and the seal was in the harbor. After further investigation, I realized that the reported seal was actually the same otter that Diondre and I couldn't get to last time. Diondre went to go and get it with a paddle. He took the level A data but left it in the harbor since it was too heavy to carry so hopefully it doesn't get reported again. The other otter ended up being a new one so level A data was taken.
Next week
Next week I hope to meet with Islands and Ocean to go over the Discovery Lab to help understand what I will be doing. I also hope to get our educational materials printed for the Marine Mammal Forum. I plan to also do some beach walks and respond to more otters.
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