Orcas in SF

There is a pod of Orcas off of the San Francisco Coast. They have been seen for the later half of January presumably hunting salmon. It is believed that these are not wandering strays, but a migration of a Puget Sound pod in search of food.

Photos were taken Jan. 24 of from nine to 15 orcas swimming in the open water between the Farallon Islands and San Francisco.

Although killer whales have been seen off the coast before, researchers believe some five dozen or more individuals are now regularly leaving their historic habitat in the Puget Sound area for the abundant waters near the Golden Gate.

"It's exciting for us because they traveled so far to get to California, which means they can travel farther than people thought to find food," said Nancy Black, a marine biologist and whale expert for Monterey Bay Whale Watch. "Before, it was just transient (orcas) that have been seen in Bay Area. This is something unusual."

Ken Balcomb, senior scientist and founder of the Center for Whale Research, which has tracked the pod in Washington for 30 years, said the whales, including a mother and calf, were positively identified through the photos as members of a family group called "K-pod."

Based on observations made a little over a week earlier off Half Moon Bay, Balcomb believes that members of "L-pod" are also in the vicinity. If they are, it would mean that as many as 63 whales could be spread out over 30 miles around the Farallones.

The animals make up two of the three pods of the southern resident killer whale population, which provide thrills every summer for whale watchers in the Pacific Northwest as they follow salmon toward the rivers where the fish spawn.

The whole article is really interesting so be sure to read the entire thing.

Photos credit: dejahthoris used with Creative Commons license

Update: I couldn't resist one more passage

The killer whale, or Orcinus orca, is the largest species of the oceanic dolphin family and is found in all the world's oceans. Males can reach up to 31 feet long and weigh 8 tons. They are one of the fastest marine mammals, reaching speeds of up to 35 mph. Individuals can be identified by the shape and coloration of a saddle behind the dorsal fin that is as unique on each whale as a fingerprint is on a human.

Highly intelligent and social, orcas generally travel in matrilineal family groups, but within those groups there are vast differences. Some orcas feed on seals and sea lions and others feed on other whale species. There are also transient orcas that feed mostly on sharks. None of them are considered a threat to humans.

I had no idea orcas were in all the world's oceans. Even the Indian! Bizzare.

World's Largest Cylindrical Aquarium

In the Lobby of a Radisson Hotel in Berlin, Germany is a 900,000 gallon salt water aquarium. It is pretty damn cool. Follow the link for more pictures including those of the construction. Imagine the view out of your room window at this hotel.

ht Christian Naventi

Iguana Fancy

Herp mag gets the love on the Colbert Report last night. "Iguanas and The Elderly: An Uneasy Peace." Plus 2007 Crickets are here! We've had 2007 crickets for like 25 days now. We're so ahead of you fake Iguana Fancy Magazine. But seriously Iguanas and the Elderly ... or children for that matter would be an informative article that might keep so many people from buying the wrong pet.

Giant Octopus

Speaking of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, I was there a few weeks ago and the giant octopuses (octopi?) were both out and cruising around for 15-20 minutes or so. In the five or so other times I have been at the aquarium when they were on display, you could only see a huddled shadow in the corner. This time they were swimming back and forth around their tanks. Back to the rock wall and then up to the glass and back again. When they made it to the glass they would flare up, turn red/pink and look you right in the eye. Then back to the wall where they instantly turned grey and blended in with the background. It was really a neat thing to see and had us mesmerized for quite some time.

Here are some pics ....

Photo credit Ryan Garrett
















Photo credit Mike Disharoon

Good-Bye

I forgot to post this earlier but the Monterey Bay Aquarium released their white shark last week after 137 days in captivity, the second longest period of time a white shark has been kept in captivity. The record 198 days was the female previously put on display by the aquarium.

The young great white shark that had enthralled visitors to Monterey Bay Aquarium since September returned to the wild early Tuesday.

The fish swam away from the research vessel Sheila B shortly after sunrise, its dorsal fin slicing the water of Monterey Bay as the fearsome predator circled the boat several times before vanishing beneath the rolling waves.

"It's bittersweet," said aquarium curator Christina Slager, one of the people aboard the Sheila B. "We all really enjoyed observing the animal and working with it, but it was also good to see it return to the wild."

The aquarium is already making plans to keep another shark in captivity and hopes to capture one late next spring, officials said.

The animal released Tuesday grew 9 inches and gained 68 pounds in captivity, and although its nose was scuffed -- an injury occasionally seen among captive sharks when they bump tank walls -- aquarium officials are confident the fish is none the worse for wear after 137 days in captivity. They expect the shark, like the aquarium's previous great white, to thrive. An electronic tag will track the fish for 90 days.

Photo credit: Ryan Garrett

Parthenogenic Komodo Dragon's hatch

The Parthenogenic eggs layed by a Komodo Dragon in London we wrote about in December have hatched.

The shells began cracking last week, after an eight-month gestation period, which culminated with the arrival on Tuesday of the fifth black and yellow colored dragon.

The dragons are between 15.5 and 17.5 inches and weigh between 3.5 and 5.3 ounces, said Buley, who leads the zoo's expert care team.

He said the reptiles are in good health and enjoying a diet of crickets and locusts.

Other reptile species reproduce asexually in a process known as parthenogenesis. But Flora's virginal conception, and that of another Komodo dragon earlier this year at the London Zoo, are the first time it has been documented in a Komodo dragon.

Mandarin Newt

Tylototriton shanjing
CBB Juvenile

Polar Bears to Be Added to ESL?

The United States government has proposed listing the polar bear under the Endangered Species List, due to the bears' declining numbers. Many have blamed the bears' trouble on global warming. If polar bears are listed on the ESL, it could have far reaching effects on regulation of green house gases.

"They are able to live and thrive in one of the world's harshest environments. But there's concern that their habitat may literally be melting."

The Endangered Species Act requires federal agencies to ensure that all activities the government approves will not harm listed species or their habitats.

Environmental groups quickly connected the announcement with scientific evidence that climate change is melting the iconic bear's Arctic habitat, causing the animals to go hungry and give birth less often.

"This is a watershed decision," said Kassie Siegel, an attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity in Joshua Tree, California. "Even the Bush Administration can no longer deny the science of global warming.

Picture from DarrylW4

Praying Mantis Eats Hummingbird

Follow the link for pictures of a praying mantis eating a hummingbird.