As those who live in Santa Cruz can attest, the weather as of late has been pretty tricky. And by tricky weather, I mean sideways-raining, road-closing, tree-falling, flash-flooding weather. While these storms are excellent for cuddling up inside with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book, they are not very conducive to collecting…Continue Reading Why Bad Weather and Resights Don’t Mix
Category: Northern Elephant Seals 2017
A Day in the Life of an Año Field Biologist
We didn’t run out of gas this afternoon, but we were dangerously close… We miraculously MADE IT all the way to Año Nuevo and back in the pouring rain without running out of gas. So as far as I’m concerned, the day was a success. Pro Tips:1. Always be sure to check the gas gauge…Continue Reading A Day in the Life of an Año Field Biologist
Gearing up for a Winter with elephant seals
I had never thought about how large elephant seals really are until I was standing next to a sleeping bull elephant seal for the first time, feeling exceptionally small. I have been going to Año Nuevo with the Costa Lab since April 2016 as a fortunate participant in the field course BIOE 128L, yet I…Continue Reading Gearing up for a Winter with elephant seals
Elephant Seal Research Through the Eyes of a New Undergraduate Volunteer
As an incoming transfer student to UC Santa Cruz from inland Southern California, being able to assist with the elephant seal research conducted by the Costa Lab is an extraordinary opportunity. Last week, I had my first day out in the field with the seals; the incredible beauty of watching the sunrise while juveniles played in…Continue Reading Elephant Seal Research Through the Eyes of a New Undergraduate Volunteer
A Long Migration
This year’s post-molt migration is proving to be unusual, to say the least. Four of our tracked females crossed the dateline during their trip to sea, more than we have ever seen from a single group of tracked seals. One of those animals, nicknamed Phyllis, has broken the distance record for a tracked animal by…Continue Reading A Long Migration