9~
Sea lions' pining
heard throughout
Avalon accompany
feeding frenzy on
squid and other "bait
fish" in the area
BY DENNIS KAISER AND
THERESA CUMMINGS
The pining sounds waft across
Avalon Harbor in the cool of the
February morning light.
"Aft, arf, arf, arf."
For the past couple of weeks
it's been a familiar refrain.
"I guess the seals are awake,"
says Vern Altieri, a local resident
and musician as he heads Off in a
golf cart to his day job in Avalon.
The barks of visiting sea lions
in Avalon Harbor have recent-
ly- reverberated through the
city, reaching as far as Avalon
Canyon.
Little pods of California sea
lions gather in the water of the
harbor and stretch out about a
mile into the Pacific Ocean. For
those who live aboard their boats,
it can be a disturbing sound if you
are trying to sleep into the mid-
morning.
It almost seems as if the sea
lions have come to enjoy Avalon
in the off season or to mate off the
shore of the "Island of Romance."
However, according to Avalon
Harbor Patrol, the reason for their
extended visit is as simple as the
basic need to feed. Lately they
have been filling up on squid and
other bait fish that led them to
Avalon.
For the last few
weeks, Avalon
Harbor has been
filled with an unusu-
ally high number of
sea lions. Although
large groups of sea
lions are commonly
found on the East
End of the Island in
an area called Seal
Rocks Beach, the
Avalon Harbor Patrol
has reported that this
is the first time in
known history that
such a large number
of sea lions are actu-
ally within Avalon abundant food supply. This area
Harbor itself, also has steep cliffs and sea lions
"Seal Rocks Beach on the east are concerned about predators
end of the Island is considered a such as bears and lions. Although
rookery (colony of breeding ani- we don't have them on the Island,
mals) for sea lions" said Mike~ it is intuitively seen ~ a safety
Armstrong, a local boat captain, mechanism. This area also has
"Because of ~onverging sea cur- a thick kelp forest, which keeps
rents in the area, it creates an sharks and killer whales away
California sea lions frolic under the ocean
waves and on the nearby shore in there pho-
tos. The sea lions hae recently visited Avalon-
Harbor to dine of an abundance of'bait fish.
Courtesy photos
from the location."
Armstrong has been a boat
captain for 35 years and moved
to Catalina with his family from
Newport nine years ago to work
for the Santa Catalina Island
Company.
He attributed his knowledge
to the many locals who have had
multigenerational experiences
with marine life. Armstrong said
there were more sea lions in the
area than usual because there are
fewer predators and a more abun-
dant food supply.
According to San Diego's
SeaWorld, California sea lions
are among the most vocal of all
mammals. Their vocalization
It almost seems as if the
sea lions have come to
enjoy Avalon in the off
season or to mate off
the shore of the "Island
of Romance." However,
according to Avalon Harbor
Patrol, the reason for their
extended visit is as simple
as the basic need to feed.
includes barks, growls and grunts.
During the breeding season, male
California sea lions bark inces-
santly when establishing territo-
ries. Once established, the males
bark only when maintaining and
defending their territories.
The abundance of food, known
as 'bait," has recently been report-
ed on news networks. This sea-
son has seen an exceptional abun-
dance of squid in the channel.
According to the California Wet
Fish organization, fisherman in
San Diego and Orange County are
catching large Humboldt squid by
the hundreds. One fisherman said
that he caught enough squid for
the entire year. Others reported
record numbers of giant squid
being caught.
Tourists visiting Catalina
Island have been delighted to see
and hear all the activity of the sea
lions not only in the harbor, but
also on tours taking them out .to
Seal Rock Beach. The sea lions
born in the fall are now seen as
playful and entertaining, and the
sea lions swim close by tour boats,
as if they understand that visitors
are happy to see them
However, the Pacific Marine
Mammal Center website advises
Sea Lions, Page 9
Is,oocR
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