Adult California Sea Lion on Howland’s beach

Sea lions are one of the top predators in the Kelp Forest and its surrounding ecosystems using their front flippers to propel them through the water and their sensitive whiskers known as vibrissae to catch squid, octopi, molluscs, crustaceans and fish. They have adapted to slow their heart rates and stint blood flow to non essential body parts when diving to reach depths of 1,760ft and can remain under water for up to 20min. Under of the Marine Mammal protection act it is no longer legal for humans to hunt sea lions which were once hunted heavily for their furs and blubber leaving only a few natural predators such as sharks and Orca Whales. California Sea Lions are social animals often grouping up on shores or in the water, a group of sea lions in the water is known as a “raft”. The easiest way to tell a sea lion from their relatives the seals is that sea lions have small external ears flaps where as the seals do not.  Sea lions also have a rotating pelvic joint that along with their strong front flippers allow them to walk on land more effectively than seals. Sea lions can often be seen thermo-regulating by laying on their sides in the water with one of their flippers sticking out of the water catching the sun’s rays.  By pushing blood into capillaries near the surface of the exposed flipper it absorbs the heat from the sun heating up the rest of the sea lion as it continues along its path through the circulatory system. Sea lion hunters used to think that this thermo-regulating made their fins look like the handle of an old ceramic or glass jug and so named it “Jug Handling”, to others it looks like the sea lion is waving “hi” to any who pass by.

Sea lions are always a pretty common site around Howland’s Landing whether they’re chasing a school of fish through the cove or swimming by our Kayakers their aquatic acrobatics are always a crowd pleaser.  Over the last few seasons at CELP we have noticed a dramatic increase in the number of sea lions around Catalina Island. Where we used to see rafts of 3-6 sea lions thermo-regulating or swimming along the coast the number of individuals in the rafts has increased into the dozens of late with a couple rafts passing by containing 50-75 sea lions.

This year has seen an unbelievable increase in the amount of sea lions stranded on main land beaches too most of which are small sea lion pups. Where last year Los Angeles County had 36 sea lions reported stranded on its beaches the beginning of this year has already seen over 400 stranded sea lions. Counties up and down the coast of California have seen similar increases in their stranded sea lions. There have been instances in the past involving large numbers of sea lions getting sick from domoic acid poisoning. Domoic acid is a toxin produced by small phytoplankton. Under normal circumstances domoic acid is in such low concentrations that it isn’t harmful to marine life. When there is plenty of sun and an increase in the nutrient levels in the water though whether from natural occurrences or pollution the algae can bloom in exponential numbers, the red coloring of the algae has earned these blooms their name of “red tides”.  As domoic acid climbs the food chain it builds in concentration through a process called biomagnifications. Large amounts of domoic acid in sea lions affects the brain causing them to become lethargic, disoriented, and to have seizures that sometimes result in death. Veterinarians and scientists still aren’t quite sure what is causing the number of stranded sea lions to increase so drastically but with marine mammal rescue centers already filling up there are hoping to find a reason and solution as quick as possible. If you’d like to learn more here are some links to other articles relating to the increase in stranded sea lion.

The Marine Mammal Center takes in malnourished California sea lions to assist Southern California rehabilitation facilities

http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/about-us/News-Room/2013-news-archives/socal-sea-lions.html#.UW8VeHD6L40

‘Unusual mortality event’ is declared for the California sea lion

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-stranded-sea-lions-20130402,0,7225136.story

Residents help out sea lion stranded on Newport Beach boardwalk

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-sea-lion-stranded-on-newport-beach-boardwalk-20130328,0,3605254.story

Starving Baby Sea Lions Flood Southern California Shores

http://www.npr.org/2013/04/09/176586940/starving-baby-sea-lions-flood-southern-california-shores?sc=emaf

Starving sea lion pups fill Calif. rescue centers

http://www.ctpost.com/news/science/article/Starving-sea-lion-pups-fill-Calif-rescue-centers-4442152.php

California Sea Lion pup comes ashore for a rest and some sun.

CA Sea Lion pup resting in the sun at Howland’s Landing tide pools

CA Sea Lion pup scratching an itch while resting in the Howland’s Landing tide pools.

The spring season is well on its way and already there are many new and exciting
things taking place here at CELP from the landscape, to back in the garden, and even
to the residents of Howland’s Landing.
The winter rains are still providing the landscape with lush greens and springing
up new native wildflowers. Catalina is home to more than 400 native plants, and
200 non-native plants. Here are a few of the native wildflowers you can see in and
around our cove.

Wild Hyacinth or blue dicks are a member of the Lily family and have speckled their
purple flower all over the island on the dry, rocky slopes and can usually be found
near the costal safe shrubs and cactus clumps.

The bush sunflowers with their small but bright yellow flowers are brightening up
the rocky canyon slopes and sea bluffs.

The Indian paintbrush is painting the dry, rocky slopes of the island red with the
deep reds of their flowers.

In our garden we have been enjoying the remainder of our winter harvest of leafy
green vegetables like arugula, kale, tatsoi, broccoli, and Swiss chard. We have
planted and are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our tomatoes, potatoes, cilantro, basil
and garlic.

The garden space is in an exciting transition period and thanks to our volunteer
groups we have been able to make some alterations and expansions in our garden
and compost area of camp. We are in the process of building a new compost system
that will be above the ground instead of the in the ground trench system that we
have now. The volunteers also helped plant around 50 individual native plants
around our cove. The native species included elderberry trees, Catalina cherry trees,
lemonade berry, costal sage brush, aloe Vera, Manzanita, lupine, and malva rosa.

Along with changes in our landscape and garden we have a lot of new faces on staff
at CELP this season. The diversity of people on staff here creates a community that
can emulate the biodiversity of our cove. Biodiversity is good!

Here are some great photos by our staff member Allison.

Bush Sunflower

Indian Paintbrush

Wild Hyacinth

We would like to thank the following schools for their hard work and enthusiasm this year:

James Madison University (Harrisonburg, Virginia)

Colorado State University (Fort Collins, Colorado)

Iowa Energy and Sustainability Academy (Des Moines, Iowa)

CSU San Bernardino (San Bernardino, CA)

UC San Diego (San Diego, CA)

UC Irvine (Irvine, CA)

Outward Bound Adventures (Los Angeles, CA)

American Conservation Experience (Santa Cruz, CA)

Manny the resident mantis shrimp

A plethora of juvenile fishes (Garibaldi, Blacksmith and Topsmelt to name a few)

Two-spot Octopi

Leopard sharks, horn sharks and angel sharks (all harmless bottom-dwellers)

When we manage to pull ourselves away from those beckoning azure waters, the host of terrestrial critters proves equally captivating.

Our endemic Catalina Island Foxes make frequent stops into camp searching for water during this drought season. Bouncing back from near extinction in the late 1990’s, the population is currently at about 1,542 individuals.

Also on the lookout for water are non-native and invasive animals such as deer and bison.

A juvenile red-tail hawk appears almost daily to perform aerial displays of its predatory prowess.

The Howlands garden thrives as it prepares for more even more seedlings to grow. Students recently planted lettuce seeds, which should be ready in a few weeks, and transplanted green onion and tomato. Also in the ground are bell peppers, zucchini, squash, basil, carrots, chard, eggplant, lemon, and assorted lettuces.

A huge shout-out to Our ACE volunteer crew (American Conservation Experience) and CELP students for contributing to the on-going eradication of an invasive plant called fennel from within our camp and from a very special place called Inspiration Point. Fennel poses great harm not only to the well-being of our island’s ecological biodiversity, but also to economic sustainability here on Catalina. Many thanks to all those who have helped to manually remove it from our precious soil.

The Sun Setting over Howlands Landing

Back in the garden, we have been enjoying sugar snap peas, fava beans, green onions, garlic, carrots, asparagus, lemons, parsley, and lettuces galore. With the help of all our CELP students, volunteers, staff, and chaperones, we have planted all the new seeds in order to begin a delicious summer and fall garden. Basil, tomatoes, lemon cucumbers, zucchini, squash, cilantro, and peppers are all on the horizon to grow, to flourish, and to be enjoyed.

Worms making rich compost for our Garden!

Out in the cove of Howland’s Landing, we have also seen some changes in the oceans, mostly temperature-wise. Finally, the bat rays are back! Gliding around, looking as if they’re flying under the sea. We have seen the sandy bottom transform- at first thinking there is nothing there, then seeing shovel-nose guitar fish, round rays, navanax, and bubble snails emerge as you look closer. And, if you’re lucky, swimming alongside those gorgeous and gentle leopard sharks. The kelp forest has been alive and well all season. Sea cucumbers to kiss for seven years of good luck, sea hares to cuddle with, and Garibaldis to pose for your underwater pictures.

Navanax

Harbor Seals on a Reef Marker outside Two Harbors

This season we’ve had lots of interesting creatures come through our cove, on land, as well. Lots of bison, acorn woodpeckers, ravens, beechy ground squirrels, and Catalina Island foxes have strolled, scampered, and flown through camp.

Beechy Ground Squirrel

The spring season is also a time for another type of CELP visitor to come along- the volunteer. The Stop the Spread program has been more than successful this spring. With the help of our new volunteer friends, many fennel plants have seen their doom. Fennel is an invasive plant that has been taking over Catalina Island. I like to compare an invasive plant to some sort of an invader–they take over all the nearby land and do not let native, endemic, or any other plants grow. Howland’s Landing is getting closer and closer to being fennel free- thank you volunteers! We cannot tell you how much we appreciate you coming out to the island and giving up your spring break.

Catalina Live Forever

Also a big thank you to all the schools that came out this season, it was a great and memorable time! What have you done since you left the island to be more sustainable?

Dolphins Just Outside our Cove

Stay tuned as many of our staff will be returning for the Fall and embarking on the annual Sustainable Living Bike Tour.

Catalina Island Camps

If you enjoyed your week out at CELP there is a good chance that you will love our summer camp too! During the summer we offer even more fun adventures- stand up paddle boarding, archery, riflery, powerboat activities, overnights, zip lining, and outdoor cooking, just to name a few. Go to our website to learn more:

 www.catalinaislandcamps.com

Would you like a visit from the Sustainable Living Bike Tour?

Would you like help starting a school ecology club?

Come talk to us at our booth. Also, bring the family and participate in fitness classes and eco-friendly workshops, and enjoy live music and guilt-free shopping! Admission, parking and bike valet are FREE! 

Learn more @ http://www.facebook.com/SantaMonicaFestival and  http://www.smgov.net/Portals/Culture/content.aspx?id=15035

SATURDAY, MAY 19, 11AM – 6PM AT CLOVER PARK (26th & Ocean Park).

We hope you enjoyed your weekend and Earth Day last Sunday. We would love to hear what you got up to. Well here at Howlands we try and make everyday Earth Day because we think it’s that special and we encourage you to do the same. Here are some people who think outside the box to come up with some cleaver ways to help save our Earth one bit at a time.

Bio Gas

Europe’s largest applied research centre Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB got the idea that the compost pile and worm bin are no longer the only appropriate resting places for peach pits, banana peels, and apple cores.  They are turning old produce into bio-gas at a pilot site in Stuttgart, Germany. Conveniently located next to the city’s wholesale vegetable market, the facility will use microorganisms to transform food scraps into methane gas, which can power a car once compressed and emits less carbon dioxide during combustion than gasoline.

http://www.good.is/post/fuel-gets-fruity-converting-produce-scraps-into-gas/

Cars that run on vegetables! Even better than the Dalorian in ‘Back to the Future’.

One of the reasons we love our Earth is that it’s contains some really smart organisms and if we look to them for inspiration we could really help ourselves.

The artificial leaf that could power your home.

Call it faux-tosynthesis. An MIT research team lead by Daniel Nocera revealed an “artificial leaf” that uses the sun’s rays to produce energy. Developing an energy source modeled on photosynthesis like this has long been a goal of energy science.

Their new leaf utilizes relatively abundant and inexpensive materials—nickel and cobalt—for its catalysts. The leaf itself is described as about the size of a playing card, and in laboratory conditions, it’s proven to generate power continuously for 45 hours without a drop in performance. In theory, with one such leaf and a gallon of water, a typical house could be powered for a day.

http://www.good.is/post/faux-tosynthesis-the-artificial-leaf-that-could-power-your-home/

Keep loving your planet Earth and happy every day Earth Day to everyone.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-catalina-bones-20120402,0,5531466.story