Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Harbor Seals



The beach below is part of the Hopkins State Marine Reserve and is a frequent haul-out for resident harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). Births take place during April and May. Newborn pups weigh about 20 lbs. and nurse for 15 to 40 days before they are weaned. Males start breeding at 5 years and weigh up to 200 lbs. Females breed at 3 to 4 years and weigh about 150 lbs. Harbor seals feed primarily at night on fishes, cephalopods, and crustaceans. Average dive time is 5 to 8 minutes, but can be as long as 35 minutes. They can dive as deep as 1,500 feet.

For further information visit http://hopkins.stanford.edu/seals




click it twice?!
(this is my first blog video)
They are sooo cute!

8 comments:

  1. very cute seals and love the video
    you must teach me how to do that!!!


    Love Ya

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love them and I know you had a good time.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your first video and a humdinger! You were really near to get those shots. Occasionally I get to see the head of a seal out at sea off the coast of Wales but nothing that close. I keep meaning to go back up to Scotland where they breed, but unfortunately money and free time never seem to coincide.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ditto! Adorable and I want to learn how to do the video!!! Was it hard? Was your zoom on or did you dance with the seals!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. that is peaceful co-existance for you. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wanda! you are so funny!
    :D

    I had zoomed in on them. There was a chain link fence between us. At night you could just hear them barking... I told my husband that I just wanted to go down there and give them hugs and assure them it was okay. I had not realized that it was there feeding time. Charlie let me know, they wouldn't feel like a hug.
    ;)

    ReplyDelete
  7. They are really very cute! I love the video! Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Isn't it incredible seeing them in person? I went to some beach just south of SanFran w/ my birth-dad once. We went to see the elephant seals. I didn't see any bulls - I'm glad, though. Those mommies were HUGE. I think the bulls would have made me run!

    ReplyDelete