| Sea Lion Invasion
Having been to Morro Bay before, we expected to see wildlife in the bay. We looked forward to seeing pelicans, sea lions, harbor seals and otters. What we didn’t expect was the number. Our first destination after getting the flat settled was to walk the waterfront. The Morro Bay waterfront is so picturesque that anyone carrying a camera is likely to blow all the available film in a single two-mile walk. That is if you have an appreciation of boats, harbors and backdrops of massive natural tourist attractions such as Morro Rock. If nothing else people love the “I was here” photographs. At first I didn’t notice anything unusual. I was so entranced with the beauty of the place. But, after a couple of trips to the waterfront I started to notice the pelicans. I expected pelicans loitering around the fishing boats, bait docks and dockside restaurants. What surprised me was the number of pelicans feeding in the open water of the bay. Pelicans feed naturally by opening their large beaks and diving straight down into the water. This behavior is startling and impressive to those who have never experienced it. This feeding behavior indicated a large school of small fish (probably sardines) near the surface. It’s fun to watch. |
| I’m not sure whether I hadn’t noticed or if the number of California Sea Lions steadily increased. But, after a couple of weeks the number of sea lions became too large to ignore. Gangs of sea lions, with four to eight members each, could be seen at almost any time patrolling the harbor. I wasn’t clear whether the sea lions were attracted to the diving pelicans or the other way around. As the schools of fish surfaced both the sea lions and pelicans could be seen in a feeding frenzy.
As our awareness expanded, we started to notice large numbers of pelicans on the sand dunes separating the harbor from the ocean. These flocks were crowded together and seemed content to just stand around and gossip. Periodically large fights of birds would take off and go off on some mission or maybe just to get some exercise. I’ve never seen that many pelicans in one place. After a while, the sea lion were not content to swim around and eat fish. They started to haul out on the docks and boats. They seemed immune to the proximity of people or boats and would boldly hop up on floating docks and low gunwales of docked and moored boats. There aren’t a lot of people willing to try to dissuade a 600-pound sea lion with a mouth like a very big dog from using their dock. Sea lions are a protected species. The fishermen and pleasure boat owners were grumbling about this invasion and threatened drastic solutions. I can’t imagine what would happen if the government protection was suddenly removed. Some control might have to eventually be imposed. Pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and elephant seals) have multiplied in amazing numbers on the Pacific coast in the last twenty years or so. Reintroducing their natural predators, the grizzly bear, seems out of the question. By the middle of November, both the pelicans and the sea lions disappeared. Not all of them. The harbor and coastal shores still has a resident population, but the large numbers are gone. I suspect that the pelicans migrated south, but I have no idea where the sea lions might have gone. |
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| Above Left: Female and Juvenile Brown Pelican Above Right: A Squadron of Pelican on Patrol Below Left: Two Gangs of Sea Lions Below Right: Taking over the docks and floats |
| Meanwhile, the otters were scarce. I saw one lone guy working along the harbor piers but nothing like the numbers that we had seen in earlier visits. Then I found a tribe of 3-8 individuals hanging out near the rock at the harbor entrance. The otters wrap themselves a kelp frond as an anchor to the current. They have a reputation of being ferocious eaters and so I’m surprised that they seem to have taken up residency in that one place. They seem happy there and that is just perfect for the tourist because it’s right next to one of the viewpoint parking lots. The otters can almost consistently be found at this hangout and seem oblivious to the tourist and admirers.
As an added attraction to the otter scene, one or more of the otters has given birth to pups. Over the last months we have seen the pup(s) grow from tiny to nearly full-grown. The mother is very attentive and ignores tourist, tour boats, kayaks and divers - A real crowd pleaser. |
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| Sea Otters: Some wrap themselves in seaweed to hold in place against the tides. The horbor tours boat doesn't bother the otters |
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