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Education
Pinnipeds
Pinnipeds are flipper-footed mammals that live both in water and on land. There are 34 species of pinnipeds, including seals, sea lions, and walruses. These species are organized into three families: Otariidae (eared seals), Phocidae (true seals), and Odobenidae (walruses).
The most common species of pinnipeds at Año Nuevo Island are: northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), and Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus).
Seals and sea lions: what's the difference?
Although seals and sea lions are both pinnipeds, they have vastly different body shapes and behaviors!
Here are some easy ways to tell them apart:
1. Ears: Sea lions have external ear flaps whereas seals have ear holes and no external ears.
2. Movement: Sea lions have a pelvis that can rotate, that means they can walk around using all four flippers. Seals are not able to walk, so they move their body by undulating.
3. Flippers: Sea lions have long front flippers used for propulsion, and their hind flippers are just for steering. Seals have short front flippers and use their hind flippers to propel themselves underwater!
4. Vocalization: Sea lions have the characteristic "bark" that you may have heard at the beach before. Seals do not bark but do make some interesting vocalizations.
If you're interested in learning about elephant seal vocalizations, watch this video about past research on the subject.
Protection
All species of marine mammals are federally protected under The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972. The MMPA prohibits harassment, hunting, capturing, and killing of marine mammals. This act has allowed species such as whales, sea otters, and elephant seals to begin to recover from intense hunting. It also was pivotal in recognizing marine mammals as an important part of ocean ecosystems that are in need of our protection.
The animals that live at Año Nuevo are also protected within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) which encompasses more than 6,000 square miles of ocean. The MBNMS protects valuable resources and presents a unique opportunity for researchers to collect data in areas that are protected from harmful human activity.
Want to learn more?
Here are some of our favorite websites for learning more about pinnipeds!
Other Resources
If you see someone harassing a marine mammal or otherwise violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act call NOAA's 24/7 hotline at 800-853-1964
If you find a marine mammal on the beach that you believe is sick or injured call The Marine Mammal Center at 415-289-7325.
Birds
We are asking volunteers to identify gulls, Brandt’s cormorants, and brown pelicans in our photos. This data can help us track the number of nests built on the island each year, and provide valuable census data. Just like with seals and sea lions, researchers have tried to census birds such as cormorants from the ground, but this is extremely difficult due to many birds occupying offshore rocks that are not visible. Oikonos, a bird research and conservation group, often conducts research on Año Nuevo Island. Learn more about Oikonos here.
Gulls
Gulls are what most people consider "seagulls." However, there are many different species of gulls, such as western gulls, California gulls, and Heermann's gulls. Because these species of gulls are difficult to differentiate, especially in drone photos, we simplified the category to “gulls” in general. Many gulls build nests on the island; they can be extremely territorial and often harass or attack both researchers and other animals that get too close. This is another reason why we fly the drone so high - to avoid disturbing marine mammals and to dodge gull attacks!
Pictured below is the western gull, Heermann’s gull, and California gull.
Photo Source
Brandt’s cormorants
Cormorants are often the most abundant species of bird on the island. Their numbers can fluctuate dramatically - from 3,000 to over 11,000! Not all cormorants come to the island to build nests, some roost (rest) on the island as a part of a longer flight up or down the coast. One striking characteristic of Brandt’s cormorants is their bright blue throat pouches which they use to attract mates.
Photo Source / Photo Source
Brown Pelicans
Brown Pelicans were almost driven to extinction in the 1940s due to the harmful pesticide known as DDT. DDT was carried into the ocean via watersheds, where it entered the food chain in fish. As pelicans ate fish containing DDT, their eggs became too thin-shelled to be viable, and their numbers quickly fell. For many years, pelicans were in danger of extinction; DDT was banned in 1973 and thanks to many conservation efforts, their numbers began to rise (Source). Today, many pelicans can be observed roosting, feeding, and gliding over the waves at Año Nuevo Island.
Photo Source
More birds of Año Nuevo Island
We can't possibly count every species of bird on the island from the drone photos, but here are some unique species often at Año Nuevo. Pictured below from left to right is a black oyster catcher, pigeon guillemot, and rhinoceros auklet.
