Spring weather on the Farallones is deceptive. While the mainland begins to wake up from the dormant stage of winter, the temperature on the islands becomes cooler. The trademark northwesterly winds of spring that creates rich upwelling zones within the California Current rips through the lonesome rock, sometimes reaching gusts up to 40 knots. After
Farallones Tags: SEFI
Happy New Year, let’s talk about E-Seals! By Seth Bartusek
Hello everyone and Happy 2022! It’s already been an exciting Northern Elephant Seal breeding season on SEFI, and I’m excited to update you all on the Colony. But first let’s back up and go over some background context: Elephant Seals have been recolonizing SEFI since the 1960s, and we now have a modestly sized breeding
Winter Elephant Seal Research Crew 2021-2022
It is winter time on the Farallones again, where Elephant Seals are the focus of our research. Meet the new team of research assistants!
Exciting Encounters at SST Point!
One of the most exciting aspects of our daily weather observations that take place midday every day is heading towards East Landing to record Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and to collect salinity samples at the aptly named SST Point. While a seemingly straightforward procedure, the position of the point past the landing with the potential
E Seal, E Seal! Read All About It!
The 2021 Elephant Seal breeding season has come to a close… and we’ve got some fun elephant seals facts for you!
Goodbye West End, Until Next Year
Every year around this time we say goodbye to the magical place that is West End.
New Wintering Songbirds On SEFI
SEFI has a suite of typical wintering songbirds, but this year we had a few extra sparrows that have never been documented in the winter!
SEFI’s Giant Gray Visitors
Each winter the waters surrounding the Farallon Islands teem with charcoal-colored, behemoth-sized visitors arriving from the north… the Gray Whale!
Fantastic Find on the Farallones
The crews on the Southeast Farallon Island are used to finding random objects throughout the island since gulls bring many back from the coast, but they weren’t prepared for what they found on February 6th.
Spring Tides Reveal Intertidal Treasures
We’re not referring to the season spring, but a ‘spring tide.’ This is a term referring to the periods of higher high and lower low tides during new and full moon. There is some really cool stuff in our intertidal!
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