[CINC] Islander & ESCI Tues. 1/13

[Marty Flam]

IPCO Islander & ESCI Tues. 1/13
 
Gray Whales, spouting & some fluking 
   3 (morning, south or east bound before AI-SCI gap, unsure if heading through gap or along south side of AI en route to Baja lagoons);
    2 (morning, closer to San Pedro Pt.)
Common Dolphins 
  5 (mid channel in morning, 1000 mid channel in afternoon)
CA Sea Lions
   apx. 5 Vta Harbor Buoy thermoregulating, am & pm, warm day
   apx. 3 mid-channel (poss. mis-identified as Sea Otters on Jan. 1)
   apx. 1 Scorpion Anchorage
 
Wonderful warm almost windless weather, calm seas, spectacular vistas, great sightings.
 
IPCO Islander Informed, Efficient & Genial Crew - Capt. Dave, Capt. Anthony, Ali & Andrea; Lulis, CINPS Ranger
Passengers - Denmark, PA, OK, WA, OR, CA, including classroom of Middle school outbound Campers for 3 nights from Whidbey Island, WA
Visitors Interests - Hike, Bird watch, Camp, Kayak, Picnic, Ranching, Plants, Animals, History, Photography, Landscape Oil Painting.
 
The birdwatcher groups spotted the Island Scrub Jay, both by Prisoners and up Scorpion Canyon.  Some had IPCO's checklist.  Most returning campers saw SCI Foxes, all saw spotted skunk. Some reported sightings of migrating Grays from Cavern Point.
 
A special treat for me was meeting and discussing the most current bone dating techniques CINPS Anthropologist Kelly Minas en route.  At Scorpion, I discovered the landing craft had arrived and a Budget rental truck was being unloaded with NJ museum exhibit creators and/or installation crew with Derek fully engaged.  The great and historic day approaches!
 
 
Question of the Day:  "What will it be, Mammoth or Marine Mammal?"
Alicia Chang, AP Science writer starts her report in LA Times this morning: "A complete tusk believed to belong to a prehistoric mammoth was uncovered on Santa Cruz Island off the Southern California coast, researchers reported Tuesday."  The article ends: 
"Paul Collins, curator of vertebrate zoology at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, was unsure of the significance of the latest find based on pictures he has seen...it was possible the remains could have belonged to a marine mammal and said an excavation should settle the matter...'It's very difficult to tell whether or not you're dealing with mammoth bones,' "  [emphasis added] The article (on line) ends with a reference to CINPS website!
 http://www.latimes.com/news/science/wire/sns-ap-sci-island-tusk,1,7845218.story

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