In Good Company

Tully Rohrer

October 9^th, 2006

These are California Sea Lions at Seal Rock on the eastern end of Catalina. Seal Rock is a rookery (breeding ground) for these pinnipeds, and over a hundred individuals call this place home. This image was captured last spring (same time as this one), but I was inspired to post it after talking with some sea lion experts at a lecture the other night. Also extremely agile, these creatures are some of the smartest and most charismatic animals in our ocean, capable of abstract thought and very long-term memory. Later this week my friend Nora and I will be circumnavigating the island (around a 60-mile paddle), and will have the opportunity to visit Seal Rock again and encounter some more of these 8-foot 800 pound bulls.
I also liked this version for the “old time” feel, but ended up preferring the brilliant blues of the water.

I like the color version better simply because the water is so stunning compared to the earthy brown of the sea lions. Very pretty.

Annie — October 9^th, 2006