La Jolla is for Lovers. . . and Seals
La Jolla is home to many wonderful things – the University of California at San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the late Dr. Suess, the venerable La Valencia Hotel, La Jolla Cove, gorgeous views and scenery. But my favorites are relative newcomers — the colony of Pacific harbor seals. La Jolla began to be settled by modern settlers in the late 1800’s. The harbor seals started moving into the area of the Children’s Pool beach around 1987, one hundred years later. La Jolla is one of the few areas in the world where harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) can be closely observed.
Harbor seals are a variety of pinnipeds, along with sea lions and walruses – carnivorous aquatic mammals distinguished by their flipper-like limbs. La Jolla also hosts a colony of sea lions, also relative newcomers, who inhabit the rocky shoreline north of La Jolla Cove.
Differences Between Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions
1. Harbor seals are smaller than sea lions. Harbor seals grow to 5 to 6 feet in length, and up to 250 pounds. Sea lions are 5.5 to 7.25 feet long, and can be 610 to 860 pounds.
2. Harbor seals fur can be a variety of shades. The patterns range from white, silver or light gray with dark rings or spots, to darker coats of beige, brown, dark gray or black light rings or spots. Sea lions tend to be a more uniform shade of chocolate or golden brown.
3. Harbor seals are relatively quiet, and sea lions are noisy! If you hear an animal barking on the beach, it is most likely a sea lion.
4. Though both seals and sea lions are social animals, living in colonies, the seals tend to rest on land side by side, while sea lions can be seen piled up on top of each other in groups.
Harbor seals eat crustaceans, squid, fish, and mollusks. They are apex, or top of the food chain, eaters, so are indicators of the health of a particular marine environment. I think we can safely assume that the marine protected area around La Jolla is in very good shape, as the seals are definitely thriving there.
Both seals and pelicans can be observed at Shell Beach, just one beach south of the Childrens’ Pool beach. It is a great spot for a picnic at low tide. For some reason, the beach tends to funnel and collect shells, hence the name Shell Beach. Below is sample of some of the shells on the beach.
Certain times of year, the seals are less evident. During the summer months they spend more time in the water and less time on land. Spring months are pupping season, when the colony can be seen on the beach.
Seal pups weigh about 25 pounds when born, and after a month of nursing their mother’s rich milk, are weaned at 50 pounds.
In the water, the seals are graceful, playful and elegant. On land, their movements are ungainly.
California Brown Pelican
La Jolla, as well as other coastal areas in San Diego, is also home to the California Brown Pelican. Lines of pelicans fly along the coastline, and dive for fish.
Pelicans, Pelecanus occidentalis, are impressive divers. They can dive from 60 feet in the air. Then they hit the water with a force that stuns fish even 6 feet below the surface. The pelican has air sacs throughout its body to help to cushion it from the force of the dive.
Somehow I managed to catch a pelican in flight right over a harbor seal. I’m pretty proud of this shot.
As with so many good things in life, the seals of La Jolla are not without controversy. They have enthusiastic supporters, but also rabid detractors.
When you get to San Diego, don’t miss a visit with the seals of La Jolla!
https://www.donnaamisdavis.com/la-jolla-lovers-seals/Animals Wild & TameSan Diegobirdwatching,California,California harbor seals,coastline,Donna Amis Davis,La Jolla,ocean,pelicans,Sea LionsLa Jolla is home to many wonderful things - the University of California at San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the late Dr. Suess, the venerable La Valencia Hotel, La Jolla Cove, gorgeous views and scenery. But my favorites are relative newcomers -- the colony of Pacific harbor seals. La...Donna Amis DavisDonna Amis Davis[email protected]AdministratorDonna Amis Davis
What’s not to love? 🙂 Nice shots, Donna. You could make the captions a bit more, um, captivating, though. LOL.
Ah… you did. 🙂 Fun post!
Thanks, Anita.
Apparently, after I loaded all the photos into the post, before I wrote much, I thought I was clicking ‘update post’ when actually it was ‘publish post’. Yikes. Sorry about the premature email notification.