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Californian Sealion


Californian Sealion
Photo Information
Copyright: Janice Dunn (Janice) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3410 W: 144 N: 5798] (17183)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-15
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 30d, Canon 70-300mm DO IS USM
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/640 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): workshops photos with minimum 3 points [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-09 0:07
Viewed: 608
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Sealion


CALIFORNIAN SEALION
Zalophus californianus californianus

Auckland Zoo is home to Californian sealions, New Zealand fur seals, a sub Antarctic fur seal, little blue penguins and several shore birds.

This is one of the Californian sealions swimming in front of the underground window. The glass is very thick and it isn’t easy getting a very sharp clear photo of these quick mammals as they speed pass the window.

Type: Mammal

Habitat: The Californian sealion is found off the Californian coastline, in warm and temperate waters.

Age: Their expected life span is between 20 and 30 years.

Sealions appear to 'fly' through the water using their front flippers to pull them. They use their back flippers as a rudder. On land, sealions move by using all four flippers. This is different from seals, which drag themselves along with their front flippers.

Sealion family groups have one male (a bull) and a harem of females. Scuttle and Kipper share their enclosure with two New Zealand fur seals (Kaiako and Moana) and a sub-antarctic fur seal called, Orua.

Some facts about the Sealions at our zoo: The sealion keepers at the Auckland Zoo spend a lot of time interacting with the sealions with training. This is to stimulate their bodies and minds. It is a most enjoyable experience for the sealions and the keepers, who build up a great bond with their animals.
eng55, eqshannon, loot, marhowie, magiqa has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To azleader: Thank youJanice 2 05-09 15:18
To eqshannon: Thank you for the WSJanice 1 05-09 13:56
To loot: WS and RugbyJanice 1 05-09 13:48
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1128 W: 254 N: 2441] (11099)
  • [2008-05-09 0:14]

Hi Janice,

A nice capture of this sealion,the colors are great,I suppose it was not that easy to capture this through the glass,the pose and pov are really great,well done and tfs

Paul

hi Janice,
very nice picture under the water of a very nice animal, brava
kind regards
franco

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 351 W: 3 N: 375] (1121)
  • [2008-05-09 2:20]

Hi Janice,
I liked funny pose of this seallion a lot:)Eye contact and composition are beautiful as well.
Thanks for posting.

I wish I were a Kid again. Back in the mid perhaps early 1950's I went to Marineland in Florida. It was the first of it's kind in the world...the whole world...and it reminds me much of this. Some other places have them now of course...bigger....better..and even sell draft beer:-)
A fine image Janice...I would wish perhaps to take some of this some day once more...Wonderful blue...it looks so....so...New Zealand!:-)
bob

Color, content and capture are good.

I believe this species has proliferated into Oregon and as far north as British Columbia. They are a growing population and have become a problem to fishermen.

The entire salmon fishing season was canceled this year because of declining salmon runs. It was not caused by sea lions but salmon are a favorite food of theirs. A number of sea lions swam more than 150 miles(250km) up the Columbia River in search of food. They made it to a dam where they were feasting on salmon just below the fish ladder.

Six were trapped and caged by the state fisheries department and were awaiting transport back to the ocean when they were killed by angry fishermen.

Hi Janice

So what happened here? Did you hold your camera upside-down while this poor sealion had to balance that log on its back (chuckle)?

Those lovely big eyes kept track of your actions and I wonder who was more fascinated by the goings-on, you or the sealion? A good capture considering the thick Plexiglas screen and the density of the water. It looks like it is an open top aquarium with natural light coming through the surface and you made good use of the natural light. A little spot of OE on the belly, but nothing too serious or distracting.

Good effort and TFS.
Besr regards
Kia Ora
Loot

PS1. I see the Hurricanes allowed the Force to upset our picks already in the first game for the weekend. Let's hope the rest of the weekend turn out better. I don't know how many games I've missed out on, during this year, with last minute point margins being altered or the swing winning points being scored. Anyway, enjoy the games.

PS2. Not that I think it is open season on workshops, but I also felt this uncontrollable urge to play around a bit with your posting (chuckle). Hope you don't mind too much.

Hola Janice.
Original PoV y buen comentario.
Saludos, JL.

Cool Janice!
The pose and POV here carry the day!
The workshops may have improved it some..But I think in this case everyone should just take an "inverted" perspective..and smile :))
An enjoyable visit once again mf,
Howard

Hi Janice,
first I thought you dive too. But I understand you have taken the photo through a glass window? Very good photo! Great portrait of the sea lion!

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