Alaska 2000 (continued)
In the heart of The Brothers Islands, Captain Ronn, a biologist with a deep knowledge of marine life, urged us awake at 6:30 a.m. by starting the boat's generator. By 7:30 we were ashore with Ronn, savoring the remarkable intertidal life revealed by a -4.4 minus tide. Every inch of shoreline was inhabited by one critter or another. Life was so crowded here that it was impossible to move without stepping on an animal of one sort or another.
While exploring the intertidal zone and later the remarkable emerald-green sphagnum and tree-choked wonderland known as the temperate rainforest—in peril from the aggressive clearcutting that takes place in this area—we heard buzzing sounds like a motocross race gone amok. After reboarding the Delphinus, we motored over to the source: a rookery of hundreds of Steller sea lions. The juveniles were particularly interested in we humans, and cavorted around the vessel for as long as we stayed there. Here a curious young Steller sea lion raises its head for a better view.
Is it a doggie pile? Or a sea lion pile? Here, juveniles literally climb on top of one another to learn a little bit more about humans. At least five sea lions strive to be "top dog," or rather, top sea lion.
