Grey Seals at Donna Nook

[Rainbowmum]

Originally Posted by RobSutton

I came across a theory once that late pupping (is that a proper term?) in grey seals came about because of early (Mesolithic?) human pressure on seal colonies. As the pups stayed on the breeding beaches for three weeks or so after they were born they were very vulnerable to human exploitation. By breeding later they suffered more bad weather losses but that bad weather made human access to the breeding sites more difficult and overall losses were lower. As a result there was a selection pressure in favour of later breeding. The common seal pups can swim immediately they are born so were less vulnerable to human pressure and so breed earlier. Now all I'll have to do is rack my brains for a source for you - I'm pretty sure it was one of the big island naturalists, Morton-Boyd or someone like that - I'll try and remember and let you know.

Wow, if that's the case it is truly amazing and what very intelligent creatures they are!

[speckled wood]

Originally Posted by RobSutton

I came across a theory once that late pupping (is that a proper term?) in grey seals came about because of early (Mesolithic?) human pressure on seal colonies. As the pups stayed on the breeding beaches for three weeks or so after they were born they were very vulnerable to human exploitation. By breeding later they suffered more bad weather losses but that bad weather made human access to the breeding sites more difficult and overall losses were lower. As a result there was a selection pressure in favour of later breeding. The common seal pups can swim immediately they are born so were less vulnerable to human pressure and so breed earlier. Now all I'll have to do is rack my brains for a source for you - I'm pretty sure it was one of the big island naturalists, Morton-Boyd or someone like that - I'll try and remember and let you know.

I have read something similar concerning Rabbits in that by nature they live above ground and feed in the daytime and that it was simply the fact that humans preyed on them that drove them to burrow and live underground and feed at night. It is interesting that in some European countries typical British "garden" birds such as Robins and Blackbirds are confined to woodland and seldom seen near human habitation apparently because of human predation.

[Alan]

Went to Donna Nook this afternoon - plenty of visitors there. A couple of weeks ago it was reported that in one weekend they had 7000 visitors! The wardens told me last Saturday alone they had 4000

The seal pup count hasn’t finished yet for this year, but last year they had 995.

The couple of pics below where taken from the picket fence area.

Quite an old pup..


A very young one (still white)..


Alan

[aeshna5]

Lovely pics- must try + get there one day!

[Susie]

Oh wow - what lovely photos!

[cherrybee]

Ahhhh what lovely photos.Wish I lived nearby I would love to see seals especially the babies.They really have the Ahhh factor with those beautiful eyes

[Falc]

I went at dawn on Sunday, walked out to the sandbanks and with only 3 people there we got some close close shots. I had 800m of beach to myself and several hundred cows/pups and fighting bulls. Here's one of the Cows and her pup.

http://www.pbase.com/falcn/image/71135927

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Falc

I went at dawn on Sunday, walked out to the sandbanks and with only 3 people there we got some close close shots. I had 800m of beach to myself and several hundred cows/pups and fighting bulls. Here's one of the Cows and her pup.

Atlantic Grey Seal and Pup photo - falcn photos at pbase.com

Nice shot Falc, and well done for taking the sandbank walk! Last time I was out on them (few years ago), there was a bit of a gale. Binoculars ended up with sand inside the lenses! The F3 didn't look to healthy either.

Welcome to WAB by the way.

Alan

[Suesseals]

On the matter of the intelligence of grey seals, I read a book called 'Atlanta My Seal' by HG Hurrell published in 1963. It is not very politically correct for this day and age, but Hurrell did all sorts of 'experiments' to test Atlanta's intelligence. It tells amazing tales of the seal learning to use a slide into its pool, play on a swing, push balls through hoops and responding correctly to single word instructions on cards - like roll and log. This grey seal was clearly very intelligent, not dissimilar to that of a dog. It is an incredible book - I got my copy from Amazon.

[Paul mabbott]

Even getting into the papers:
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