Northern Elephant Seals gather at their land rookery as Birdsong sings “Pinniped Parade”!

Dear Friends,

Today’s featured animal is the Northern Elephant Seal. Friends of the Elephant Seal, a non-profit organization in San Simeon, CA (USA), writes on their website: “The northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris, is an extraordinary marine mammal. It spends eight to ten months a year in the open ocean, diving 1000 to 5800 feet deep for periods of fifteen minutes to two hours, and migrating thousands of miles, twice a year, to its land-based rookery for birthing, breeding, molting, and rest.”

I had the pleasure of meeting these elephant seals last month at the Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery during
their breeding and birthing time. Their roars, squawks, burps and snorts filled the air. It was one of the noisiest, most interesting gathering of pinnipeds I have witnessed. The story of the survival of these seals and their adaptation strategies are impressive. Thought to be extinct by the late 1800’s, their population has increased steadily in numbers and range during the 20th century until now.

You can learn more about Elephant Seals the the National Wildlife Federation website. Celebrate the elephants seals and all pinnipeds by singing with our song “Pinniped Parade”, featured on our music video by the same name; and check out my elephant seal photos below. “It’s the cutest, noisiest, most slippery parade in town!”

Singing with love,

Birdsong