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November 18, 2005

Isolated Ecosystems: The Farallons Are California's Galapagos

Just off the coast of San Francisco lies a small group of rocky islands known as the Farallons. Although they are only 27 miles outside the Golden Gate and 20 miles south of Point Reyes, its far enough out, and secluded enough, that the ecosystem is relatively untouched. Very few people ever set foot on the islands, and the public is not allowed. This makes it an amazingly diverse little rock for naturalists and researchers to study, and so close!

Many species live on the Farallons, which is surrounded by the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, and it has become the largest seabird colony in the continental United States. In the past, companies collected the eggs to sell in San Francisco markets, depleting the populations so significantly that Teddy Roosevelt signed an Exec Order in 1909 to turn the islands into a reserve. Then in 1969, it became a National Wildlife Refuge.

A former lighthouse and radio station, the Farallons support a seabird population of over 250,000 animals. According to Wikipedia, they are home to the: Western Gull, Brandt's Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Pigeon Guillemot, Common Murre, Cassin's Auklet, Tufted Puffin, Black Oystercatcher, Rhinoceros Auklet, Ashy Storm-petrel and Leach's Storm-petrel. The Common Mure is our own special penguin, and you can see them at the Monterey Bay Aquarium as well. The Rhinoceros Auklet, which is considered extinct on the coast, has begun to breed on the islands again.

But it's not just a haven for birds. The five mile string of rock outcroppings and islands also supports give species of seals and sea lions including the Northern Elephant Seal, Harbor Seal, Steller's Sea Lion, California Sea Lion and the Northern Fur Seal. These marine mammals, especially the large elephant seals, attract one of the most active Great White Shark populations in the world.

Now the Fish and Wildlife Service is considering options for allowing people to visit the Farallons and is seeking public comment. The National Marine Sanctuary Program is preparing the Draft Managment Plans for the Gulf of the Farallones as well as several other marine sanctuaries like the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Draft plans are open to public input.
How do you feel?

FARALLON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE - Less than 30 miles from San Francisco, an archipelago of rocky islands rises out of the Pacific Ocean, forming a largely undisturbed wildlife haven that biologists call California's Galapagos.
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"You don't have to go to the Galapagos to see amazing biological diversity and thousands and thousands of animals," said Russ Bradley, a Point Reyes Bird Observatory researcher who monitors seabird breeding on the islands. "It's right on San Francisco's doorstep."

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Starting next week, the Fish and Wildlife Service will begin seeking public comment on a 15-year conservation plan that will address public access, among other issues. The agency is considering allowing small groups of naturalists to visit, but probably not tourists.

"We're looking for creative ways to increase the public experience of the refuge without necessarily having them step foot on the islands," said refuge manager Joelle Buffa.

More At: MSNBC: California's 'Galapagos' could see visitors

You can find out more about how the public input process works here.

See more pictures of California Marine Wildlife Here:

Año Nuevo State Reserve - Baby Elephant Seals
Año Nuevo State Reserve - Male Elephant Seals
Northern California: Coastal Wilds & Verdant Redwoods
California Condor Craving Coastal Carrion

Posted by sorsha at November 18, 2005 12:40 PM