Batray Gives Birth to Pups

Sean fixes the net before we head out for Saturday's survey. Copyright PSRF/JanaS.
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SO – I gotta catch you up on the last two days…

June 30, 2007: One of the set nets had become really snagged, so in the morning, we helped Sean spread it out along the beach in front of the house, so that he could sew up the gaps. We then got our gear ready to go, had lunch before leaving and finally headed towards the Slough (rhymes with “through,” by the way) at noon. We worked in a similar location as Friday, but across the way and from a shoreline, rather than an island. It was called Pickle Creek and was a tad less muddy than our first day out, yet still pretty mushy. I am slowly getting used to how to get around in it. It seems the best way to get out when a leg is caught is to lean forward and wriggle as much as possible!

This is the birth of one of the batray pups from the large female that was brought in by fishermen. It's the white shape on the left side of the pic. Copyright PSRF/JanaS.
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Our first catch for the day was actually not one we made. Some fishermen had snagged a bat ray and brought it over our way, as they were familiar with Sean and the work that he does. Unbeknownst to us, they actually brought over an extremely large (close to 200 pounds!), pregnant female and while we began transfer into a holding pen, she started to give birth. It was amazing, and yet so sad all at once, that she was giving birth under such stressful circumstances. There ended up being 6 pups in all. It was quite a sight to witness!

And here is momma - all 200 pounds of her! Copyright PSRF/JanaS.
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In addition to the batray and her pups, we also caught one leopard shark and eleven thornback rays. It was very strange since the day before, we were in the same area, but only caught batrays the whole time.

The thornback rays are very interesting, and have spikes on their back that resemble rose thorns, hence the name “thorn”back rays. Rub them the wrong way and you will have some pretty nasty pokes – great defense! Their skin is very similar to sharks, much like sandpaper, and they are very easy to hold and handle, if you hold them by the tail and disc.

Measuring the leopard shark we caught on Saturday. Copyright PSRF/JanaS.
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My tasks for the day were to record the data (species and tide level) each time an animal was caught, and log in the measurements (total length, disc length if appropriate, male/female and tag number) at the end of the day , before Sean released the animals back into the Slough. In addition, I entered the data into the computer log that evening.

We got home around 7 pm, showered, and then enjoyed a ravioli, salad, and garlic bread meal prepared by Andrea and Leon. Very delicious! We all headed off to bed rather early, because we knew we had to get up about 4 a.m. for a VERY early morning survey…

Tagging one of the thornback rays. Look at the rose thorns that appear to come out of its spine. Copyright PSRF/JHerbig.
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July 1, 2007: As you just read, we had to get up about 4 in the morning to leave the house and be at the Slough by 5. We had actually kept the trucks loaded from the day before, so we could cut down on tasks in the dark hours of the early morning. And, dark it was…

As we travelled along the Channel to find our survey spot for the day (a place we affectionately named Mud Creek), there was a mist coming from the Slough that was so peaceful and yet eerie at the same time. We positioned ourselves on an embankment that was the sloshiest and deepest mud to date – even according to the researchers, who have been at this for several weeks now. At one point, my leg was so trapped and far down that I thought for sure I would become a fossil before being able to move it again. I also happened to get a cramp in my hamstring at that very moment and was in excruciating pain, but sucked it up and dealt with it.

Greg and Jon transfer a shovelnose guitarfish from the floaty pen to the holding pen. Copyright PSRF/JanaS.
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As we become more comfortable with the routine of the surveys, the volunteers are getting more involved in working with and even handling some of the animals (all except the batrays, due to the barbs). So today, a few of the volunteers helped with direct transfer of the animals from the net to the holding pens and with holding them during measurements and tagging. That was my main job today…hold the 9 thornback rays and 2 shovelnose guitarfish that we caught, while taking measurements and inserting tags. Some of them are pretty feisty, but most were rather easy to handle. The worst of it for me is listening to the noise of the sandy, rough flesh as a tag is inserted. It does not appear to hurt or harm the animals, but it sure is a gritty and unsettling sound to my ears!

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The good thing about getting our survey done so early in the morning is that we were done and home by noon. We had the remainder of the afternoon to nap, email, watch t.v., and basically relax. We had a late dinner of grilled veggie (and carne asada for meat eaters) fajitas, while we watched “Legally Blonde”. It is now 11 pm and I need to get to sleep for another early morning rise, though it is not until 5 a.m. this time – that extra hour will make a difference!

By the way - the stinging eye issue has been handled…since I am wearing a hat most of the time, I only put sunscreen on from my cheeks down. That way I can avoid any possible chemicals getting into my eyes and having a repeat of the first day. Also – have I mentioned my “tan hands”? Since I am in a wetsuit the entire time we are out, the only thing exposed is my hands. Therefore, from my wrists to my finger tips, my hands are completely tan, but the rest of me remains as white and ghostly as always. It almost looks as though my arms are two different people sewn together at the wrists because the coloring is so different. It is quite amusing!