Eumetopias jubatus
Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus).
Sea Lion Rocks, Eldorado Narrows;
Resurrection Bay, Alaska.
25 May 2008.
Nikon D70s.
The Steller sea lion, also known as the Northern sea lion, is a federally-listed endangered species of pinniped. Colonies of young Steller sea lions live along the southern edge of Resurrection Bay, by the Gulf of Alaska and the Pacific Ocean. These individuals are mostly young males. The larger adults and females are further offshore, punching into the Kenai Fjords National Park, at a breeding island studied closely by the Alaska Sealife Center (based in Seward, Alaska, along the northern edge of Resurrection Bay).
This spot is a part of the so-called “Sea Lion Rocks” – a group of bubbly volcanic outcrops that originally formed under the north-Pacific water. Massive swarms of black-legged kittiwakes colonize and breed along the rocky cliffs of Resurrection Peninsula, next to these small rocky outcrops used by these sea lions.
Between the thick blues and greens of the water and the deep grays and blacks of the rock, I find the gold and brown Steller sea lions to simply shine and radiate in this landscape. I’ve never really felt an affinity for sea lions until I was lucky enough to observe them in their natural habitat. They are truly fantastic and amazing mammals!
Janson, http://floridana.typepad.com
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rebelgirl, 2 months ago
Well captured here love it :)
jsjones, 2 months ago
I thank you again! I’m dying to get back to this little stretch. All those sealions and kittiwakes… Just beautiful.