Day 279 - May 8, 2012

lifeguard tower 26 - Ocean Park, Santa Monica CA

trash collected for 20 min. 

5.4 pounds 

13 cigarette butts

I keep thinking about the juvenile Sunfish floating in the water yesterday morning. My friends circled the large floating fish. Was it a bird? A...? Behind them, a sea lion arched through the water. The thought bubble over its head could have read, "Oh no!!! The humans have my fish!" There's a talk on TED by a Marine Biologist who studies these strange beasties who get to be a few hundred pounds each. She's hilarious in her presentation, pointing out one fun fact that sea lions like to rip the fins off the young Sunfish and throw them around like a football, or Frisbee. Sounds gruesome. Didn't think I'd see one up close, well I kept some distance thank you. Goes to show, the ocean is full of surprises. 

Here's that TED talk on Mola Molas A.K.A. Sunfish

Here's famous underwater photographer Brian Skerry describing what it was like to encounter a curious 45 foot long Right Whale. Truly incredible. 

I've had my fill of finding these. Once a cleanup it seems, I stumble upon a Snickers wrapper. 

Good news! Seaworld bans the plastic bag, and other theme parks follow.