II - Historical:
Q: Who were the native tribes and how long did they live here?  The Ohlone tribes (called Costanoan by the Spanish, meaning “coastal dwellers”) flourished in the area for over 10,000 years before the first European contacts in the 1700’s.  American “Indians” immigrated from Asia during the last two ice ages, 18,000 and 13,000 years ago, when a 500-mile-wide land/ice bridge connected Alaska and Siberia.  European contact brought diseases which decimated native populations.  Only a handful survive today, but several are currently involved in reconstructing and reviving their rich culture.
Q: What other nationalities are represented locally?
1600-1800’s:  Spanish/Mexican - cattle ranching, otter trade
1860’s:  Chinese (southern China) - fishing, abalone, squid, urchins, trades
1860’s:  Portuguese (Azores) - shore whaling
1880’s:  Japanese - salmon, abalones, urchins
1900’s:  Italians (Genovese in Santa Cruz, Siciliani in Monterey) - salmon, sardines, anchovies, squid
1920’s-1990’s:  everybody else
Q: Who discovered Monterey, and when?  Sebastian Vizcaino first described the Monterey Bay region in 1601.  In 1769, Portola claimed the new land for Spain.  On July 19,1846, Commodore Sloat sailed into Monterey, after the end of the Mexican-American war, and established a welcome U.S. presence.  Both Spain and Mexico taxed the local residents heavily, but provided little in return.  Monterey was the capital of “Alta California” under Spain and Mexico, and Colton Hall, in downtown Monterey, is where the fist California Constitution was signed in 1850.

III - Natural History:
You seem to have a lot of wildlife around here.  This is one of the most productive coastal habitats in the world: 500+ species of marine algae, 100’s of species of fish and invertebrates, nearly 100 species of marine birds and 30 kinds of marine mammals live here or pass through on their annual migrations.
Sea Otters:
Q:  How big are they?  4 - 4.5’, 60 - 80 lbs.
Q:  How big are the pups?  2 - 3 lbs; about the size of a football
Q:  When are the pups born?  Most are born in early Spring; some in the Fall; a few are born throughout the year
Q:  Do they ever have twins?  Rarely, but usually one is stronger, more demanding... the other is abandoned
Q:  What do they eat?  All kinds of shellfish, octopus, squid, fish, and even birds
Q:  How thick is their fur?  Heavy guard hairs, outer fur, thick under-fur: 250,000 - 1,000,000 fibers/square inch
Q:  Who are their closest relatives?  River otters, weasels, ferrets, minks, skunks, badgers and wolverines
Q:  What are their predators?  Sharks & killer whales in the ocean; bears, wolves, cougars, and man, on land
Q:  Are they still hunted?  Only by sharks and killer whales.  All marine mammals are protected in US waters
Q:  Do they use tools?  Otters use a rock, as a hammer or an anvil, to break snails, mussels, clams and scallops

True Seals / Hair Seals:
Q:  What is the difference between seals and sea lions?  Ears, flippers, swimming, feeding
Q:  How big do seals get?  Harbor seals: 5-7ft / 150-200lb (F), 250-300lb (M); Elephant seals: 1,500lb (F), 15-17ft / 3,000-5,500lb (M)
Q:  How long do they live?  we think they live 20 - 25 years
Q:  Do they live in families?  No.  Males leave after mating; pups are weaned after 4 to 5 weeks.
Q:  Do they mate for life?  No.  Males mate with many receptive females during the brief season
Q:  What do they eat?  Seals are solitary hunters, usually feed in deep water on bottom fish, squid and octopus
Q:  Why do they sleep all day?  Harbor seals usually feed at night and rest during the day.
Q:  How deep can they dive?  Most seals are deep divers: Harbor seals - 800-1500ft; E-seals - 3,000-5,000ft
Q:  How long can they stay underwater?  Harbor seals - 10-20 min.; E-seals - 40-60 min.
Q:  Why do they slap the water with their flippers?  Surface slapping makes a lot of noise underwater. They seem to use this to communicate feelings, emotions or intentions: “Hi – wanna play?”, “Get off my rock!”, “Go away!”, etc.
Q:  When do they give birth?  Harbor seals - March / April;  E-seals - December / January
Q:  How long do they nurse?  Most seals are weaned after only 4-5 weeks
Q:  Who are their predators?  Sharks & Killer whales

Eared Seals / Fur Seals / Sea Lions:
Q:  What is the difference between seals and sea lions?  Ears, flippers, swimming, feeding
Q:  How big do sea lions get?  California Sea Lions: 6-9ft / 150-200lb (F), 450-800lb (M); Steller’s Sea Lion: 7-12ft, 1,000lb (F), 1,500-2,500lb (M)
Q:  How long do they live?  In the wild, we think they live 15 -17 years
Q:  Do they live in families?  No.  Males leave after mating, going as far north as Vancouver Island, B.C.; pups stay with mom and are weaned after 10 to 12 months.
Q:  Do they mate for life?  No.  Males mate with many females during the month-long season
Q:  What do they eat?  Sea lions tend to be pack hunters, usually feed on schooling fish, squid and octopus
Q:  When do they eat?  Day or night, often far from shore.
Q:  How deep can they dive?  500-1,000 ft.
Q:  How long can they stay underwater?   3-5 min.
Q:  When and Where do they give birth?  May / June, Baja Calif. and Channel Islands to Ano Nuevo Island
Q:  How long do they nurse?  Most seals stay with mom for the first year, nursing for most of that time.
Q:  Who are their predators?  Sharks & Killer whales

Whales, Dolphins & Porpoises:
Q:  What kind of whales do you see?  The following are most common, but others may be present:
- Whales:  Humpbacks, Blues, and Minkies in summer/fall; Grays in winter/spring; Orcas, year round
- Dolphins:  Pacific Bottlenose, Pacific White-sided, Common, Risso’s, Northern Right Whale
- Porpoises:  Dall’s, Harbor
Q:  What do the whales eat?
Baleen whales (filter feeders):
- Gray whales:  bottom feeders on burrowing worms, crustaceans and clams, primarily in Arctic waters off Siberia and Alaska, in the Bering and Chukchi Seas. They fast during their trip south.
- Blue whales:  come to feed on billions of paper-clip-size pelagic shrimp, commonly called “krill”, from coastal waters during summer and early fall.  They winter in Mexican waters.
- Humpback and Minkie whales:  come to feed on schooling fish and squid in coastal waters during    summer and early fall.  They winter in Mexican waters.
Toothed whales:
- Orcas (large dolphins):  feed on seals, sea lions, dolphins and whales (mostly calves).
- Dolphins and Porpoises:  feed on bottom fish, schooling fish and squid.

Q:  Why do they migrate?  Most baleen whales give birth in winter, in tropical seas, but go north to feed in rich temperate waters in the summer.
Q:  Are there whale-watching trips out of Monterey?  Yes. There are several companies, based on Monterey’s Fisherman’s Wharf, which offer 2-3hr cruises, year round, to view marine birds and mammals.
Q:  Where is the best place to see whales from shore?  Pt. Pinos, Cypress Pt., Pt. Lobos, Hwy 1 (Pt. Lobos to Pt. Sur).  Some can even be seen “inside” the bay, from the Coast Guard breakwater, Cannery Row, the Aquarium, Lovers’ Point and Otter Point.
Q:  Were there whaling industries in Monterey?  Yes.  During the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, there were shore-based whaling businesses, by Portuguese (Azorean) and New Bedford (Mass.) whalers, at Pt. Lobos, McAbee Beach (Cannery Row), Moss Landing, Capitola, Ano Nuevo, Davenport, Pigeon Pt., and Pt. Richmond (S.F. Bay).  This is in addition to those in Southern California (San Diego, Dana Pt., Long Beach, San Pedro, Santa Barbara, Morro Bay) and several to the north, as far as the Oregon border.

What about the intertidal collecting ?  Circumstances dictate whether it is or isn't appropriate.
    First - Take a moment to determine what is actually going on.
- The California Department of Fish & Game (CDFG) regulations do allow the taking of many invertebrates (mussels, limpets, snails, sea urchins, etc.) with only a fishing license, subject to size, gear and quantity limits, while the collection of rocks, shells, and plants is generally not regulated.
- State Parks, "Marine Refuges" and "Reserves" have more specific limitations on the collection of specimens and the disturbance of indigenous habitats.
- Locally, the Pacific Grove Marine Gardens (from Asilomar to Hopkins Marine Station), and Asilomar State Park, both prohibit the disturbance or removal of anything, from the shoreline, living or not!
- Limited collection for scientific and educational purposes can be allowed with a special permit from the CDFG.
- CDFG game wardens and local police departments can be called in when poaching or gross violations are suspected - DO NOT CONFRONT ANYONE you suspect of deliberate illegal activity!

Sharks, Sharks, Sharks :  Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water! Modern aquatic predators whose ancestors flourished 200 million years before the dinosaurs.

A Star is Born :  Current theories about the birth, evolution and sometimes spectacular death of stars. Also: Quasars, Pulsars, Neutron Stars, Black Holes, and other cosmic wierdities.

FOG ...  It obscures the sky, cools the land, refreshes plants and animals, and is nature's way of telling us to slow down. Find out what it is, how it behaves, and what it does for us. Possible field trip (Canceled in the event of good weather).

Coastal Marine Mammals :  What is the difference between sea otters, seals, and sea lions? Where did they come from? How do they swim, feed, survive and reproduce? What kinds of whales do we see along the Central Coast... and what's the best time to see them?

S.E.T.I. :  The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence : All through history, man has speculated on the possibility and nature of intelligent life elsewhere in the Universe. Discussions during the course will range from mythology to modern astronomy and efforts in the systematic search for the real E.T.! - --

Monterey Submarine Canyon :  A truly grand canyon, attracting researchers from all over the world. How deep is it? Where did it come from? ... and what does it have to do with submarines?

Diving Mammals :  (No, not Greg Lugainis) Whales, seals, and even humans possess a "diving reflex", a physiological response to immersion in water, which reprioritizes blood circulation and oxygen use to increase the length and depth of a dive. Find out more about these wonderful adaptations to life in an environment so hostile to warm-blooded air breathers.

Origins of Life on Earth :  Discussion of evidence and theories related to the appearance of "living systems". Speculation of the possibility of similar events occurring on other worlds, life's "comet connection", and associated space phenomena. Great fun - lively discussions.

Point Lobos State Park - Walk through one of the most magnificent stretches of the rugged California coastline.  Originally called "Punta de los Lobos Marinos" (point of the sea wolves) by the early explorers because the barking sea lions reminded them of the wolves of their native Spain.  Point Lobos is home to native Monterey Pines and Monterey Cypresses, varied coastal habitats, and great geologic formations (transported - at great expense - over 200 miles during the past 23.5 million years, from Southern California).  Sea otters, seals, sea lions, sea birds and native plants.  Bring warm and windproof clothing (layers), camera, binoculars, and comfy shoes.

Elkhorn Slough Estuarine Reserve -  Walk along some of the richest coastal wetlands in the state.  Only thirty minutes' drive from the Monterey Peninsula, the Elkhorn Slough winds seven miles inland, east of the small fishing community of Moss Landing, famous for its fishing industry, the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, and MBARI, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.  Elkhorn Slough is a birder's delight:  Eagles, hawks, kites, harriers, falcons, herons, egrets, terns, and dozens of other shore, wading, and migratory birds.  Also, harbor seals, sea otters, sharks, rays, and numerous invertebrates.  Bring warm and windproof clothing (layers), camera, binoculars, and comfy shoes.
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Seaside trail walk (or bike / blade) -  Experience one of the most beautiful shorelines of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.  Shore birds, sea otters, seals, native plants, tide pools, local history, weather, and the third largest underwater canyon in the world.  Bring warm and windproof clothing (layers), camera, binoculars, and comfy shoes.

Kayaks on the Bay - Kayak adventure through the near shore kelp forests along the sheltered side of the Monterey Peninsula.  Advanced or novice kayakers.  Open-deck boats, single or tandem.  All equipment, safety gear, and full instruction, courtesy of Adventures by the Sea, in Monterey and Pacific Grove.  Great fun!... the animals are free; the people are in "containers".

Monterey Bay Aquarium - Tour the Monterey Bay Aquarium accompanied by an experienced marine biologist/educator (I know where all the bathrooms are).  Great on one of those rare occasions when the weather is too windy, foggy, drizzly, rainy, sneezy, dopey, grumpy... oops, sorry!  Anyway, you get the idea.
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Scientific Enterprises - Coastal naturalist & Guide -  Consulting / Educational programs / Tours (owner/operator, since 1986)

BAY NET - Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Volunteer Network (Co-founder and Director of volunteer training)

Monterey Bay Aquarium - Classes in Marine Sciences (field and lab)

Adventures by the Sea - Kayak, bicycle, rollerblade, and walking Natural History tours (since 1993)

Hidden Valley Music Seminars / Elderhostel - Science programs (since 1992)

Big Sur Natural History Association / Elderhostel - Science programs (since 1993)

Monterey Bay Natural History / Whalewatching Cruises - Shipboard naturalist (since 1978)

Moss Landing Marine Laboratories - Classes on Underwater Research Techniques

American Cetacean Society, Monterey - Programs on Marine Natural History topics

Beachwatch : Marine Mammal Rescue Team - Co-founder, instructor, coordinator (Since 1982)

Chapman University, Monterey - Classes in Physical Science (since 1995)

Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History - Science programs - Board of directors (1994-1997)

Hartnell Community College - Series of lectures on Marine Sciences, Astronomy, and Cosmology

Lyceum of the Monterey Peninsula - Science and Art. (Board: 1980-85; Science Chair: 1983-85)

Salinas Public Library - Natural History programs

Toro School for the Hearing Impaired - Natural History programs and field trips

Monterey Peninsula Unified School District - Programs on Biology,  Astronomy

Audubon Society, Monterey - Programs on Marine Birds and Mammals

California Science Teachers' Association - Natural History and Astronomy workshops

California Heritage Society - Natural History tour guide