San Francisco: Pier 39 sea lions - a photo on Flickriver

            Sea lion watchers on K-Dock at Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, California, USA.
Alcatraz island in the distance.

California sea lions have always frequented the San Francisco Bay, especially during the winter months when herring spawn in the bay. The Marine Mammal Center’s biologists believe that the sea lions have chosen to haul out at Pier 39’s K-Dock because there’s plenty of food nearby in the bay and ocean, their natural predators (white sharks and orcas) do not typically feed in the bay and there is plenty of space. Also, the docks are easier to haul out on, more comfortable and more protected from storms than a rocky beach. As the tide goes in and out, the floating docks move up and down on the water, so the sea lions just keep sleeping rather then having to scramble up and down rocks with the tide.

From late summer (late July) to late spring (mid May), there are typically hundreds of sea lions hauled out at K-Dock (ranging from 150 to 600+). In June and July, most of the sea lions head south to breeding grounds on the Channel Islands, although a handful to a few dozen have remained throughout the summer in recent years. In late July, non-breeding sub-adult males and juvenile females begin to migrate north again. Other breeding males travel north later, and some males migrate as far north as Alaska and British Columbia, Canada.

Taken on: March 26, 2016

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San Francisco

Pier 39

sea lions

tourists

K-dock

Bay

California

USA

Alcatraz

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Sets appears in: • San Francisco Bay Area

Groups appears in: • SF Bay Area • San Francisco more » • Tourist Trap • Bay Area • Travel Photography • Alcatraz • California's Bay Area Group • EVERYTHING AMERICA • CALIFORNIA / CALIFORNIE ! • California Photography • Beautiful California • San Francisco Bay • USA - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA • San Francisco POI • California Beginners & Amateurs • California Photographer • American Photos • The Best of San Francisco • Northern California Photography • Bay Area Flicks • America photographed by the Europeans • San Francisco - a sense of time, a sense of place « less

Camera: Canon EOS 50D, f/11.0, 1/160 sec, 77mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 50D
Aperture:	f/11.0
Exposure Time:	0.006 sec (1/160)
Focal Length:	77mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	-1/3 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Shutter speed priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CS2 Windows
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