Two Weeks After the 2018 December Solstice Earth Reaches Perihelion

Summary: On Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, two weeks after the 2018 December solstice, Earth reaches perihelion, Earth’s closest center-to-center point with the sun.

Center-to-center distance between Earth and sun in 2019 is closest, Thursday, Jan. 3, at 05:20 Coordinated Universal Time: (5:22 p.m. Eastern Standard Time): Grant Gilmore @grant_gilmore, via Twitter July 6, 2018

At 05:20 Coordinated Universal Time (12:20 a.m. Eastern Standard Time), Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, two weeks after the 2018 December solstice, Earth reaches perihelion, the closest center-to-center point in Earth’s orbit around the sun.

Perihelion in January 2019 equates to 0.9833012 astronomical units (AU), according to retired NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak’s Astro Pixels website. An astronomical unit (symbol: au, ua or AU) is the unit of measure used by astronomers to express distances between Earth and sun. The unit represents the mean distance between Earth and sun. In 2012, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) established the value of one astronomical unit at 149,597,870,700 meters. One astronomical unit equals 149,597,870.70 kilometers or 92,955,807 miles.

The 2018 December solstice took place Friday, Dec. 21, at 22:22 Coordinated Universal Time (5:22 p.m. Eastern Standard Time). The December solstice opens astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere and astronomical summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

Earth’s revolutions around the sun trace an elliptical path. Unlike a circle, an ellipse does not allow for equal distances between the center and the boundary. The oval shape of Earth’s path accounts for two extremes, aphelion and perihelion. Aphelion (Ancient Greek ἀπό, apó, “from” + ἠέλιος, ēélios, “sun”) designates the farthest point in the center-to-center distance between Earth and sun. Perihelion (Ancient Greek: περί, perí, “near” + ἠέλιος, ēélios, “sun”) references the closest point in the center-to-center distance between Earth and sun.

Espenak notes that perihelion distance is not a constant. Lunar and planetary gravitational perturbations cause variations in Earth’s actual distance at perihelion. He considers extreme values of perihelion over a 200-year period between 1901 and 2100. Perihelion distances range from 0.9831914 astronomical units (147,083,346 kilometers) to 0.9833860 astronomical units (147,112,452 kilometers. Espenak calculates a mean perihelion distance of 0.9832899 astronomical units (147,098,074 kilometers).

The January 2019 perihelion is farther than the January 2018 perihelion. January 2019’s perihelion of 0.9833012 astronomical units exceeds January 2018’s perihelion of 0.9832843 astronomical units by 0.0000169 astronomical units. January 2018’s perihelion occurred Wednesday, Jan. 3, at 05:35 UTC (12:35 a.m. Eastern Standard Time).

The January 2019 perihelion is farther than the next perihelion. The January 2020 perihelion will be 0.9832436 astronomical units. The January 2019 perihelion of 0.9833012 astronomical units exceeds the January 2020 perihelion of 0.9832436 astronomical units by 0.0000576 astronomical units. Earth’s reach of January 2020’s perihelion distance is expected Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, at 07:48 UTC (02:48 a.m. EST).

Espenak’s Earth at Perihelion and Aphelion: 2001 to 2100 chart includes the relative distance of perihelions, in kilometers, with regard to their mean distances. The January 2019 perihelion of 0.9833012 astronomical units varies from the mean distance by 1,681 kilometers. The January 2018 perihelion of 0.9832843 astronomical units varies from the mean distance by minus 845 kilometers. The January 2020 perihelion of 0.9832436 astronomical units varies from the mean distance by minus 6,935 kilometers.

Espenak also indicates the perihelion interval between current and previous perihelions. He finds that 364.99 days elapse between 2019’s reach of perihelion Thursday, Jan. 3, at 05:20 UTC (12:20 a.m. EST) and 2018’s reach of perihelion Wednesday, Jan. 3, at 05:35 UTC (12:35 a.m. EST). The January 2020 perihelion happens 367.10 days after the January 2019 perihelion.

Espenak’s Astro Pixels website calculates the interval range during the 21st century at 363.08 to 367.86 days. The lowest interval of 363.08 days occurs between the January 2088 and the January 2089 perihelions. The 2088 perihelion occurs Monday, Jan. 5, 2088, at 14:59 UTC (9:59 a.m. EST). Earth reaches the 2089 perihelion Sunday, Jan. 2, 2089, at 17:01 UTC (12:01 p.m. EST).

The highest interval of 367.88 days occurs between the January 2073 and the January 2074 perihelions. The 2073 perihelion happens Monday, Jan. 2, 2073, at 14:41 UTC (9:41 a.m. EST). The 2074 perihelion occurs Friday, Jan. 5, 2074, at 11:25 UTC (6:25 a.m. EST).

The takeaway for Earth’s reach of perihelion two weeks after the 2018 December solstice, which occurred Friday, Dec. 21, at 22:22 Coordinated Universal Time (5:22 p.m. Eastern Standard Time), is that the 2019 perihelion happens Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, at 05:20 UTC (12:20 a.m. EST).

December 2018's solstice precedes Earth's perihelion (closest center-to-center distance with the sun) by two weeks; sunlit Earth, December solstice, Dec. 21, 2010; imaged by Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) on EUMETSAT’s (European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites) Meteorsat-9: via NASA Earth Observatory

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Center-to-center distance between Earth and sun in 2019 is closest, Thursday, Jan. 3, at 05:20 Coordinated Universal Time: (5:22 p.m. Eastern Standard Time): Grant Gilmore @grant_gilmore, via Twitter July 6, 2018, @ https://twitter.com/grant_gilmore/status/1015307943665954822

December 2018's solstice precedes Earth's perihelion (closest center-to-center distance with the sun) by two weeks; sunlit Earth, December solstice, Dec. 21, 2010; imaged by Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) on EUMETSAT’s (European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites) Meteorsat-9: via NASA Earth Observatory @ https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/52248

For further information:

“Astronomical Unit (AU).” NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Near Earth Object Program > Glossary.
Available @ http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/glossary/au.html

EarthSky. “Are the December Solstice and January Perihelion Related?” EarthSky > Astronomy Essentials > Space. Dec. 31, 2015.
Available @ http://earthsky.org/space/are-the-december-solstice-and-the-january-perihelion-related

EarthSky. “Why Aren’t the Earliest Sunsets on the Shortest Day?” EarthSky > Earth. Dec. 7, 2014.
Available @ http://earthsky.org/earth/winter-solstice-and-late-sunrise

Espenak, Fred. “Earth at Perihelion and Aphelion: 2001 to 2100 Greenwich Mean Time.” Astro Pixels > Ephemeris.
Available @ http://www.astropixels.com/ephemeris/perap2001.html

Espenak, Fred. “Solstices and Equinoxes: 2001 to 2100 Greenwich Mean Time.” Astro Pixels > Ephemeris.
Available @ http://www.astropixels.com/ephemeris/soleq2001.html

Grant Gilmore @grant_gilmore. “FRIDAY FUN FACT: Today the Earth was 94,507,803 miles from the Sun as it reached aphelion, its furthest distance from the sun. We’ll be 3.1 million miles closer at perihelion on January 3, 2019.” Twitter. July 6, 2018.
Available @ https://twitter.com/grant_gilmore/status/1015307943665954822

Marriner, Derdriu. “December Solstice Always Occurs at the Same Instant Everywhere on Earth.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/11/december-solstice-always-occurs-at-same.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "2018 Winter Solstice Happens Friday, Dec. 21, in Northern Hemisphere." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/12/2018-winter-solstice-happens-friday-dec.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Two Weeks After 2016 December Solstice Earth Reaches 2017 Perihelion." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/12/two-weeks-after-2016-december-solstice.html

The Magic Flute Is the Dec. 29, 2018, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast

Summary: Mozart’s The Magic Flute is the Dec. 29, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, numbering fifth of 24 in the 2018-2019 season’s schedule.

The Magic Flute, the Metropolitan Opera’s abridged, English language, family friendly holiday version of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, airs Dec. 29, 2018, as the fifth of the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Feb. 19, 2018

Wolfgang Mozart’s The Magic Flute is the Dec. 29, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, airing as the fifth of 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts during the 2018-2019 Met Opera season.

The Magic Flute is presented as the Metropolitan Opera’s abridged, English language, family friendly holiday version of Die Zauberflöte by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791). American literary critic and poet Joseph Donald “J.D.” McClatchy Jr. (Aug. 12, 1945-April 10, 2018) was responsible for the 100-minute English language adaptation.

Mozart composed his fairy tale opera in the singspiel (“sing-play”) style of spoken and sung dialogues. He set his music to a German libretto by German stage director Johann Joseph Schickeneder (Sept. 1, 1751-Sept. 21, 1812), known as Emanuel Schikaneder. Mozart previously collaborated with Schikaneder on another fairy tale singspiel, Der Stein der Weisen, Oder die Zauberinsel (The Philosopher’s Stone, or the Enchanted Isle).

Die Zauberflöte premiered Sept. 30, 1791, at Schikaneder’s theater, the Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden, also known as Wiednertheater, near the center of Vienna, northeastern Austria. Mozart conducted the premiere and the opera’s second performance.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season premiere of The Magic Flute takes place Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Including the season premiere, eight holiday performances are scheduled for the 2018-2019 Met Opera season.

Five performances take place in December. The month’s four additional performances occur Saturday, Dec. 22, at 8 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 24, at 7 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 27, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec. 29, at 1 p.m. Saturday’s performance airs as the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s fifth Saturday matinee radio broadcast.

Three performances are offered in January. The month’s performances take place Tuesday, Jan. 1, at 3:30 p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 3, at 7:30 p.m.; and closing night, Saturday, Jan. 5, at 8 p.m.

The Magic Flute has an estimated run time of 1 hour 42 minutes. The Metropolitan Opera reduces Mozart’s two-act German opera to one act for the opera company’s English language holiday version.

Harry Bicket conducts all performances. The British conductor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened in Rodelinda by German and British baroque composer George Frideric Handel (Feb. 23, 1685-April 14, 1759).

Erin Morley appears in all December and two January (Tuesday, Jan. 1; closing night, Saturday, Jan. 5) performances as Pamina, daughter of the Queen of the Night. The American coloratura soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened as the First Madrigal in Manon Lescaut by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924). In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Erin Morley also appears as Woodbird in Siegfried by German composer and librettist Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813-Feb. 13, 1883) and as Constance in Dialogues des Carmélites by French composer and pianist Francis Poulenc (Jan. 7, 1899-Jan. 30, 1963).

Sydney Mancasola appears as Pamina for the Thursday, Jan. 3, performance. The American soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Oct. 30, 2018, as Frasquita in the opera company’s 2018-2019 season premiere of Carmen by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875).

Kathryn Lewek appears in all December and two January (Tuesday, Jan. 1; closing night, Saturday, Jan. 5) performances as the scheming Queen of the Night. The American coloratura soprano reprises her Metropolitan Opera debut role. Her Queen of the Night debut happened Dec. 28, 2013, in the opera company’s 413th performance of Die Zauberflöte.

So Young Park appears as the Queen of the Night for the Thursday, Jan. 3, performance. The South Korean soprano’s solitary January appearance marks her Metropolitan Opera debut.

Ben Bliss appears in all performances as Tamino, a prince who finds love with Pamina at the end of his quest for wisdom. The American tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Dec. 2, 2014, as Vogelgesang in the opera company’s 410th performance of Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.

Brenton Ryan appears in all December and one January (Tuesday, Jan. 1) performances as Monostatos, slave of head priest Sarastro. The American tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened April 22, 2016, as Pedrillo in the opera company’s 69th performance of Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Brenton Ryan also appears as Spoletta in Puccini’s Tosca.

Mark Schowalter appears as Monostatos in January’s last two performances (Thursday, Jan. 3; closing night, Saturday, Jan. 5). The American tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Feb. 19, 1999, as the Young Servant in the opera company’s 85th performance of Elektra by German late Romantic and early modern composer Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864-Sept. 8, 1949). In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Mark Schowalter also appears as the Chaplain in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites.

Nathan Gunn appears in all December and two January (Tuesday, Jan. 1; closing night, Saturday, Jan. 5) performances as Papageno, a birdcatcher who finds happiness with Papagena. The American operatic baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened April 3, 1995, as one of the three traders in the opera company’s eighth performance of The Ghosts of Versailles by American classical composer John Corigliano (born Feb. 16, 1938).

Duncan Rock appears as Papageno in one January (Thursday, Jan. 3) performance. The Australian baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Oct. 2, 2017, as Schaunard in the opera company’s 1,306th performance of Puccini’s La Bohème. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Duncan Rock reprises his debut role as Schaunard.

Alfred Walker appears in all performances as the Speaker. The American bass-baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened March 16, 1998, as Grégorio in the opera company’s 294th performance of Roméo et Juliette by French composer Charles Gounod (June 17, 1818-Oct. 18, 1893).

Morris Robinson appears in all December and two January (Tuesday, Jan. 1; closing night, Saturday, Jan. 5) performances as Sarastro, head priest of the council of priests of Isis and Osiris. The American bass’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Nov. 16, 2002, as the Second Prisoner in the opera company’s 217th performance of Fidelio by German composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven (bapt. Dec. 17, 1770-March 26, 1827).

Peixin Chen appears as Sarastro in the Thursday, Jan. 3, performance. The Chinese bass’s solitary January appearance marks his Metropolitan Opera debut. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Peixin Chen also appears as Masetto in Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s performances of The Magic Flute revive Julie Taymor’s production. The American film, opera and theater director’s staging debuted as a new production Oct. 8, 2004, in the opera company’s 343rd performance of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte.

Julie Taymor serves as the production’s director and costume designer. She is credited with Michael Curry as puppet designers. The production team also comprises George Tsypin, set designer; Donald Holder, lighting designer; and Mark Dendy, choreographer. The revival stage director is David Kneuss.

The takeaway for The Magic Flute as the Dec. 29, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast is that the Metropolitan Opera’s English language, family friendly holiday version of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte airs as the fifth of the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts.

Nathan Gunn, who won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Competition in 1994, reprises Papageno in the 2018-2019 Met Opera season: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook April 19, 2018

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

The Magic Flute, the Metropolitan Opera’s abridged, English language, family friendly holiday version of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, airs Dec. 29, 2018, as the fifth of the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Feb. 19, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160146382080533/

Nathan Gunn, who won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Competition in 1994, reprises Papageno in the 2018-2019 Met Opera season: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook April 19, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160437319305533/

For further information:

“Debut: Brenton Ryan.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356444 Die Entführung aus dem Serail {69} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/22/2016.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356444

“Debut: Erin Morley.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352344 Manon Lescaut {211} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/09/2008.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352344

“Debuts: Alexander Soddy, Angel Blue, Duncan Rock.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356747 La Bohème {1306} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/02/2017.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356747

“Debuts: Alfred Walker, Bertrand de Billy.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 330528 Roméo et Juliette {294} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/16/1998.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=330528

Debuts: Hector Vásquez, Peter Van Derick, Nathan Gunn, Christine Goerke, Carol Meyer, Kemal Khan.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 319890 The Ghosts of Versailles {8} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/3/1995.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=319890

“Debuts: Johannes Martin Kränzle, Benjamin Bliss, Martin Gantner.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 355664 Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg {410} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/02/2014.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=355664

“Debuts: Kobie van Rensburg, Zachary Vail Elkind, Harry Bicket, Stephen Wadsworth, Thomas Lynch, Peter Kaczorowski.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 351094 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Rodelinda {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/02/2004.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=351094

“Debuts: Monte Pederson, Mariana Karpatova, Margaret Cusack, Mark Schowalter.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 331426 Elektra {85} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/19/1999.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=331426

“Debuts: Philippe Castagner, Morris Robinson.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 350403 Fidelio {217} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/16/2002.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=350403

Marriner, Derdriu. “La Fanciulla del West Is the Dec. 22, 2018, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Dec. 17, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/12/la-fanciulla-del-west-is-dec-22-2018.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “The Magic Flute Is Dec. 9, 2017, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Dec. 4, 2017.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-magic-flute-is-dec-9-2017-met-opera.html

Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “Now a holiday tradition, Julie Taymor’s beloved production of Mozart’s enchanting fairy tale returns in its abridged, English-language version for families. . . .” Facebook. Feb. 15, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160137120780533/

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Grand Finals Concert is Sunday, April 29! . . . .” Facebook. April 19, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160437319305533/

“New Production: Die Zauberflöte.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 351036 New Production Die Zauberflöte {343} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/08/2004.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=351036

Six-Year Forest Health Ambassador Program of Oakville, Ontario, Canada

Summary: An Arboriculture & Urban Forestry article November 2018 notes the citizen science volunteer Forest Health Ambassador Program in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.

Norway maple (Acer platenoides L.) devastation by Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis); July 1998; Ravenswood neighborhood, North Side, Chicago, Illinois: Dennis Haugen, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org, CC BY 3.0 United States, via Forestry Images

An article in Arboriculture & Urban Forestry November 2018 on the citizen science volunteer Forest Health Ambassador Program applauds empowered practitioners, improved urban environments, low-cost investments, management-friendly data and public-shared scientific knowledge.

The article Volunteering for Forest Health: A Public-Private Partnership in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, broaches Asian longhorned beetle quarantines; emerald ash borer infestations; European gypsy moth experiences. Insect-invaded eastern North American contexts compelled the joint BioForest private- and Town of Oakville public-collaborated early detection-enabling, forest health trend-tracking, public awareness-raising Forest Health Ambassador Program. E. John Barker, Allison Craig, Allison Winmill and Joe Meating of BioForest and Candace Karandiuk, Oakville Parks & Open Space Department, describe it as street tree-directed.

Forest Health Ambassador Program protocol ensured management-friendly data collection and reasonable volunteer expectations through examining crowns, diameters at breast height, invasive insect pest presences and stems.

BioForest training furnished Canadian Food Inspection Agency-feigned Asian longhorned beetle activity signs on live maples (Acer spp), before data collection June-August 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Forest Health Ambassador Program data accuracy and quality checking procedures generated additional training, follow-up inspections, staff audits of volunteer data and grid cells, and staff-volunteer meetings. The Town of Oakland hosted Forest Health Ambassador Program volunteer appreciation nights with each data-collecting season's end as thanks for meaningful experiences and for volunteer retention. Appreciation nights included volunteer-commemorative plantings in 2016 and, with identification exercises, in 2017 even as diversified advertising methods and high school recruitments increased volunteer participation, 2014-2017.

One hundred forty-two Forest Health Ambassador Program participants judged 4,871 trees, as 5 percent of municipal right-of-way street trees, on 258 streets between 2014 and 2017.

Eleven, 22, 27 and 28 data submissions in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 kindled pruning or removing hazard-tagged trees and selectively treating gypsy moth-tagged high-value trees.

Volunteer appreciation night feedback questionnaires listed consistently increased environmental awareness and, by 100 percent of each year's participants, enjoyable experiences as Forest Health Ambassador Program strengths. They motivated protocol modifications from dual tree assessments, for seasonal diseases and insects, back to single tree assessments; longer data collection periods; redesigned, user-friendlier data sheets. The 2018 Forest Health Ambassador Program netted training manuals with illustrated common street tree species identification guides and a two week-shorter training session for 47 volunteers.

Youth, as high school students with Ontario provincial education curriculum-required 40-hour minimum pre-graduation volunteer work, offers the Forest Health Ambassador Program vital past, present, future demographics.

Forest Health Ambassador Program recruitment through social media pulls in educational sectors and young audiences pursuing environmental knowledge, outdoor physical activities and urban forest conservation advocacy.

Perhaps corporate donations and employee engagement activities and high school environmental clubs and school boards respectively queue up long-term recruitments from private enterprise and high schools. The Forest Health Ambassador Program, realized by BioForest private forest health and pest management company and Oakville town staffpersons, respects other urban climates, sizes and species. The citizen science volunteer Forest Health Ambassador Program supplies identification cards, as Forest Health Ambassadors, that serve as supplementary communication sources when shared with survey residents.

The Forest Health Ambassador Program and similar citizen science volunteer programs tap environmental and urban forestry issues for advocacy, invasive species detection and tree health stewardship.

Oakville's volunteer Forest Health Ambassador program collected data on infestations of street trees by Asian longhorned beetle, emerald ash borer and European gypsy moth from 2014 to 2017: Oakville Canopy Club @OakvilleCanopyClub, via Facebook July 7, 2014

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to:
talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet;
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for superior on-campus and on-line resources.

Image credits:

Norway maple (Acer platenoides L.) devastation by Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis); July 1998; Ravenswood neighborhood, North Side, Chicago, Illinois: Dennis Haugen, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org, CC BY 3.0 United States, via Forestry Images @ https://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1393005

Oakville's volunteer Forest Health Ambassador program collected data on infestations of street trees by Asian longhorned beetle, emerald ash borer and European gypsy moth from 2014 to 2017: Oakville Canopy Club @OakvilleCanopyClub, via Facebook July 7, 2014, @ https://www.facebook.com/OakvilleCanopyClub/photos/a.700446560020274.1073741859.152814164783519/700446563353607/

For further information:

Barker, E. John; Allison Craig; Allison Winmill; Joe Meating; and Candace Karandiuk. November 2018. "Volunteering for Forest Health: A Public-Private Partnership in Oakville, Ontario, Canada." Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 44(6): 283-290.

Gilman, Ed. 2011. An Illustrated Guide to Pruning. Third Edition. Boston MA: Cengage.

Hayes, Ed. 2001. Evaluating Tree Defects. Revised, Special Edition. Rochester MN: Safe Trees.

Marriner, Derdriu. 21 October 2018. "Nursery Production Systems: Tough Urban Landscape Trees on Rough Sites." Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/10/nursery-production-systems-tough-urban.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 16 September 2018. "Induced-Resistance Agents, Silicon Fertilizers, Synthetic Fungicides." Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/09/induced-resistance-agents-silicon.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 26 August 2018. "Nursery Production Systems for Successful Urban Tree Plantings." Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/08/nursery-production-systems-for.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 29 July 2018. "Tree Roots Branch in Fabric Containers But Circle and Girdle Plastic." Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/07/tree-roots-branch-in-fabric-containers.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 30 June 2018. "Wood Decay Fungi Management of Terminal Urban Pathogens." Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/06/wood-decay-fungi-management-of-terminal.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 27 May 2018. "Downtown Commercial Streetscape Tree Populations in Toronto, Canada." Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/05/downtown-commercial-streetscape-tree.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 28 April 2018. “Mushroom-Forming and Non-Mushroom-Forming Fungal Life Cycle Traits.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/04/mushroom-forming-and-non-mushroom.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 17 March 2018. “Emerald Ash Borer Rapid Response Community Preparedness Project.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/03/emerald-ash-borer-rapid-response.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 17 February 2018. “Tree Retention by Arborists for Wildlife Habitat Friendly Tree Care.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/02/tree-retention-by-arborists-for.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 14 January 2018. “Integrated Vegetation Management Study in North and South Yukon, Canada.” Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/01/integrated-vegetation-management-study.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 9 December 2017. “Tree Inventories: Preemptive and Proactive or Piecemeal and Reactive.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/12/tree-inventories-preemptive-and.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 25 November 2017. “Chlorantraniliprole Reduced-Risk Insecticides Get Leaf-Eaters Not Bees.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/11/chlorantraniliprole-reduced-risk.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 28 October 2017. “Palm Plant Health Care: Abiotic, Biotic Stress Culture and Management.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/10/palm-plant-health-care-abiotic-biotic.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 16 September 2017. “Predawn Leaf Water Potentials Indicate Crown Dieback and Water Status.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/09/predawn-leaf-water-potentials-indicate.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 19 August 2017. “Palm Tree Identification and Pruning of Native and Naturalizable Palms.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/08/palm-tree-identification-and-pruning-of.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 22 July 2017. “Commonly Planted, Potentially Phytoremediating Street Tree Species.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/07/commonly-planted-potentially.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 17 June 2017. “Root Loss From Root Pruning and Root Shaving of Stem-Girdling Roots.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/06/root-loss-from-root-pruning-and-root.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 27 May 2017. “Age and Canopy Area Cost Less and Tell More in Urban Tree Inventories.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/05/age-and-canopy-area-cost-less-and-tell.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 22 April 2017. “Urban Root Management: Big Infrastructure, Small Space, Stressed Roots.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/04/urban-root-management-big.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 12 March 2017. “Flexural Elasticity Modulus: Trees and Watersprouts Bend or Break.” Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/03/flexural-elasticity-modulus-trees-and.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 18 February 2017. “Plant Health Care Diagnostics When Plants and Places Wrong One Another.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/02/plant-health-care-diagnostics-when.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 14 January 2017. “Tree Fertilization for Fine Root Growth and Whole Root System Effects.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/01/tree-fertilization-for-fine-root-growth.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 17 December 2016. “Abiotic and Biotic Stress in Low Maintenance Tree Health Care Programs.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/12/abiotic-and-biotic-stress-in-low.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 19 November 2016. “Organic Amendments to Compacted Degraded Urban Highway Roadsides.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/11/organic-amendments-to-compacted.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 15 October 2016. “Tree Protection Zones by Arborists for All Construction Project Phases.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/10/tree-protection-zones-by-arborists-for.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 17 September 2016. “Stormwater Runoff Landscaping With Urban Canopy Cover and Groundcover.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/09/stormwater-runoff-landscaping-with.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 August 2016. “Changing Places: Tree Nutrient Movement Down, Tree Water Movement Up.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/08/changing-places-tree-nutrient-movement.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 16 July 2016. “Treated or Untreated Oriental Bittersweet Vine Management Cut-Stumping.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/07/treated-or-untreated-oriental.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 18 June 2016. “Tree Injection Site Procedures: Manufacturer's Instructions and Labels.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/06/tree-injection-site-procedures.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 22 May 2016. “Electrical Utility Area Temperate Urban Street Trees: Pruned Regrowth.” Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/05/electrical-utility-area-temperate-urban.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 16 April 2016. “Tree Injection Methods: Treatment Option in Integrated Pest Management.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/04/tree-injection-methods-treatment-option.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 6 March 2016. “Bare-Rooted Ornamental Urban Transplants: Amendments Against Mortality.” Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/03/bare-rooted-ornamental-urban.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 28 February 2016. “Bark Protective Survival Mechanisms Foil Deprivation, Injury, Invasion.” Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/02/bark-protective-survival-mechanisms.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 23 January 2016. "LITA Model: Linear Index of Tree Appraisal of Large Urban Swedish Trees." Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/01/lita-model-linear-index-of-tree.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 19 December 2015. “Tree Lightning Protection Systems: Site, Soil, Species True Designs.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2015/12/tree-lightning-protection-systems-site.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 24 October 2015. “Tree Lightning Protection Systems Tailored to Sites, Soils, Species.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2015/10/tree-lightning-protection-systems.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 15 August 2015. “Tree Friendly Urban Soil Management: Amend, Fertilize, Mulch, Till!” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2015/08/tree-friendly-urban-soil-management.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 June 2015. “Tree Friendly Urban Soil Management: Assemble, Assess, Assist, Astound.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2015/06/tree-friendly-urban-soil-management.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 18 April 2015. “Tree Wound Responses: Healthy Wound Closures by Callus and Woundwood.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2015/04/tree-wound-responses-healthy-wound.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 15 February 2015. “Urban Forest Maintenance and Non-Maintenance Costs and Benefits.” Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2015/02/urban-forest-maintenance-and-non.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 December 2014. “Tree Dwelling Symbionts: Dodder, Lichen, Mistletoe, Moss and Woe-Vine.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/12/tree-dwelling-symbionts-dodder-lichen.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 18 October 2014. “Tree Cable Installation Systems Lessen Target Impact From Tree Failure.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/10/tree-cable-installation-systems-lessen.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 16 August 2014. “Flood Tolerant Trees in Worst-Case Floodplain and Urbanized Scenarios.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/08/flood-tolerant-trees-in-worst-case.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 14 June 2014. “Integrated Vegetation Management of Plants in Utility Rights-of-Way.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/06/integrated-vegetation-management-of.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 12 April 2014. “Tree Twig Identification: Buds, Bundle Scars, Leaf Drops, Leaf Scars.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/04/tree-twig-identification-buds-bundle.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 15 February 2014. “Tree Twig Anatomy: Ecosystem Stress, Growth Rates, Winter Identification.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/02/tree-twig-anatomy-ecosystem-stress.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 14 December 2013. “Community and Tree Safety Awareness During Line- and Road-Clearances.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/12/community-and-tree-safety-awareness.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 October 2013. “Chain-Saw Gear and Tree Work Related Personal Protective Equipment.” Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/10/chain-saw-gear-and-tree-work-related.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 12 October 2013. “Storm Damaged Tree Clearances: Matched Teamwork of People to Equipment.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/10/storm-damaged-tree-clearances-matched.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 17 August 2013. “Storm Induced Tree Damage Assessments: Pre-Storm Planned Preparedness.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/08/storm-induced-tree-damage-assessments.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 15 June 2013. “Storm Induced Tree Failures From Heavy Tree Weights and Weather Loads.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/06/storm-induced-tree-failures-from-heavy.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 April 2013. “Urban Tree Root Management Concerns: Defects, Digs, Dirt, Disturbance.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/04/urban-tree-root-management-concerns.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 16 February 2013. “Tree Friendly Beneficial Soil Microbes: Inoculations and Occurrences.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/02/tree-friendly-beneficial-soil-microbes.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 15 December 2012. “Healthy Urban Tree Root Crown Balances: Soil Properties, Soil Volumes.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/12/healthy-urban-tree-root-crown-balances.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 October 2012. “Tree Adaptive Growth: Tree Risk Assessment of Tree Failure, Tree Strength.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/10/tree-adaptive-growth-tree-risk.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 11 August 2012. “Tree Risk Assessment Mitigation Reports: Tree Removal, Tree Retention?” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/08/tree-risk-assessment-mitigation-reports.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 16 June 2012. “Internally Stressed, Response Growing, Wind Loaded Tree Strength.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/06/internally-stressed-response-growing.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 14 April 2012. “Three Tree Risk Assessment Levels: Limited Visual, Basic and Advanced.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/04/three-tree-risk-assessment-levels.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 19 February 2012. “Qualitative Tree Risk Assessment: Risk Ratings for Targets and Trees.” Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/02/qualitative-tree-risk-assessment-risk.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 18 February 2012. “Qualitative Tree Risk Assessment: Falling Trees Impacting Targets.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/02/qualitative-tree-risk-assessment.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 10 December 2011. “Tree Risk Assessment: Tree Failures From Defects and From Wind Loads.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/12/tree-risk-assessment-tree-failures-from.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 15 October 2011. “Five Tree Felling Plan Steps for Successful Removals and Worker Safety.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/10/five-tree-felling-plan-steps-for.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 August 2011. “Natives and Non-Natives as Successfully Urbanized Plant Species.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/08/natives-and-non-natives-as-successfully.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 11 June 2011. “Tree Ring Patterns for Ecosystem Ages, Dates, Health and Stress.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/06/tree-ring-patterns-for-ecosystem-ages.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 9 April 2011. “Benignly Ugly Tree Disorders: Oak Galls, Powdery Mildew, Sooty Mold, Tar Spot.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/04/benignly-ugly-tree-disorders-oak-galls.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 12 February 2011. “Tree Load Can Turn Tree Health Into Tree Failure or Tree Fatigue.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/02/tree-load-can-turn-tree-health-into.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 11 December 2010. “Tree Electrical Safety Knowledge, Precautions, Risks and Standards.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2010/12/tree-electrical-safety-knowledge.html

Oakville Canopy Club @OakvilleCanopyClub. 7 July 2014. "Calling all tree-huggers! Be an Urban Forest Health Ambassador! . . . ." Facebook.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/OakvilleCanopyClub/photos/a.700446560020274.1073741859.152814164783519/700446563353607/

Six Baby New Zealand Fur Seals: Decapitated in Marine Reserve Waters?

Summary: Who is responsible for six baby New Zealand fur seals decapitated perhaps in a marine reserve and dumped in tourist waters Dec. 17, 2018?

New Zealand fur seal pups in Ohau Stream Walkway and Waterfall, north of Squally Bay's Scenic Nook, where decapitated baby New Zealand fur seals were found December 2018; southern Banks Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand; Friday, Oct. 1, 2004, 06:32: Andrea Schaffer, CC BY 2.0 Generic, via Wikimedia Commons

A tourist operator alerted authorities to six baby New Zealand fur seals decapitated apparently elsewhere and dumped Dec. 17, 2018, in the Scenic Nook tidal wash 54.68 miles (88  kilometers) from Christchurch.

Department of Conservation (DOC, Te Papa Atawhai in Maori) officials buried three of the six baby New Zealand fur seals and bore three other bodies away. Necropsies conducted at Massey University in Palmerston North, North Island, can confirm, or not, predatory fishermen, killer whales, leopard seals, New Zealand sea lions or sharks. Andy Thompson, Operations Manager at Mahaanui DOC offices, declared, "it's incredibly unlikely sharks would have bitten the heads off six seals but left the bodies untouched."

Criminal charges ensue since "Due to the disturbing, brutal and violent nature of this crime against defenseless seal pups, it has been reported to the police."

Thompson finds that "antagonism towards seals is often due to the misplaced belief that seals are eating large amounts of fish species valued for human consumption."

Antagonism that gets six baby New Zealand fur seals decapitated, perhaps in Banks Peninsula's Akaroa and Pohatu Marine Reserves, goes against marine mammal- and reserve-protective acts. The Marine Reserves Act 1971 and Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978 hold as illegal harming and, without permits, hauling dolphins, dugongs, manatees, porpoises, seals and whales. Fatal injuries and illegal importation from protected into tourist waters involved physically and sexually immature pups independent at most since September 2018 and weaned as 11-months-olds.

Weaned 8- to 11-month-olds journey independently just before their physically and sexually mature four- to six-plus-year-old mothers join physically and sexually mature eight- to 10-plus-year-old males.

November 2017-January 2018 birthing and breeding kindled, firstly, dispersals September 2018 of the 2017-2018 season's newborns; secondly, births from that 2017-2018 mating; thirdly, 2018-2019 season matings.

Nine-month gestations on rocky-beached island rookeries (breeding and birthing grounds) and haul-outs (non-breeding grounds) launch black-, fine-furred, mobile, sighted pups into 14- to 17-year life cycles. The Otariidae (from Greek ωταριον, ōtarion, "little ear" and εἶδος, eîdos, "appearance") family's eared seal member manifests blubberless fur; external ear flaps; rear flippers that manage land-walking. New Zealand fur seals, named Arctocephalus forsteri ("bear head") for Georg Forster (Nov. 27, 1754-Jan. 10, 1794), need swimming and diving skills as three-day-olds and six-month-olds.

New Zealand fur seals, observed in 1828 by René Lesson (March 20, 1794-April 28, 1849), obtain big, dark-adapted eyes; pointed, small noses; slit-like nostrils; upper-lip whiskers.

Female and male 15.75- to 21.65-inch- (40- to 55-centimeter-) long, 7.28- to 8.59-pound (3.3- to 3.9-kilogram) pups present 27.78-pound (12.6-kilogram) and 31.09-pound (14.1-kilogram) weights as nine-month-olds.

Mature 4.92-foot- (1.5-meter-) long females and 8.2-foot- (2.5-meter-) long males queue up 66.14- to 110.23-pound (30- to 50-kilogram) and 198.42- to 330.69-pound (90- to 150-kilogram) weights. They realize 11- and 15-minute-long dives through 780.84- to 3,280.94-plus-foot (238- to 1,000-plus-meter) depths for barracuda, cephalopods, conger eels, jack mackerel, lantern fish, squid and whiptail. Insulating, silver-tipped black undercoats and brown-gray overcoats sustain barking, whimpering males and growling, wailing females on Chatham Island, Macquarie Island, New Zealand, southwestern Australia and Tasmania.

Perhaps December air currents transmitted, to their smell- and sound-sensitive breeding mothers, individual-specific scents and wails before trophy hunters terminated six baby New Zealand fur seals.

Decapitated baby New Zealand fur seals were found December 2018 in Squally Bay's Scenic Nook (center left), Banks Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand; image via ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) image via NASA Terra satellite: NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

New Zealand fur seal pups in Ohau Stream Walkway and Waterfall, north of Squally Bay's Scenic Nook, where decapitated baby New Zealand fur seals were found December 2018; southern Banks Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand; Friday, Oct. 1, 2004, 06:32: Andrea Schaffer, CC BY 2.0 Generic, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ohau_point.jpg; A S (adeshfr), via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/aschaf/15279957389/

Decapitated baby New Zealand fur seals were found December 2018 in Squally Bay's Scenic Nook (center left), Banks Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand; image via ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) image via NASA Terra satellite: NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oblique_view_of_Banks_Peninsula_2.jpg

For further information:

Crawley, M.C.; and G.J. Wilson. February 1976. "The Natural History and Behaviour of the New Zealand Fur Seal (Arctocephalus Forsteri)." Tuatara, vol. 22, issue 1: 1-28.
Available @ http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Bio22Tuat01-t1-body-d1.html

"Facts about New Zealand Fur Seal." Department of Conservation / Te Papa Atawhai > Nature > Native Animals > Marine Mammals > Seals > NZ Fur Seal.
Available @ https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/seals/nz-fur-seal/facts/

Global Biodiversity Information Facility. "Arctocephalus Forsteri (Lesson, 1828)." GBIF > Species.
Available @ https://www.gbif.org/species/2433474

Hutchins, Michael; Devra G. Kleiman; Valerius Geist; and Melissa C. McDade. (eds.). Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Second edition. Volume 14, Mammals III. Farmington Hills MI: Gale Group, 2003.

Kirkwood, Roger; and Simon Goldsworthy. 2013. Fur Seals and Sea Lions. Collingwood, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO PUBLISHING, Australian Natural History Series.

Lesson, René Primevère. Janvier 1828. "Otarie de Forster, Otaria Fosteri, N." Dictionnaire Classique d'Histoire Naturelle, tome treiziéme PAN-PIV: 421-422. Paris, France: Rey et Gravier; Baudouin Frères.
Available @ https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/24378054

"Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978." New Zealand Government > Parliamentary Counsel Office / Te Tari Tohutohu Pāremata > New Zealand Legislation > Reprint as at 1 October 2018.
Available @ http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1978/0080/latest/DLM25111.html

"Marine Reserves Act 1971." New Zealand Government > Parliamentary Counsel Office / Te Tari Tohutohu Pāremata > New Zealand Legislation > Reprint as at 1 March 2017.
Available @ http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1971/0015/latest/whole.html

"Six New Zealand Fur Seal/Kekeno Pups Found Decapitated." Te Papa Atawhai / Department of Conservation / Te Papa Atawhai > News > Media Releases > 2018 > 19 December 2018.
Available @ https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2018/six-new-zealand-fur-sealkekeno-pups-found-decapitated/