Have You Seen Any of These?

Friday, February 17, 2017

Orca, Dolphins and a Couple of Humpback Whales

Orca sightings are back in the forefront and they seem to be spotted most often when there have been Pacific White Sided Dolphins in the area. These sightings have not included any major chasing or hunting of the Dolphins this time though, but the Dolphins are not seen travelling with the Orca, so odds are that they are Transient Bigg's. Without confirmation, they are listed in the Unidentified category.

Humpback Whales appear to be staying in less populated areas but did show up by Salmon Point, below Campbell River and by Lund on the mainland side in this report. Their movements indicate there must be some good food around while they manage to keep their distance away from chatty Dolphins and Orca.

Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society


Two Pacific White Sided Dolphins swimming past the Powell River Viewpoint
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC



Society News & Events

Nominations:
Wild Ocean Whale Society has been nominated again this year in the Not-For-Profit category of the 2017 Annual Business Awards for going above and beyond in all aspects of business. Thank you all for the nomination. Winners will be announced at a gala event held by the Powell River Chamber of Commerce on February 4, 2017

Real Time Monitoring Station Update:
We hope to get a few photos of the progress in our next issue.

Our team of Volunteers continue to do a great job in making sure all your reports are mapped and published regularly. Would you like to join us?
Review our current Volunteer Job Postings
Note to Safari browser users:
Apple software upgrades may prevent images from displaying on this site. To resolve the problem, please clear your Safari browser cache: On a Mac this is in Safari preferences. On iPad and iPhones, use the Settings app, Safari, Clear History and Website Data.




DONATE
to the non profit wild ocean whale society

Jump to:   MAP | SIGHTINGS | MAGAZINE



Sightings Update


ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP 2017-004

ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP

Jump to:  Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins 



UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES

Thu Feb 16 2017

09:37 • 8 Orca breaching, heading south in front of Powell River in the middle of Malaspina Strait. I haven't seen any really big dorsals yet.
09:29 • 3 Orca hunting, east of Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait. Observed through telescope.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


Wed Feb 15 2017

14:59 • est. 6 Orca heading south from Gillies Bay towards Dick Island, Georgia Strait. One juvenile in the group.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Six Killer Whales heading South from Gillies Bay towards Dick Island
Wed, 15 Feb 2017 - 2 items
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Six Killer Whales heading South from Gillies Bay towards Dick Island
Wed, 15 Feb 2017 - 2 items
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC



Mon Feb 13 2017

05:40 • 5 Orca breaching, heading north-west off Jericho Beach, Burrard Inlet. Seen from Jericho beach. They were right close to the freighters. Breaching and shallow diving - staying in the same area for at least 15 minutes. ▫ Observed from Shore
Melanie Barker, Vancouver, BC


Sun Feb 12 2017

15:28 • 5-7 Orca heading west from Rebecca Rocks towards Vancouver Island, Georgia Strait.
15:28 • 4-6 Orca breaches, heading south-west off the south-west tip of Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. Two breaches were observed.
14:43 • 5-7 Orca beyond Rebecca Rocks towards Vancouver Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore

Wed Feb 08 2017

11:49 • 3 Orca heading north across the strait from Grief Point closer to Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Three Killer Whales heading North across Malaspina Strait from Grief Point
Wed, 8 Feb 2017 - 3 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC




SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Three Killer Whales heading North across Malaspina Strait from Grief Point
Wed, 8 Feb 2017 - 3 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


10:46 • Orca heading north-west from Black (Albion) Point towards Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Lorna Rutledge, Powell River, BC


Tue Feb 07 2017

10:25 • 5-6 Orca foraging, heading east between Myrtle Rocks and Black (Albion) Point, Malaspina Strait. One male, 1-2 adult female, juveniles, and one young. Sea lions seen in the area a few minutes before the whales appeared. Whales in a tight group, circling, moving slowly. One sea lion noted close in to shore after whales had passed by. ▫ Observed from Shore
Liz Kennedy, Powell River, BC

10:23 • 5 Orca heading south by Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait. In a tight group. One big bull.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC


Sat Feb 04 2017

14:30 • est. 3 Orca moving slowly, heading north-west between Harwood Island and Mystery Reef, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Cheryl Rose, Powell River, BC


Thu Feb 02 2017

17:03 • 8-9 Orca heading south in front of Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
16:34 • 2 Orca heading south across from Myrtle Rocks approaching Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC


Jump to:  Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins 



HUMPBACK WHALES

Sun Feb 12 2017

11:00 • 1 Humpback Whales off Salmon Point, Georgia Strait. Humpback passed by out in front of the Salmon Point Pub.
Emily Wilson,


Fri Feb 10 2017

14:55 • 2 Humpback Whales in front of Lund, Malaspina Strait. The whales dove in front of Lund.
Eric Green, Powell River CCG


Jump to:  Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins 



PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS

Thu Feb 16 2017

13:47 • 20-25 PWS Dolphins foraging, across from Myrtle Rocks close to Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC


Sat Feb 11 2017

15:14 • est. 200 PWS Dolphins heading south by the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait. In groups of 50 approximately.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Two hundred Pacific White Sided Dolphins heading South by the Powell River Viewpoint
Sat, 11 Feb 2017 - 3 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC




SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Two hundred Pacific White Sided Dolphins heading South by the Powell River Viewpoint
Sat, 11 Feb 2017 - 3 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


14:32 • PWS Dolphins off Gibsons Beach north of Powell River, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


Tue Feb 07 2017

18:02 • PWS Dolphins heading south off Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins heading South off of Powell River
Tue, 7 Feb 2017 - 3 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC




SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins heading South off of Powell River
Tue, 7 Feb 2017 - 3 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC



SUBMIT sightings
or call 1-877-323-9776 or eMail
we welcome your sighting reports, photographs, video and audio recordings. please review our media submission guidelines



Jump to:   MAP | SIGHTINGS | MAGAZINE

NEW! WOWs Sightings Archive Explorer

Recommended for desktop browsers and newer mobile devices

Dive into over 5,000 Cetacean Sightings, images, videos and audio recordings reported in our Sightings Updates with the WOWS Sightings Archive Explorer

ARCHIVE EXPLORER


Archive Explorer takes readers into the Cetacean world of the BC Coast. Easily view all Cetacean sighting reports together with all sighting photos and videos:
• View species such as Humpback, Grey Whale or Dalls Porpoise
• Follow the endangered Southern Residents Orca in the Salish Sea
• Search for encounters with T002C2 Tumbo
• Goto Port Alberni to watch a close-up video of Orca in the harbour
• Track the T010s Transients as they hunt and travel the inside passage
• Check-Out "KC", the ever popular Humphack and track his whereabouts this past August
• Goto one of 12,000 named locations on the BC and WA State coast
• Print custom sighting reports and maps (Coming Soon)

Explore this powerfull new research tool with the Archive Explorer Help page

ARCHIVE EXPLORER"

Note: The Cetacean Sightings Archive is also available in database format together with sighting photo and video links for viewing, query and download here

Send your Comments and Questions to: Archive Explorer Feedback


The Magazine



REGIONAL & WEST COAST


CBC News



No, those aren't beached whales on Vancouver's shoreline.

A Vancouver man with a deep affection for orcas spent most of his weekend carefully crafting nearly life-sized killer whales out of snow and sand on Jericho Beach.

"With this sudden snowfall, I thought I'm going to do it right now, while I have the chance, and see how it turns out," said Aaron Cambrin, 27, who started the sculptures Friday.

The spy-hopping orca was first, which took about five hours, he said.


Vancouver Sun, BC


A guide is now available to help mariners avoid collisions and disturbance involving whales and other cetaceans in B.C. coastal waters.

Shipping is considered a leading threat to whales — not just from collisions, but general stress and the impact from engine noise, which can diminish the ability of at-risk killer whales to feed and communicate.

The new guide is produced by the Vancouver Aquarium’s Coastal Ocean Research Institute in partnership with the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert. Northern sightings recorded by Pacific Northwest LNG are also included.
For more details:
Download the Mariners Guide


Time-Colonist, BC


The proposed zone in Haro Strait is less than one-half of one per cent of the critical core habitat, West said, and runs from San Juan Island’s Cattle Point to Mitchell Point. “It works out to about 10 to 12 square miles. It extends three-quarters of a mile from the shore and then there’s an additional quarter-mile buffer zone.”

The idea of a protection zone in the area has been talked about for 15 years, said Michael Harris, former executive director of the Pacific Whale Watch Association, which represents 37 whale-watching companies in B.C. and Washington state. “It’s primarily going after whale-watch boats, commercial whale-watch boats.” But whale-watch boats are a “minuscule” part of the problem, Harris said.

“The biggest problem is recreational boaters, people who don’t do this commercially, don’t have experience operating around whales.”

He said commercial operators took a lead in establishing the government guidelines they must obey, which require boats to stay 200 yards from whales.

“It’s been a very progressive industry, largely because they know that without whales there is no whale watching.”

He said whale-watching companies realize there is a major focus on protecting whales. “The whale watchers want to show that they’re part of the solution, not part of the problem.” ...




Scientists have long used Argos satellite tags to track blue whales along the West Coast, learning how the largest animals on the planet find enough small krill to feed on to support their enormous size.

Now researchers from NOAA Fisheries, Oregon State University and the University of Maryland have combined that trove of tracking data with satellite observations of ocean conditions to develop the first system for predicting locations of blue whales off the West Coast. The system, called WhaleWatch, produces monthly maps of blue whale “hotspots” to alert ships where there may be an increased risk of encountering these endangered whales.


CANADA


Hakai Magazine, BC


Captain George Drevar and the crew of the sailing ship Pauline were off the coast of Brazil in 1875 when they witnessed a battle between two titans of the sea: a sperm whale and a monstrous sea serpent.

Over the span of 15 minutes, Drevar watched as the serpent coiled itself around the whale and attempted to pull it below the surface. Occasionally, the battle dipped out of sight, only to rise again. Eventually the serpent prevailed, and the whale was dragged to the dark depths “where no doubt it was gorged at the serpent’s leisure,” Drevar wrote in a statement.

From today’s scientific vantage, it’s difficult to imagine what Drevar saw—no known animal remotely fits the description. Yet Robert France, an ecologist at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, thinks he can explain Drevar’s and other sailors’ sea monster tales. France suggests the incident was indeed a battle, but between a dying whale and the discarded fishing gear that was pulling it under....


INTERNATIONAL


Vice - Happy


Murdoch University researcher Krista Nicholson, who monitors dolphins occupying the Peel-Harvey coastal waters near Perth, said she has observed multiple cases of dolphins interacting with blowfish. She noted that juveniles in particular like to hold puffer fish in their mouths for a few hours then pass them around.
These blowfish have a lethal toxin called tetrodotoxin present in their skin, flesh and internal organs which is deadly to humans. For the dolphins though, it has a narcotic effect, placing them in a “trance-like state.”


University of St Andrews


In April 2010 a blowout on the drilling rig resulted in the release of 134 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico over an 87-day period, killing thousands of marine mammals including bottlenose dolphins.

A new study coordinated by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) documents the unprecedented mortality rate and long-term environmental impacts of the oil’s exposure and represents a synthesis of more than five years’ worth of data collection, analysis and interpretation.


CBS This Morning


In this latest installment of the “Climate Diaries” series, CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips is in Antarctica, following a group of researchers chasing killer whales. They are using new technology, including drones, to learn about the health of the ocean’s top predator. Phillips shows us how the Antarctic Ocean’s dwellers are experiencing the effects of climate change.

The ship that took a CBS News team to the U.S. research base at Palmer Station, Antarctica is not your average love boat. There’s some serious scientific work being done on this cruise, and the findings are not always happy ones, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips.....


Earth Network


The vaquita is vanishing. Its population has fallen 92 percent since the late 1990s, leading scientists to warn it could be extinct by 2018. About 100 vaquitas existed in 2014, but that total was updated to just 60 in 2016. And in February 2017, scientists announced only about 30 vaquitas are left, suggesting extinction may be imminent.

At roughly 4 feet long and 90 pounds, vaquitas are already the planet's smallest marine mammals — vaquita means "little cow" in Spanish — and now they're also the most endangered ....


The Guardian, UK


Scientists have discovered “extraordinary” levels of toxic pollution in the most remote and inaccessible place on the planet – the 10km deep Mariana trench in the Pacific Ocean.

Small crustaceans that live in the pitch-black waters of the trench, captured by a robotic submarine, were contaminated with 50 times more toxic chemicals than crabs that survive in heavily polluted rivers in China.

“We still think of the deep ocean as being this remote and pristine realm, safe from human impact, but our research shows that, sadly, this could not be further from the truth,” said Alan Jamieson of Newcastle University in the UK, who led the research.

Magazine Submissions

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Friday, February 3, 2017

Humpback Whales Still Around, Orca and Dolphins Too

Pacific White Sided Dolphins are the majority of this report as they travel in larger groups leaping and splashing. Other Whales have been slipping by as they do long dives and people miss seeing them or only get a brief glimpse. They are still around throughout our waters though, and sometimes it's just luck in spotting them. Even just after our publication cut-off time, there were some Orca southbound in front of Powell River. I spotted them surfacing only a few times, then they seemed to vanish.

We'd like to remind you that every report is valuable. You may see one or two whales and someone may see more. You may not even be sure of which species of whale you're seeing, but the report is still useful, and frequently we can help you figure out the species. This information helps us in establishing their patterns and patterns of their food sources they are following. So keep your eyes open, and please report your sighting.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society


Pacific White Sided Dolphins swimming by Powell River at sunset
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC



Society News & Events

Nominations:
Wild Ocean Whale Society has been nominated again this year in the Not-For-Profit category of the 2017 Annual Business Awards for going above and beyond in all aspects of business. Thank you all for the nomination. Winners will be announced at a gala event held by the Powell River Chamber of Commerce on February 4, 2017

Real Time Monitoring Station Update:
We hope to get a few photos of the progress in our next issue.

Our team of Volunteers continue to do a great job in making sure all your reports are mapped and published regularly. Would you like to join us?
Review our current Volunteer Job Postings
Note to Safari browser users:
Apple software upgrades may prevent images from displaying on this site. To resolve the problem, please clear your Safari browser cache: On a Mac this is in Safari preferences. On iPad and iPhones, use the Settings app, Safari, Clear History and Website Data.




DONATE
to the non profit wild ocean whale society

Jump to:   MAP | SIGHTINGS | MAGAZINE



Sightings Update


ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP 2017-003


Jump to:  Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins 



UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES

Wed Feb 01 2017

12:47 • 4 Orca heading north toward Rebecca Rocks from the north end of Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
Robin Evans, Heriot Bay, BC


Mon Jan 30 2017

14:00 • 5-6 Orca moving slowly, heading east off Sandy Cove in West Vancouver, Burrard Inlet. I am not a whale expert. A couple of the dorsal fins were very large suggesting males and there were a couple of young ones in the group. They were gently rising out of the water then submerging. Of the three freighter moorage spots off West Vancouver, they were between the middle and far east one. ▫ Observed from Shore
S. McDermott, West Vancouver, BC

11:24 • 1 Orca heading south between Parksville and Ballenas Islands, Georgia Strait.
Maureen Barratt, visiting from Alberta


Sat Jan 28 2017

15:00 • 5-10 Orca moving quickly, heading south-west between Whytecliff Park and Passage Island, Queen Charlotte Channel. Was sitting on a bench at Whytecliff park in West Vancouver,looking out at Passage Island when all of a sudden a big male dorsal fin appears. There were two males and five-seven females. One of the big males was by itsself and came up for air really close to the Whytecliff Park Islet. Some of them swam around Bird Islet and they were all heading towards Passage Island. Lost sight of them as they went around Passage Island. Not sure if they were Transients or the Southern Residents. ▫ Observed from Shore
Jarod Adams, West Vancouver, BC


Wed Jan 25 2017

15:52 • 2 Orca heading south close to Shingle Beach on Texada Island, Sabine Channel. Possibly more than 2 in the group.
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whale heading South off of Texada Island
Wed, 25 Jan 2017 - 1 items
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC


SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whale heading South off of Texada Island
Wed, 25 Jan 2017 - 1 items
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC



Mon Jan 23 2017

13:08 • 8-10 Orca heading south close to Northeast Point, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
John and Joan Treen, Powell River and Savary Island, BC


Jump to:  Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins 



HUMPBACK WHALES

Wed Jan 25 2017

13:27 • 3 Humpback Whales heading north-west between Texada Island and Lasqueti Island, Georgia Strait. At least 3 were seen.
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Three Humpback Whales passing very close to Texada Island
Wed, 25 Jan 2017 - 2 items
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Three Humpback Whales passing very close to Texada Island
Wed, 25 Jan 2017 - 2 items
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC



Sat Jan 21 2017

08:36 • Humpback Whales heading south off Northeast Point, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Eric Green, Powell River CCG


Fri Jan 20 2017

11:40 • 1 Humpback Whales foraging, off Story Point near Bella Bella, Seaforth Channel. I viewed this whale feeding near Story Point from my boat over a 2 hr period and then again before sunset from the western shore of Lama Pass. It was feeding close to shore and further out. There were thousands of water birds in the area indicating a large school of herring. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
Vic Gladish, Bella Bella, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
A single Humpback Whale off of Story Point near Bella Bella
Fri, 20 Jan 2017 - 1 items
Vic Gladish, Bella Bella, BC


SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
A single Humpback Whale off of Story Point near Bella Bella
Fri, 20 Jan 2017 - 1 items
Vic Gladish, Bella Bella, BC



Jump to:  Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins 



PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS

Mon Jan 23 2017

16:56 • PWS Dolphins heading north off Westview, Powell River, Malaspina Strait. Very large group.
Pam Futer, Powell River, BC

16:55 • PWS Dolphins at Grief Point, Powell River, Malaspina Strait. Large group.
John and Joan Treen, Powell River and Savary Island, BC

16:00 • est. 150 PWS Dolphins heading north just north of Myrtle Rocks, Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC

13:08 • PWS Dolphins south of Northeast Point, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Large group.
John and Joan Treen, Powell River and Savary Island, BC


Sat Jan 21 2017

17:01 • est. 200 PWS Dolphins foraging, heading north-west between Powell River and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
16:44 • est. 200 PWS Dolphins heading east toward Powell River from Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC


Fri Jan 20 2017

12:43 • PWS Dolphins near Van Anda on Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Large group seen from Grief Point Park. ▫ Observed from Shore
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

11:59 • est. 200 PWS Dolphins foraging, between Grief Point and Beach Gardens Marina, Malaspina Strait.
Shirley Cole, Powell River, BC

09:52 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins right off the wharf at Van Anda on Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC



SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins swimming by Beach Garden Resort in Powell River
Mon, 23 Jan 2017 - 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC





SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins swimming by Beach Garden Resort in Powell River
Mon, 23 Jan 2017 - 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC



SUBMIT sightings
or call 1-877-323-9776 or eMail
we welcome your sighting reports, photographs, video and audio recordings. please review our media submission guidelines



Jump to:   MAP | SIGHTINGS | MAGAZINE

NEW! WOWs Sightings Archive Explorer

Recommended for desktop browsers and newer mobile devices

Dive into over 5,000 Cetacean Sightings, images, videos and audio recordings reported in our Sightings Updates with the WOWS Sightings Archive Explorer

ARCHIVE EXPLORER


Archive Explorer takes readers into the Cetacean world of the BC Coast. Easily view all Cetacean sighting reports together with all sighting photos and videos:
• View species such as Humpback, Grey Whale or Dalls Porpoise
• Follow the endangered Southern Residents Orca in the Salish Sea
• Search for encounters with T002C2 Tumbo
• Goto Port Alberni to watch a close-up video of Orca in the harbour
• Track the T010s Transients as they hunt and travel the inside passage
• Check-Out "KC", the ever popular Humphack and track his whereabouts this past August
• Goto one of 12,000 named locations on the BC and WA State coast
• Print custom sighting reports and maps (Coming Soon)

Explore this powerfull new research tool with the Archive Explorer Help page

ARCHIVE EXPLORER"

Note: The Cetacean Sightings Archive is also available in database format together with sighting photo and video links for viewing, query and download here

Send your Comments and Questions to: Archive Explorer Feedback


The Magazine



REGIONAL & WEST COAST


West Seattle Blog


That’s a brand-new sign – in San Simeon, California – along The Whale Trail, the shore-based network of whale-watching spots established by the West Seattle-based advocacy group of the same name. The photo is from TWT executive director Donna Sandstrom, who is in California to launch six new TWT sites, including that one. And this comes as her group celebrates a new grant announced this week by a national org....


Globe & Mail




CANADA


Hakai Magazine


After hundreds of hours of observations, we now know it’s true: breaching humpback whales are yelling.
Just off the easternmost tip of Australia, a 36-tonne humpback whale launches itself out of the water, twists midair, and crashes back into the sea. Breaching is among nature’s grandest spectacles—and one of nature’s grandest gestures. New research conducted by University of Queensland marine biologist Ailbhe S. Kavanagh confirms what many cetacean biologists have long suspected: breaching is a whale’s way of saying hello.

Because the ocean can be such a murky place, many marine animals have turned to sound to communicate. Sound travels far more efficiently in water than light does. Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are among the best-known ocean vocalists. While the haunting songs of males have been well studied, the “social sounds,” produced by humpback males, females, and calves alike, are less understood. These include so ...


INTERNATIONAL


Live Science


Porpoises are members of the scientific order Cetacea and are related to dolphins, but the two animals are different species. They both have sleek bodies and large flippers. Both are considered brainy creatures and they both have a melon, a structure in the forehead that they use to produce sound waves for navigating their watery homes.

However, porpoises and dolphins differ in several ways. For example, porpoises don't have elongated beaks like dolphins. Also, porpoises have triangular dorsal fins, while dolphins have curved or hook-shaped fins. The exception are finless porpoises. They don't have fins at all. Do...


Washington Post, DC


While we may think of the underwater world as relatively tranquil, it is dominated by sound. Most famous of all those sounds are the melodic “songs” of humpback whales, which, after being popularized on an eponymous record album in 1970, proved a catalyst for the early “Save the Whales” movement. The late astronomer Carl Sagan considered humpbacks’ songs so beautiful that he included them on the “Sounds of Earth” recordings that, even now, are heading far into space onboard the Voyager spacecrafts. And while no other whale song has traveled so far, the vocalizations of other whale species can travel great distances: the low, powerful rumblings of a blue whale, for example, have been picked up on hydrophones 700 miles away.

The first time I heard a blue whale vocalization was when scientist Roger Payne played a recording at a conference in Monterey, Calif., in the late 1980s. Normally, these rumblings are at a frequency that is too deep for the human ear or, at best, at the very fringes of a person’s hearing, but Payne had sped up his recording so that it was easily audible. Even in a form broadly equivalent to Plácido Domingo impersonating Mickey Mouse ...


Sailing World


Collisions with objects at sea are becoming more and more common for ocean going sailors, but data on incidents involving marine mammals is often spare....
In May 2012, CAMPER helmsman Roberto ‘Chuny’ Bermudez found himself nearly face to face with a whale in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. In a pretty extraordinary video from a rainy day on the Miami to Lisbon leg of the 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Race, you see Bermudez swing the boat, which had been hurtling through the ocean at over 20 knots, into the wind and just narrowly avoid what would have been a catastrophic collision with a marine mammal.
“It would have been a bad day for both the whale and for us,” said Media Crew Member Hamish Hooper afterwards. “With reflexes like a cat [Bermudez] narrowly missed what would have been the equivalent of a runaway freight train colliding with a truck.”


The Guardian, UK


“There are only a few thousand southern right whales left on the planet,” said the project’s leader, geneticist Jennifer Jackson, of the British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge. “We need to find out what is killing them and we think their sub-Antarctic feeding ground holds the answer.”

Southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) can grow to 18 metres and weigh up to 80 tonnes. They get their name for being the right whale for hunters to pursue, added Jackson. “They swim slowly, float when dead, and yield a great deal of oil,” she said. “They were perfect targets for whalers.”


YouTube



Mother Whale and Calf with people on whale watching trip. Very cool to see the Momma raising her Baby to show it the funny looking humans! Like a revers Zoo, were the people out to see the Whales, or was the Momma Whale teaching her baby about humans? The big momma Whale held her baby on her back to raise it high enough for the humans to pet it, and for it to get a good look at the humans.


BBC Northern Ireland


Scientists plan to eavesdrop on whales and dolphins as part of a new plan to protect sea mammals and marine environments.
Almost £6m has been set aside for the project which will be centred on the Irish and Scottish coasts.
It is being led by scientists from Northern Ireland's Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI).
They are developing a network of marine monitoring devices.
The scientists will be able to record whale and dolphin chatter, allowing them to identify numbers and species in the water.
The technology will also enable them to assess whether noise from commercial fishing, or other marine industry affects them.

Magazine Submissions

the magazine accepts submissions of links to published articles and media of interest to our readers. we welcome original articles, letters, notices, photography, video and audio


SUBMIT
to the magazine





original material guidelines
notices: 100 words max.; letters & articles: 500 words max.
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