Tuesday, May 14, 2024
2024 End of Season Wrap-up
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
As We Near the End of Our Season...
Monday, February 19, 2024
MID-SEASON SUMMARY
Meeting Success
On Saturday, 10 February, 124 of us gathered in the auditorium at the University of Florida’s Whitney Lab in Marineland. We started with long tables of an excellent pot luck finger-food and desserts array in the atrium. Lots of chit-chat and meeting volunteers from other teams. Whale gear (caps, T-shirts, hoodies, and jewelry) was available for our volunteers.
Photos from our mid-season event on 10 February.
(Photos: B. Gough)
We next migrated into the auditorium for door prizes and an excellent talk by Sara about right whale sightings and the associated analyses. Next, we showed a recent version of “Last of the Right Whales.” (There were a few tears.) This was followed by a video vignette describing the music score underlying the main documentary. Finally, Sara led us in singing the project’s new theme song, “Take Me Out To The Survey.”
A good day, good people, good energy.
Whales
Whales, or, absence of whales. Well then, this (so far) has not been one of our big seasons. The handful of whales has been elusive, providing fleeting glimpses before disappearing. The elusivity, combined with poor weather, has kept the drone grounded. On 16 January, Surf Club reported a mother-calf, on 24 January we had a sighting of a yearling (a calf in 2023), and on 4 February, there was a mother-calf off the St. Augustine pier. On 10 February, Catalog #1620, Juno, and her injured calf appeared north of Ponce Inlet.
The injured calf of #1612, Juno, from 3 January 2024, Edisto, SC.
(Photo: Forever Hooked Charters.)
For the entire southeastern U.S., 17 mother-calf pairs have been reported, along with about 43 individuals in other categories. Most sightings have been to the north of us. As Frank Schafer Jr. wrote, “Where they are, I am not.” As of 15 February, several mother-calf pairs were still off Amelia and Cumberland islands. Might any of these come our way?
Next, some sad news. On Saturday, 3 February, a female dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) came ashore at Butler Beach. It was taken to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s laboratory in Jacksonville for a necropsy.
Further, during the 2023 season, female #4340, Pilgrim, and her first calf were frequently sighted by our colleagues (Blue World Research Institute) to the south. A year passed. On 3 February 2024, the calf, now a yearling, was photographed off Melbourne from a drone by Joel Cohen of the BWRI. Ten days later, its carcass was reported 20 miles off Tybee Island, GA. It was towed in, and a necropsy performed on the 15th.
Additionally, in New England, the carcass of a 3-year-old, female right whale washed ashore on Martha’s Vineyard, MA, on 28 January. The cause of death is still pending an examination, but the whale has rope deeply embedded in the tissue around the base of its fluke which is an indication of chronic entanglement.
Our Task
When the weather is good, the survey planes are flying, and the full complement of volunteers is on duty, there are many days with a whale-less ocean. Not to be dismayed, distressed, depressed, or disappointed. Our job is to cover our section. And, there is always the chance for a sighting surprise (it has happened before). We will continue strong through Saturday, 9 March, our last survey day for this season. Informal lookouts can continue through the end of the month.
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
WHALES !
The early part of our 2024 right whale season was characterized by frequent poor weather. The sightings by the Florida and Georgia state aerial survey teams suggested that the whales were generally to the north of us. The aerial surveys have reported a total of 13 mothers with calves. But not for us. There have only been a few public sightings of lone juveniles off Flagler Beach and south of Cape Canaveral.
Today, Tuesday, at noon, the phone rang. Paula Smith at Surf Club #2, reported a sighting, perhaps a mother-calf pair. Sara, Jim, and Lorraine soon spotted the whales from Linda Weigman’s condo in Surf Club 3. Mikhail Korhchemkin took photos from his upper balcony in Surf Club 1.
We were joined by Tom Green and Laura-Renée Allen as we shifted to the beach walkway in hopes of launching the drone. It was not to be. The rain increased. We retreated.
Since it appeared the whales were heading south, we next moved to Bay Drive Park. The rain had stopped. The conditions were workable. But, the whales did not appear. Then the rain returned. On this day, we were unable to launch the drone, and the whales went unidentified. As we called it a day, a magnificent rainbow appeared.
We are encouraged with the knowledge that, yes, there is a mother-calf pair in our area. In the coming days, please keep a sharp lookout. We would sure like a second chance at knowing who they are.
Saturday, April 8, 2023
RIGHT WHALE SEASON REVIEW
Thank You
The 2023 right whale season in the southeastern U.S. is over, the whales are enroute or have arrived in the feeding grounds to the north. Our data and photos have been submitted to the central repository, the right whale catalog, at the New England Aquarium in Boston. Here, we are cleaning, packing, and storing our gear. Sara departed on Friday, March 31, for her home in Maine. Jim departed for his home on Cape Cod in Massachusetts later that week.
First and foremost, as we have done for previous years, a huge thank you to our capable and dedicated volunteers. Our mobile teams have logged 4,500 hrs of lookout time, while our condo teams have logged another 1,000 hrs. Then too, there are the educational and outreach efforts―brochures, phone cards, and information was provided to curious citizens, beach goers, walkers, and visitors.
Next, happily, volunteers bring skills. You have taken photographs, flown drones, and made observations. Every contribution enhances our results and makes our volunteer network stronger.
A monstrously HUGE thank you to everyone.
Season Summary
In this, our 23rd season, we had a total of 14 sightings. We had one mother-calf pair, Archipelago, female #3370 with her third calf. We had eight sightings of this pair within five consecutive days, 8 through 12 January. The mother-calf activity, for us, was compressed to one pair and one week.
Beyond that, we had a number of singles. On 10 January, Team 1N sighted the 2022 calf of #3430. It was also seen on 11 January off Beverly Beach. On 31 January, a yearling, the 2022 calf of #2753, was sighted by Team 3 at their first stop, at 8:05 on a Tuesday morning. Finally, a boater reported a sighting off St. Augustine on the morning of 2 February. This individual has been identified as another yearling, the 2022 calf of #1245. As the day progressed, another single, provisionally identified as #4908, a 4 y.o. male, was seen off Marineland, and late in the day, off Flagler Beach.
This season included a number of beachcast animals. On 26 January, Team 1N discovered an ocean sunfish, Mola mola, off Ponte Vedra. On 11 January, a dead beached female killer whale, Orcinus orca, came ashore at Jungle Hut Road. And, late in the season, on Friday, 24 March, a 16 ft long female Gervais’ beaked whale, Mesoplodon europaeus, beached at South Flagler Beach. Both the killer whale and the beaked whale were recovered by stranding specialists from Hubbs SeaWorld.
The Big Picture
Based on records compiled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife team, there were a total of 49 right whales (+ 11 calves) in southeastern U.S. waters this season. While there were no large groups as we have seen in some previous years, there was diversity, as 14 males also made the trip to these waters. The 14 sightings by the Marineland Right Whale Project (see below) were a decrease from the previous year. Overall, the population stands at 340 individuals as of the end of 2021 (graph below).
Verified right whale sightings by the Marineland Right Whale Project during the 23 years of the program. Sightings in the last five years showed a promising increase followed by a disappointing decrease.
The cumulative sightings of right whales by all groups during the 2023 SEUS season. The yellow symbols are mother-calf pairs. The plot includes resightings of the same pairs/individuals.
Population estimates for the North Atlantic right whale as of the end of 2021.
Donations
At our season-end party, as we always do, we put out a request for donations. Many responded, and we have $3,500 in hand. Checks continue to appear in our mailbox. But, we’re not quite there yet (we need to raise about $8,000 from the private donations part of our fundraising endeavor). Therefore, if you are willing and able, please write a check for $100 (larger or smaller is o.k. too), made out to Associated Scientists at Woods Hole (or simply ASWH) and mail to Jim Hain, ASWH, P.O. Box 721, Woods Hole, MA 02543. The cumulative effect of your donations help keep this program viable.
Videos
The most excellent video that Sara showed at the season-end meeting, “2023 Volunteer Teams,” is available at our YouTube channel, Marineland Right Whale Project.
As an alternative to searching: the direct link is: youtube.com/@marinelandrightwhaleprojec4079
Another video, done by Flagler College students is being finalized and will be posted shortly on our channel.
And finally,
Thanks again to everyone. See you in January for our 24th season. Stay healthy.
Jim and Sara. (Photo: B. Gough)
Monday, March 13, 2023
END-OF-SEASON EVENT
Mark Your Calendars !
The End-0f-Season Event will be held from 2:30 to 4:30 PM on Saturday, 18 March, in the auditorium at the University of Florida’s Whitney lab in Marineland. Signage will guide you to the auditorium. The first half will be a social hour, with a raffle, gear sales, and more. This will include a “light” pot-luck event. Please bring finger food or desserts. We will provide coffee, beverages, plates, and utensils. At 3:30 we will give a presentation with a look back at the 2023 season.
The event will include images of our volunteer corps, a video by Flagler College students, and a Season Summary . . . analyses, philosophies, and questions. What are we learning and what secrets are the whales withholding?
In these times of a continuing covid pandemic, masks are welcome (use your judgment), but not required.
We have a network of many wonderful folks! See you Saturday!
Thursday, March 9, 2023
BLUEBIRD DAYS
Gosh! In 20+ years of the program, I can’t remember this kind of weather. Calm seas (often sea state 2, except on Saturdays), light westerly winds, and warm sun. The meteorologists report record warmth. Likewise, water temperatures are warm.
Our one-and-only mother-calf pair for the season, Archipelago, made a strong showing early on. And then, went absent. The records compiled by the Florida team show that they were sighted periodically in northern Florida and southern Georgia. The most recent sighting was on 15 February, off St. Simons Island, Georgia.
And, the one and only mother-calf pair, Pilgrim and calf, sighted by our partners to the south, the MRC, was seen by them on 18 and 19 January in Vero Beach, and most recently seen on 9 February, off Cape Hatteras, and heading north.
Indications are that this was an early and warm season, with a smallish number of right whales. (The number of right whales here in the southeastern U.S. is not so different from last year.)
But, don’t despair. We have experienced these kinds of seasons before. Remember that, “every day, every season, and every whale is different.” We’ll continue with a strong survey effort for the remaining two weeks, right through 12 March.
Mid-Year Highlights
After a hiatus of two years due to the pandemic, we held a mid-year meeting on 11 February. We passed out questionnaires, had a raffle, and had brisk sales of “whale gear.” Jim and Sara gave presentations. The pot-luck “snack buffet” had many treats, two of which were the carved “right whale watermelon” by Greg Tougas and the “right whale cookies” by Carole Adams. Most excellent.
Mark Your Calendars
Our last dedicated survey day of the 2023 season will be on Sunday, 12 March.
Student Visit
From Monday, 20 February through Friday, 24 February, we mentored a student from New York. Kyriaki (Kiki) Gavriil is a junior, enrolled in a science research program, at Byram Hills H.S. in Armonk, NY. While here, she also visited with the Florida Fish & Wildlife team.
Flagler Video
We’re working with Brooke and Macie from the Flagler College digital media and communications program, on a right whale video. Jeff and Sue, along with Glenn from Team 2 were interviewed. Sara was also interviewed. We will likely show this video at the upcoming year-end meeting.
The Numbers
Currently, the number of calves born this season stands at 12. One died off of North Carolina. The number of “alive” calves stands at 11. Early on in the season, we were hoping for a calf production in the 20s, with a continuing hint of a small rebound. It appears now that this will not be realized. We, along with other investigators, are studying water temperatures and other factors.
Thank You
As we wind down for this season, thanks to everyone for your good efforts.
Thursday, February 2, 2023
THE ACTION PICKS UP AGAIN
Sunday, January 22, 2023
WE ARE OFF TO A BUSY START
Week Two began on 11 January. The single yearling was sighted again off Beverly Beach on the 11th. Singles were also sighted off the Nautilus Condo late in the day on the 17th and on the 18th off New Smyrna Beach and further south off Port Canaveral.
Monday, January 9, 2023
RIGHT WHALE SEASON HAS BEGUN !
Sunday, May 1, 2022
SNOW CONE UPDATE
Snow Cone, #3560, and calf were last spotted by the Marineland Group on 17 February off Ormond Beach. Then it got quiet. We waited. Two months and a thousand miles later, Snow Cone and calf were sighted east of Cape Cod by the Center for Coastal Studies aerial survey team. The sightings came on Saturday, 23 April, and Sunday, 24 April. Scott Landry, of the Entanglement Response Center, describes that the overall condition and entanglement of Snow Cone seems no better or worse than that of the February sighting. Scott describes that she is now thinner and the wound around her rostrum is more apparent. The wrap of rope around her rostrum is complicated by the baleen at the front of her mouth.
Snow Cone is well known. Recall that Snow Cone lost her first calf in 2020 but reappeared in December 2021 with another calf. Resilient. She was prominently shown in the Last of the Right Whales documentary.
There is further news from Cape Cod. #2360, Derecha, and #2040 Naevus, were sighted in Cape Cod Bay by the CCS team on 13 April. Of the three mother-calf pairs seen by the MRWP during the 2022 season, all have successfully made the northward migration and appeared in the Cape Cod area.
As for Snow Cone, there is caution and uncertainty about the entanglement, wound, and overall condition. Feeding was observed for the Cape Cod sighting. A good thing. However, ongoing monitoring is underway. We are hopeful for a good outcome: A healthy reproductive female, and an additional member of the right whale population.
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
THANK YOU
As the 2022 season draws to a close (it’s been quiet for two weeks now, probably the whales are gone, headed north, toward Cape Cod and Canada), a huge thank you to the many volunteers and responders that contributed to our results this season.
Video
Our new five-minute video entitled 2022 Volunteers shows snapshots of our dedicated and capable volunteer corps. Go to YouTube, and then Marineland Right Whale Project, or, click here.
Last of the Right Whales film
At our season-end wrap-up event on Saturday afternoon, 19 March, we showed the most excellent film, Last of the Right Whales. Sara and several of our volunteers were prominently included. The film will likely receive wide distribution; if and when it airs on PBS we will notify you. In the meantime, there are wonderful excerpts and featurettes available. Go to YouTube, search on HitPlay Productions, and then select Videos, or click here, to find nearly two dozen 2-minute clips. Ones that we particularly like are: the Official Trailer; Meet the NARW Citizen Scientists; Behind the Scenes: Music; and, The Making of LOTRW..
For upcoming screenings:
* Cape Cinema (Cape Cod) Dennis, MA, 24 March 2022, 7:00 p.m.
* Patriot Cinemas, Nickelodeon, Portland, ME, 27 April 2022, time TBA.
* Salem Film Fest, Peabody Museum, Salem, MA, 26 March, 11:00. It is also available for streaming 28 March through 3 April. Streaming tickets are available here for $10.
As additional dates and locations are added, they will be listed at lastoftherightwhales.com/screenings/.
Right Whale News Posted
The March 2022 issue of Right Whale News has been posted at www.narwc.org. Select Right Whale News, and Current Issue from the Menu bar.
Whale Gear
The sale of whale gear at our season-end event was vigorous. We have some caps, pins, long- and short-sleeved T-shirts, and hoodies left. If you would like some of these, come by the office prior to 31 March (call Sara (207) 281-3541, or Jim (904) 923-5050, between 9 and 2, to make sure we are here.) Checks or cash only.
Donations
As we have done for many years, we put forward an appeal at the end of the current season. Throughout the year we apply to foundations and organizations for support. This covers the majority of program costs. We now appeal to you to help fill the shortfall, typically a few thousand dollars. This is not insurmountable. Just like the rest of the program, the collective effort makes things happen. Donations are tax-deductible. Please make checks out to Associated Scientists at Woods Hole, or simply ASWH, and mail to Jim Hain, ASWH, Box 721, Woods Hole, MA 02543. We are requesting donations of $100, but any amount is very welcome.
Monday, March 7, 2022
15TH CALF OF THE SEASON !!
Good news! We have a new mother, bringing the total to 15 right whale calves so far ! Female #4180 and her 2nd calf were sighted off North Carolina on 2 March. The calf was just a few days old. A range of birthdays is expected and this is one of the reasons why the right whale calving ‘season’ spans the months of November through April.
Right Whale Talk at Flagler College
Flagler College Forum on Government and Public Policy presents a lecture delivered by award-winning reporter and photo- journalist for the Boston Globe, David Abel on 8 March at 7:00 p.m. He will present “Entangled - The Race to Save the North Atlantic Right Whale.” This event at the Lewis Auditorium, 14 Granada Street, St. Augustine, is free and open to the public.
Are We Done ?
Our most recent sighting was on 22 February at the Flagler-by-the-Sea Campground. The mother-calf pair, Derecha and calf, subsequently swam south. Since then, it has been quiet. Are we done with sightings for the season? Always the optimists, we hope for future sightings and surprises. Please continue look out to sea whenever you are on the coast and keep handy the Right Whale Hotline phone card included in an earlier post just in case you are lucky enough to spot one!
Last Survey Day
The final day of dedicated surveys for the Marineland Right Whale Project is Sunday, 13 March. However, we will continue to be available to respond to any sightings called into the Right Whale Hotline.