We are getting an early start to our thirteenth season with dates and news. We trust that you have had a good summer and are anticipating, as we are, the return of the whales in a few months. If you would like some insight into recent right whale activity on the northern feeding grounds in the Bay of Fundy, see the New England Aquarium’s research blog at http://rightwhales.neaq.org/, and also see the report in the October Right Whale News, posted at www.narwc.org.
Our calendar begins with the Right Whale Festival in Jacksonville Beach on Saturday, 17 November, celebrating the return of right whales to our waters. See below for more details.
In December, we will offer Introductory Talks following the successful pattern of last year, in Ormond Beach, Palm Coast, and St. Augustine Beach. With New Years Day falling on a Tuesday, we will be moving our usual survey schedule to begin on Sunday, 6 January. We are scheduling 10 full weeks, to end on a Saturday, to allow equal participation for every team. The Training Class is scheduled the day before surveys begin. Like last year, we will focus on the training of surveyors. Please do your best to attend as we have made some changes in the data that you will be collecting.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE 2013 SEASON
Right Whale Introductory Talks for new volunteers, surveyors and spotters alike, and anyone wanting to know how to spot right whales. (Encourage friends and neighbors to attend!):
Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012
1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Flagler County Public Library
2500 Palm Coast Parkway, NW
Palm Coast
Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Ormond Beach Public Library
30 S. Beach St.
Ormond Beach
Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Anastasia Island Branch
St. Johns County Public Library
124 Sea Grove Main St.,
St. Augustine Beach
«« Survey Training Class for ALL SURVEY volunteers, new and returning, who are planning to participate in the dedicated survey effort:
Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013
2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Center for Marine Studies, Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience
9505 Ocean Shore Blvd., Marineland
Surveys Start:
Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013
Surveys End:
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Right Whale Festival
The 4th Annual Right Whale Festival will be held on Saturday, 17 November, 2012 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Sea Walk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. The festival includes a beach clean-up, live music, kids’ activities, arts & crafts, exhibits, including Marine Resources Council and Marineland Right Whale Project, a silent auction and a beach run. Please visit www.rightwhalefestival.org for more information.
