Sightings
As of 27 January, we have had whale sightings in our area in four of the last five days. On Saturday, 23 January, at 8:00 a.m., MRC called with a report from Ormond-by-the-Sea. Survey Team 4 responded to help track, and Jim & Sara got on the road. It was a gray windy day. The whales were at the surface infrequently, and, they were moving fast. Conditions were not suitable for the drone. We tracked the whales south. Finally, at 10:45, we got a photo from the Cardinal Street Beach Patrol tower. It was a new whale for our area--Right Whale #3904, Champagne, with her first calf.
But there's more. 23 January was a two-sighting day. Survey Team 3 called from Beverly Beach at 9:27 a.m. The mother-calf pair was Right whale #4040, Chiminea, also with her 1st calf. They passed south by Flagler Pier, and by 2:00 p.m. were off South Flagler Beach.
The calf's flukes draped over the back of mother, #4040, Chiminea, off the Flagler Pier, 23 January 2021. Photo: M. Garito
The next day, Sunday, 24 January, we got a call from Daytona Beach Shores. Jim & Carol Logan responded. Despite three drone flights, we were unable to photograph the whales, so their identity is unknown.
On Tuesday, 26 January, Survey Team 5 reported a sighting from Daytona Beach. Nadine P., who we met last last year working on a right whale documentary, responded along with us, as did Jamie, drone operator, of Blue Water Research Institute. An acoustic research team from Florida Atlantic University (FAU), including Julie from the MRC, responded with their boat and gear. And, oh yes, at one point the Florida Fish & Wildlife survey plane flew over. It was Right Whale #4040, Chiminea, with calf.
And lastly, Wednesday, 27 January, Survey Team 4 called from Ormond-by-the-Sea. It again was Right Whale #4040, Chiminea, and calf. The conditions were good. We got both drone images and stills from shore. On this day, we again collaborated with the FAU acoustic research team.
The Calf Count to Date
As of this date, 14 right whale mother-calf pairs have been sighted in the southeastern U.S. In the Marineland area, we have sighted three of the mother-calf pairs, along with sightings of a trio, a pair, and a single yearling.
For our group, the sighting activity has been better than in recent years. For the Southeast US as a whole, as it is still early in the season, we hope for 20 or more calves born this year.
And as always, many thanks to our capable and dedicated team members and our opportunistic spotters.
