Magic Sighting and First Half Season Wrap Up

Magic Happens
On Monday, 15 February, we responded to a sighting from Survey Team 4, in Ormond-By-The-Sea. The whales were off Highbridge Road. We launched the drone. Just in time for the fog to roll in.  We then did the only thing civilized people can
do—we went to lunch. While at lunch, the phone rang. Earl Sanders had worked south to Ormond Plaza. The fog was lifting and the whales were in view. We went. We flew the drone. We photographed. It was a mother-calf pair, Right whale #1243, Magic, a 39 year-old female with her 7th calf. This was a new pair for our area this season.

Weather
We have had nearly a solid week of poor weather, wind, and high sea states. The forecast for the coming week, particularly Wednesday through Friday, looks good.

Please scan the water when you are on the coast, for the week, as well as for the remainder of the season. Will we be able to sight additional mothers and their healthy calves? Will we be able to reach our goal of 20+ calves for the season? 

If you believe you have a whale sighting, please call the MRC Right Whale Hotline at 1-888-979-4253. Consider entering this into your cell phone to have it handy.

 

Video and volunteers

Because of constraints and cautions resulting from COVID-19, our interactions and socializations have been much reduced this season. Reduced but not gone. For a video of the first half of the season (runtime 6:03), click here:

2021 Survey Season: First Half

 

End of the season

We are in the eighth week of our season. Depending on further whale sightings, the last day will either be 14 or 21 March.  We will advise.

 

And, as always . . . here’s to light winds and heavy whales.

DO WHALES GRIEVE ?

Sad news came on Valentine’s Day weekend. On Friday afternoon, the 12th, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Survey plane sighted Right whale #3230, Infinity, and her first calf, near the St. Augustine Inlet. A few hours later, at dusk, a returning sport fishing boat struck something in the inlet and reported that they hit a whale. The next morning, the body of a calf came ashore on the beach at Anastasia State Park. It is believed to be the calf of Infinity. By the afternoon, a response was in progress, and documentation and measurements recorded. The following day, Sunday the 14th, a necropsy (autopsy conducted on a non-human) was performed and samples taken.

There have been 14 calves born this season. With this death, 13 remain. The calf came ashore on the 13th. An unlucky day for the whales, and for the dedicated scientists and citizens who study and monitor them. The mother is out there. Somewhere. Is she grieving?

The news coverage provides a good summary (ctrl click on the link) :

Right whale calf fatally struck by boat washes up on Anastasia Island

 by Brie Isom, News4Jax

Scientists say beached right whale calf had broken skull, broken ribs
by Jessica Clark, First Coast News 

WHALES, WEATHER, & WEBINAR

 Right Whale Webinar

On Wednesday, 10 February, at 7:30 p.m., the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is hosting an interesting Zoom webinar on right whales. In advance of the meeting, in your browser enter go.whoi.edu/saving-whales . . . or . . . in the search box, enter, “WHOI Ocean Encounters – Saving the North Atlantic right whale.” Once on the page, you will be asked to register (free). Once registered, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with information on how to attend the meeting.

Right Whale News Posted

The January 2021 issue of Right Whale News has been posted at www.narwc.org. The issue includes updates on science and management from Canada and the U.S.

Whales, Weather, and Wonder

In January, we had 22 right whale sightings.  Most were Catalog #4040, Chiminea, with her first calf. There were others. It’s fun to conjure up stories. On Wednesday, 20 January, Ralph Bundy and Jim Hain photographed a pair in Ormond-by-the-Sea.  They were the young and innocent 8-year-old female Catalog #4340, Pilgrim, and her randy 13-year-old suitor, Catalog #3810. They have not been seen since. Where are they? What are they up to?  

Likewise, we photographed Catalog #3904, Champagne, and her first calf in Ormond on 23 January. The pair continued south, and was subsequently seen off Jensen Beach on 26 January. The pair have returned north and were seen off Ponte Vedra on 3 February.

On another note (provided by Florida Fish & Wildlife): three females, Catalog #3230 Infinity, Catalog #3520 Millipede, and Catalog #3860 Bocce, have all calved this year. They have the same mother, Catalog #2040, Naevus. They can be considered half-sisters as they have different fathers. Their calves have the same grandmother, Catalog #1140, Wart.

We are in a week of mixed weather, including fog, clouds, drizzle, and wind. We’ve been here before.  Keep your fingers crossed. We are in the second half of the season. The sun, blue skies, warm days, and healthy whales will return.