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.
