End of Right Whale Season Update

Shop Online and Donate to the Project

With the economy still in recovery, fundraising has become increasingly challenging and we have sought new avenues for support. We have teamed up with Buy4.com to establish an opportunity for shopping online to generate donations to the Project that won’t cost the shopper a penny more. Buy4.com has relationships with thousands of participating stores including Amazon, Apple, iTunes, Groupon, Best Buy, Expedia, 1-800-Flowers, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, etc. Commissions normally paid to search engines like Google and Yahoo for online purchases can now be directed as donations to the Project. Simply go to www.Buy4Marinelandrightwhale.com to join and download the Buy4 Shopping Reminder. Then, when shopping for plane tickets, clothes, books, etc., go to www.Buy4Marinelandrightwhale.com and a percentage of your purchase will be donated to the Project. It’s safe, fast, easy, and free! And, you will be helping to preserve the continuity of the Project’s work.

Southeast Region

The region, defined as South Carolina to Florida, hosted six mother/calf pairs plus 62 other right whales, documented and identified by all teams working in the area. Both the number of calves born and the number of other whales visiting the region were low compared to averages from recent seasons. We have become accustomed to calf counts in the 20’s and total right whales spotted during the season numbering 150 to 250.

Warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures likely contributed to the low numbers of right whales present in the region and to their remaining mostly to the north of St. Augustine. Despite the warm water temperature, right whale #1208 and her calf were sighted several times in the Jacksonville area until mid-March 15. The calf was first spotted in early February, and may have been born later than usual. Perhaps, they lingered to give the calf more time to prepare for the migration north.

Marineland Right Whale Project:

Shore Surveys

Although we ended our surveys two weeks early, our eight-week effort resulted in 1,702 survey hours plus 48 hours for the volunteers from the Georgia Aquarium who conducted independent afternoon surveys. This 1,750 total compares very favorably with prior years, despite the shortened season.

Better surveyor documentation of environmental conditions provided us with the ability to analyze surveys and weather conditions. Full surveys were conducted in good weather conditions on 32 days. On 23 days, full or partial surveys took place under moderate or poor conditions. Only 1 survey day was completely cancelled, the first day of the season. These results nicely documented the mild and mostly good winter weather and will allow for future comparisons of weather, survey effort and sightings. Although whale sightings were few, our dedicated surveyors understood how important it was for the monitoring and effort to continue so as to add to our long-term data and verify that indeed the whales were not present. With each year of data, no matter if whales are many or few, our efforts increase in value.

Aerial Surveys

Gusty winds kept survey hours in the AirCam to the second lowest in the six seasons that the Project has had the aircraft. In December, the AirCam flew a line parallel to the coast and 3 miles offshore along with its standard 1 mile coastal line. After the shore surveys began in January, the AirCam flew the 1 mile line north and south from St. Augustine inlet to the Cape Canaveral seashore area. Only three flights took place in February and two in March, due to the unfavorable wind conditions.

Whale Photo-identification

Our ability to obtain photographs capable of identifying right whales that we sight has steadily increased over the 12 years of the Project’s existence. This success is a combination of better equipment, the availability of the AirCam, the increasing knowledge and skill of our volunteers, and community awareness of the whales and the Hotline number. With just two sightings this season, the combination of all of the above resulted in a 100% success in obtaining these photos!

Some Thoughts on the Season

Two books, one published many years ago and one just recently, offer perspectives on this year’s survey results. The first is “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson, underlining the message that “…all things are connected.” The connection goes across space and time. The low number of calves born in 2012 may be explained by the fact that in the summer of 2010, there were record warm temperatures in the right whales’ northern feeding areas and copepod production was low and/or of poor quality. This compromised food source may have resulted in fewer whales entering into reproductive condition and behavior, resulting in fewer calves. If this connection does exist, then next season is likely to be a more productive year, since water temperatures were closer to normal and copepod levels were good last summer and fall. The second thought comes from D. Graham Burnett’s “The Sounding of the Whale” who, after some 675 pages, concluded that “…knowing things is hard.”  We know first hand, in our muscles and in our hearts, that this is true.

Right Whale Surveys Ending Early

Based on the consistent observations made by all of the Teams and what we are seeing in the rest of the Southeast, we have decided that we will have enough data to characterize this exceptional season with one more week of surveys. The last day for our 2012 right whale season surveys will be this Monday, 27 February.

However, we encourage everyone to continue with opportunistic observations as opportunities arise, particularly those with waterfront homes. The AirCam will fly for the next several weeks to keep an eye on things, too.

This certainly will be a season that stands out in stark contrast to much of what we had come to expect from the whales. It’s what keeps science fresh and exciting!

Warm Weather, No Whales, and Now…Insects!

Valentine’s Day brought a glimmer of hope when Team 2 talked with an opportunistic spotter near Matanzas Inlet who reported seeing blows. Both Teams 1 and 2 made a valiant effort to locate and confirm the report, but could not. The next day, we received word through the MRC Hotline of a possible whale in Vilano. The FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s aerial team checked it out, and then we flew over the area with the AirCam later for another try. Neither of us could find a whale. Humpback? We can only wonder.

While the whales have been scarce, at least surveys in the warmer weather have been pleasant. That is, until the “no-see-ums,” tiny, gnat-like insects with a very unpleasant bite, began to swarm about a week or so ago. They are worst when winds are out of the west. Bring insect repellent with you for surveys.

The right whale calf count is holding at six (with one lost brings it down to five). The total count of whales documented in the SE US is 62 and the small group of whales remaining here is being sighted to the north in Georgia and South Carolina. We are not the only ones experiencing an unusual season. We have a report from Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies (thanks Devon and Penny!) that the water temperature in Cape Cod Bay has been a couple of degrees higher than normal, the copepods favored by the right whales as food peaked earlier than usual and are now dropping off, resulting in the whales feeding earlier in the year and in what now appears to be an early departure of the whales from the Bay. PCCS reports that conditions are differing noticeably from those observed during the last 25 years of research.

What does this mean for us? It adds weight to our observations that this is an atypical season and underlines the importance of continuing to watch and record as we have done in past seasons. Collectively, along with all of the research groups up and down the coast, we will gather information and hopefully draw conclusions about right whales, the ocean, and the environment in 2012. A huge thank you for your persistence and dedication.

Mid-Season Status Report

Without a doubt, this 12^th survey season has been our most unusual. There has been only one whale documented in our area. The Sector 5 survey team sighted this yearling calf of #1245 on January 24^th in South Daytona. The mother herself was last seen in our area off Crescent Beach in 2005 with a previous calf and we have not observed her in our study area since then.

Six mother/calf pairs have been identified to date. A new mother, whale #1208, with her sixth calf, was confirmed after the Gathering. However, our colleagues at the New England Aquarium estimated the potential number of calving females in this population at 100, raising the hope that additional mother/calf pairs could be sighted and the question of why have there been so few to date.

Looking at the sighting history prior to the start of the Marineland Right Whale Project, there was a similar unusual situation in the 2000 season with 28 total right whale sightings and only 1 mother/calf pair. In that season, there were no sightings south of St. Augustine. There is a similarity in that the 1999-2000 season also had warm water temperatures.

These unusual situations are not confined to the Southeast US waters. Similar results have occurred in the whales’ northern feeding habitat. For 31 years, the New England Aquarium has surveyed right whales in the Bay of Fundy during the summer and fall. In the 2010 season, these scientists recorded the smallest number of sightings and the fewest number of right whales in their 31-year history. The surface water temperature in the Bay was warmer than normal and may have diminished the copepod numbers. This correlation is still being examined as well as the possible effect on the whales migrating to our waters. Scientists have speculated about a two-year lag between the abundance of summer food resources for the whales and calving rates.

In the face of a highly variable population that is very difficult to predict, as scientists and citizen-scientists, the only way to begin to understand what is happening and to draw meaningful conclusions is to maintain a consistent sampling effort. Although we may feel that “nothing is happening,” the exact opposite is true. We are helping to demonstrate that there is a dramatic shift in right whale distribution that seems to correlate with elevated water temperature.

We are one of six teams from North Carolina to Florida who are on the job monitoring the right whales. We aren’t alone in this effort. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission team to the north of us has frequently come up empty handed as well. To the south, the Marine Resources Council likewise continues their monitoring for right whale sightings, with few calls. It doesn’t seem to be “our year” for sightings, but it is our year for contributing to science.

As we like to say; “Every day, every season and every whale is different.”

Right Whale Gains and Losses

This week brought another new calf, bringing the total for the season to five. Right whale #3390 was spotted on 25 January off Ponte Vedra with her first calf by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s aerial survey team. We also received news from our colleagues that right whale #1301, Half Note, was seen several times without her calf. This is the third calf in a row that Half Note has lost.

The fast-moving youngster seen in our area last week was identified by the New England Aquarium as the yearling of right whale #1245. This whale and its mother were absent from our list of whales seen last season. We did receive opportunistic sighting reports of a right whale in Daytona last Thursday, but could not confirm it. Thanks to Team 5 for their search effort.

Sightings continue to dribble in from up to the north of us, near the Florida/Georgia border, but the number of mother-calf pairs remains low. We still hold out hope. A summary by the New England Aquarium suggests that there may be around 100 females that could calve this season. Will water temperatures change? Will the whales appear in our area? We don’t know. This is why we do what we do, collect data that will allow meaningful comparisons with other seasons and, eventually, give us greater insight into the whales’ behavior. We will continue to survey and to report.

First Right Whale Sets a Rapid Pace South

Our brand new Sector 5 south survey team claims the honor of being first to sight a right whale this season. The single adult/juvenile sighted late yesterday afternoon was spotted by the team this morning from Van Avenue Park in South Daytona Beach. As we saw yesterday, the whale surfaced infrequently and was swimming south at a rapid pace. It was a great catch on the team’s part, particularly since the whale headed further offshore to avoid the Ponce Inlet jetty.

An observant opportunistic spotter also called the MRC’s Right Whale Hotline, giving the response team reports from two sources. The AirCam arrived around 11:30 am and had to fly several search patterns before spotting the whale. It submerged for 14 minutes before surfacing again long enough for identification photos. We are still working on a tentative ID for this whale.

Between yesterday afternoon and today, this lone right whale covered 47 nmi in 19 hours, an average speed of 2.5 knots. The fastest whale we have documented in our study area was another single on 13 February 2007, swimming at 2.9 knots.

Waiting for Whales

The cold weather that greeted surveyors this morning brings with it an increased likelihood of seeing whales. To date, we have not had a single sighting in the Project’s area, but there is hope. On Tuesday, 10 January, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission aerial survey team finally documented a right whale south of Jacksonville. Half Note (RW#1301) and her calf were photographed just over 7 nmi east of Jacksonville Beach. There are now three mother/calf pairs and about 30 other right whales that have been provisionally identified in the SE US.

What’s taking so long for the whales to make their appearance in our area? The mild air temperatures that we enjoyed last week have slowed the cooling of water temperatures, which hovered in the mid- to upper-60’s until this latest cold front arrived. As further evidence of warmer than average water, the AirCam crews have sighted manta rays as far north as Marineland, a first in the Project’s 12 seasons. Jim Hain compared sea surface temperatures over the last few weeks with previous seasons and observed that they mirror temperatures recorded in 2009, also a “warm” and “late” season. In 2009, the first right whale, a single, was documented on 5 January. The first mother/calf pair appeared on 14 January that year and we continued to have sightings well into March, with the last one on the 25^th. Sea surface temperatures in 2009 remained cool until well into the spring.

The area of cooler water, in the 50’s, along the Georgia/Florida coast is growing and expanding south, and should encourage the whales in our direction. Winds have grounded the aerial teams since Tuesday and may continue for another several days. If the whales are moving south, it’s up to the surveyors and opportunistic spotters to catch them!

Mother and Calf Right Whale Sighted in the SE US

Exciting news! The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's aerial survey team spotted a mother and calf right whale yesterday, 20 December, just off the Southern Georgia coastline. The identification of the mother is pending. Water temperatures in our area remain a bit warm, but the whales are headed south!

The 2011 season report for the Marineland Right Whale Project is now available on the Project website, www.aswh.org. The link is located toward the bottom.

Right Whales Sighted in the SEUS

The aerial survey teams to the north of us are beginning to see right whales in the Southeast US. On 15 December, two adult/juveniles were confirmed off of the South Carolina coast and two adult/juveniles a few miles east of St. Simons Island, GA. Our temperatures this December are significantly warmer than last year, no doubt influencing a later arrival for the whales. Nevertheless, we are ready!

The Project’s AirCam made its first flight of the season yesterday, 16 December. We flew a 3 nmi and a 1 nmi line between Matanzas and Ponce Inlets. We saw no whales, but did spot a manta ray on the 3 nmi line east of Daytona Beach. It’s unusual to see one so late in the year.

Welcome to the start of our twelfth season! The whales are still north of us, but we have been busy making preparations for their return. It won’t be long now.

IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE SEASON

Right Whale Introductory Talks for new volunteers, surveyors and spotters alike, and anyone wanting to know how to spot right whales:

Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011

10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Ormond Beach Public Library

30 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach

Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011

3:00 PM to 4:30 PM

Anastasia Island Branch

St. Johns County Public Library

124 Sea Grove Main St.,

St. Augustine Beach

Monday, Dec. 5, 2011

1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

Flagler County Public Library

2500 Palm Coast Parkway, NW

Palm Coast

Right Whale Survey Plane to Appear at Wings Over Flagler Fly-In

We have wanted to do this for some time. The AirCam is an important part of the Project. However, most people only get to see our plane at a distance, flying along the shoreline or circling over whales. Now, the opportunity to see the Marineland Right Whale Project’s AirCam aerial survey plane up close is coming next weekend. We have teamed up with the Flagler County Airport to bring the AirCam to the Annual Wings Over Flagler Warbird Fly-In at the airport on Saturday, March 26th from 9am to 5pm and Sunday, March 27th from 9am to 3pm. The AirCam will be on exhibit along with the equipment used for aerial survey and displays showing various aspects of the Project.

Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Flagler County Airport Office or online at www.wingsoverflagler.com. Select Tickets on the Home page for the online link.

Advanced Purchase Tickets
$5.00 Adults 18yrs and over
$3.00 Teens 13-17 years old

At the Gate General Admission
$7.00 Adults 18yrs and over
$5.00 Teens 13-17 years old
Free for kids 12 and under w/Adult

In addition to the AirCam, there will be over 60 warbirds to view up close, aerobatics and flight demonstrations, opportunities to meet pilots and crews, and other events. For a list, select What to See from the website’s home page.

The Flagler County Airport is located 1.4 mi west of I-95 (Exit 284) on State Road 100. The address is 283 Old Moody Boulevard. Palm Coast, FL 32164.

Right Whale News Available

The February issue of Right Whale News has been posted at www.rightwhaleweb.org. From the main menu, select Right Whale News, and "Current Issue."

Highlights include a mid-season report from the Southeast US calving grounds and a review of the outcomes from the Southeast Implementation Team’s 17 November 2010 meeting.

Previous issues also are available.

A new mother and calf pair were sighted a few days ago and confirmed as the 19^th calf born this season. The female is Catalog #3020, Giza, with her second known calf. The pair was spotted by the South Carolina aerial survey team.

The Whales Keep Us Guessing…Again

Just as we thought that the season may be drawing to a close, the phone rang on Friday afternoon, 25 February, with a sighting from Surf Club, about a mile south of Marineland. To our surprise, we confirmed a mother and calf, heading SOUTH! We followed them to Washington Oaks, then to Malacompra Park, where we left them still swimming steadily south. They obliged by coming within a quarter mile of shore and we were able to identify them as #2660, Gannet, a fifteen-year-old female, and her third calf, born sometime before 21 December. This was our first view of the pair in our area this season. Gannet has a white belly and you can see the white chin of her calf in the photo.

Naturally, we looked forward to sighting them again on Saturday, but coastal fog kept surveys and the AirCam on hold. By 3:00 pm, the fog had finally lifted enough to launch the AirCam, but despite calm seas and surveying out to 3 miles offshore, Gannet and calf were not to be found.

Friday also brought the good news of a newly sighted mother and calf pair just to the north of our area. Female #2790 and her third calf brought the total count of calves born this year to eighteen.

Another New Right Whale Mother and Calf

With the quickly rising sea surface temperatures, it appears that the 2011 season may be drawing to a close. Whale sightings have diminished over the last week and when they are sighted, the whales are mostly offshore and out of sight of land. Surprises remain, however. On Tuesday, 22 February, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission's aerial survey team sighted a mother-calf pair 6.4 miles northeast of St. Augustine. It was the 17^th pair for the season, #3130 with her second calf (the previous was in 2008).

The Marineland Right Whale Project’s acoustic sampling boat, on the water that day, received the whales’ location from the FWC team. As the winds calmed and the sun brightened, the curious calf and its mother came by for a close approach. The team recorded and photographed this pair over the course of the afternoon.

Where are the Whales?

The short answer to the above question is, “not where we anticipated they would be, based on past seasons.” Our most recent sightings, a humpback whale on 18 February and female right whale #3430 and calf on 19 February, were both offshore, on the 3-mile trackline now flown regularly by the AirCam. Shoreline sightings are remarkably non-existent. This reminds us of the 2008 season, when the right whales departed our area early, and our last sighting of the season occurred on 12 Feb. However, that season was the warmest of our eleven seasons and the current season has been one of our coldest. Last season, another very cold one, the whales seemed to linger in our area, not completely departing until well into March. We still have much to learn about what influences the whales’ movements. They may yet reappear, with water temperatures warming over the last several days.

 On a very positive note, the FWC aerial survey team spotted a new mother and calf on 13 February. They have been provisionally identified as #1245, Slalom, a 29-year-old female with her fifth calf. This brings the total for the season to 16, a very respectable number.