IMMB 2014 Student Post

IMMB student Alex Kirby wrote a nice post about her time at Shoals this summer.  Alex is working as a Communications Intern at The Ocean Foundation.  Best of luck to her in her work in communications and science education.

“Shoals Marine Laboratory provided me with the extraordinary opportunity to study the ocean and the remarkable marine animals that call it home. Living on Appledore for two weeks opened my eyes to a new way of living, fueled by a passion to better the ocean and the environment. While on Appledore, I was able to experience authentic research and real field experience. I learned a great amount of detail about marine mammals and the Isles of Shoals and I glimpsed into a marine world, but I also kept thinking back to my communication roots. Shoals has now provided me with high hopes that communication and social media are powerful tools that can to be utilized to reach the general public and improve the public’s superficial understanding of the ocean and its problems.”

{flight} 08 June 2014 Great South Channel

Christin Khan, at NOAA Fisheries in Woods Hole, keeps a great blog where she posts photos and aerial survey reports.  Check out her fantastic photos from a recent flight in the Great South Channel (Gulf of Maine).  Besides right and sei whales, who are feeding on plankton, they also saw almost 100 basking sharks.  The all-you-can-eat lunch buffet is definitely open!

Photo credits: NOAA/NEFSC/Christin Khan.  Images collected under MMPA Research Permit Number 17355

Sei whale mom & calf.

Right whale calf, with mom below.

Sei whales feeding.

Right whale feeding.

Sea of Diamonds

“Sea of Diamonds” is the tongue-in-cheek title of a memoir that my friend and colleague, John Nicolas, said he would write but never did.  He was a long time marine mammal researcher for the Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, Vietnam veteran, and all around salty dog.  Many fond memories were had at sea, sitting around the dinner table, and listening to him tell stories – he had a knack for stirring up all kinds of trouble.  When I go to sea, those who knew him still have a great time reminiscing about his stories in the years since he passed.  As this site is a venue for telling stories about going to sea to study whales, I couldn’t think of a more appropriate title.

A new start for 2013…

After hosting a successful “365 project” wherein I posted a photo a day between August 2011-October 2012, this blog has been recommissioned.  This site will now contain photos, journal entries from the field, and news related to marine mammal science and conservation biology.  Check back often.