Left: whiteboard killer whales, Right: sperm whale model rescued from storage
Classroom Outtakes
Whale
Day 13 @ Shoals
We went on a whale watch to Jeffrey’s Ledge, with a commercial vessel out of Rye, NH. It made for a long day, with lots of boating, and sleeping teenagers. I spent several hours out on the bow sprit with some students, and everyone was excited to see a fin whale, a few minke whales (photos above by Alex Kirby), and MANY sea birds. We arrived back at Appledore for a late dinner, and another beautiful sunset.
Minke Whale
This morning at brunch, I found myself sitting directly under the minke whale skeleton mounted on the ceiling in the dining hall. I couldn’t resist capturing the interesting view.
Rare Sighting of Beluga Whale in Taunton River, Massachusetts
A beluga whale was spotted in Fall River, MA, a very unusual sighting for this Arctic species!
Photo credits: IFAW & National Park Service
{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.
North Atlantic Right Whale Sightings
This interactive Google Map (from colleagues at NOAA Fisheries) will give you sightings from recent aerial, shipboard, and acoustic surveys for right whales. I found it useful this past spring when planning trips to Provincetown to see whales from the beach.
Artist Spotlight – Elizabeth Soule
Salt is a Great Grandmother!
Salt, a North Atlantic humpback whale, has been tracked by the Center for Coastal Studies (Provincetown, MA) since 1970s. She became a great grandmother this year.
Whale SENSE
Whale SENSE is a voluntary education and recognition program offered to commercial whale watching companies in the U.S. Atlantic and Alaska Regions. The program is sponsored by NOAA Fisheries, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and Whale and Dolphin Conservation. Developed in collaboration with the whale watching industry, Whale SENSE recognizes whale watching companies committed to responsible practices. Visit whalesense.org to find responsible whale watch operators in your area.
Nadine Stewart J Lysiak 