Humpback Whale Migration Update: March 26, 1997

Center for Coastal Studies

Greetings from Stellwagen Bank (the Sanctuary office that is, not from the Bank itself).

The word from the field is that humpbacks are probably just starting to make the trek north. There have been no confirmed mother-calf sightings, but the weekly Coast Guard right whale patrol over Cape Cod Bay/Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary spotted a group of feeding fin whales, humpback whales and white-sided dolphins some 15 nm NNE of Provincetown, MA on March 17th. We don't know if these whales spent the winter here or if they have just arrived from down south. Maybe I'll have some exciting news in my next report on April 9th.

I talked to Carole Carlson, a humpback whale researcher who recently returned to Cape Cod from the Caribbean. She said that there were lots of whales at Silver Bank (she was down there from March 1-14). Carole saw large numbers of mothers and calves, but also some rowdy groups of adult whales. These surface active groups are usually involved in breeding behaviors -- males competing for the chance to mate with available females. Some of the behaviors shown were breaching, flipper/pec (pectoral fin) slapping and tail slapping. This is a partial answer to last week's challenge question about behavior. Breaches and slaps, in addition to being aggressive displays during courtship, may also be a play behavior in juvenile and adult whales (I saw one young whale during a summer whalewatch that must have breached about 12 times in a row). Breaches and slaps may also be used to remove pesky barnacles or old skin (a form of grooming).

Carole mentioned that there were fewer whales in Samana Bay this year, as well as around Puerto Rico. However, there were a lot more whales in the waters around the Turks and Caicos, especially Grand Turk. They don't know why the whales have shifted locations this year and if this is going to be a permanent change or just a one time event. The people in the Turks and Caicos didn't complain. They've started up some whale watch operations of their own to make some money off of the ecotourism boom.

My first Challenge Question to you this week is:

Challenge Question # 4
"What and where are the Turks and Caicos, and Grand Turk?"

To respond to this Challenge Question please follow the instructions at the end of this report.

This information was confirmed by Kristen Rasmussen who was the naturalist aboard the Oceanic Research Expedition that went to Silver Bank last week. According to Kristen, there were quite a few whales, reportedly a number comparable to earlier in the season. She said that at this time last year the numbers had started to taper off a bit more. She too saw lots of competitive groups as well as many mother-calf pairs. The group also saw humpbacks near Grand Turk, something they had not seen in previous years' Caribbean whalewatch expeditions.

Kristen's regular job is with Cascadia Research Collective where she studies and identifies Pacific humpbacks, blue whales and gray whales. She reports that some humpbacks were seen off the coast of California during February -- these were probably whales that didn't migrate down south for the winter. But many whales did make the trip. Some California whales even went as far south as Costa Rica and Panama for calving. Other known calving grounds for California humpbacks are in the waters off the Mexican mainland, off Baja California and the outer islands. In April (just as with many of the Atlantic humpbacks), the Pacific humpbacks start heading back north again.

I have another Challenge Question for you. I mentioned the calving grounds for the California humpbacks, but there are other groups of humpbacks living in the Pacific Ocean.

Challenge Question # 5:
"Where do you think other Pacific Ocean humpback whales calving grounds may be found? And where do these whales go to feed?

To respond to this Challenge Question please follow the instructions at the end of this report.

Center for Coastal Studies

How to Respond to Today's Challenge Questions:
Please do not answer both questions in one message!

How to Respond to Journey North Humpback Whale Challenge Question # 4

1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge-hwhale@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question # 4
3. In the body of the message, give your answer to this question:

Challenge Question # 4
"What and where are the Turks and Caicos, and Grand Turk?"

How to Respond to Journey North Humpback Whale Challenge Question # 5

1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge-hwhale@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question # 45
3. In the body of the message, give your answer to this question:

Don't Forget!
Please include the name of your school and your location so we can credit you properly for your answers.

The Next Humpback Whale Migration Update Will be Posted on April 9, 1997.