Posts Tagged ‘Humpback whale’
Cutting it with citizen science – following a whale from the Caribbean to the Arctic via Scotland
Steve Truluck is a whale watching guide and skipper for Hebridean Whale Cruises, Gairloch, Scotland. He began his journey into the wonderful world of whales and dolphins as a volunteer for WDC Shorewatch, our citizen science programme in Scotland. He is a regular visitor to Norway and contributor to scientific research. In his guest blog…
Read MoreScientists discover new humpback whale feeding technique
Humpback whales are renowned for the many different ways they catch their prey, such as lunge-feeding, kick-feeding, bubble-netting and many more. However, up-to-now scientists have been unable to work out how the whales might use their five-metre long pectoral flippers to help catch their food. Finally, using aerial observations and photographs, they have been able…
Read MoreTwo white whales sighted off Australia and New Zealand
White whales are very rare, but in the last couple of days there have been sightings off both New Zealand and Australia. An adult white humpback whale, possibly the famous whale known as Migaloo, has been seen off the coast of Gisborne on New Zealand’s North Island. Meanwhile, off Lennox Head in New South Wales,…
Read MoreA lovely end to my sabbatical with more humpback whales
My time at the WDC North American office has come to an end; it has flown by and has been a wonderful experience. In my previous blog I wrote about the humpback studies that I have been assisting on whilst I have been here. Since then the weather has continued to be unseasonably good and…
Read MoreA Whale of a welcome
It’s been two weeks since I arrived at the WDC North America office here in Plymouth, Massachusetts. I’m normally based at the UK office, but I’m lucky to be here on sabbatical assisting on the studies of the whales in Cape Cod, particularly humpback whales. After being taught the data collection techniques, which is very…
Read MoreWhales whisper to avoid attack
Most whales are known for their loud underwater calls that can reach across many miles of ocean, but scientists have revealed that newborn humpback whales and their mothers frequently whisper to each other as part of a defence mechanism against attack. The study, by researchers from Denmark and Australia revealed unique, intimate forms of communication…
Read MoreFirst underwater images of humpback whales in UK waters taken in Shetlands
Humpback whales have been regularly sighted in the waters around the British Isles in recent years, from Cornwall to Northern Scotland, and many of these sightings have been recorded with photographs. But until now, it is thought there has never been any underwater footage taken of these creatures in UK waters. Now for the first…
Read MoreNorwegian whalers turn their sights on humpback and fin whales
Members of the Vestvågøy Fisheries Association, in the Lofoten district of Norway, are demanding a review of whether fin and humpback whales should be hunted in local waters, citing increased numbers of these species in the waters around Bjørnøya and Bjørnøya-Hopen. They speculate that declining seabird numbers could be due to whales competing with seabirds for fish,…
Read MoreAre humpback whales saving seals from orca attacks?
It appears that we humans may not be the only ones that care about the welfare of others creatures. Global data being analysed by scientists seems to suggest that humpback whales are making a conscious effort to rescue other species, like seals, from attacks by orcas. Although more scientific study needs to be done, there are…
Read MoreSome unusual whale sightings and a reminder of why we do what we do
My visit to the WDC North America office this past week was a tangible reminder of why Whale and Dolphin Conservation exists as an organization and how important it is for us to continue our efforts to protect whales and dolphins. An opportunity to take a trip out to sea last Thursday morning in…
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