Free Showing of the Film, “Oasis of the Pacific” and Opportunity to Meet the Filmmakers To Take Place on May 18
The public is invited to a free showing of the award-winning 58-minute documentary “Oasis of the Pacific: Time is Running Out” on Thursday, May 18 at 7:00 p.m. at the Ocean Science Discovery Center at The Harbor Shops at Ma’alaea. The evening will include a question and answer session with the filmmakers from zeroimpact productions.
“Oasis of the Pacific” presents how Hawaii’s ocean ecosystem – one of the most unique in the world – is in danger of being lost forever. You’ll experience a revealing journey through the stunning yet endangered undersea world of the Hawaiian Islands. Striking imagery of this underwater realm is juxtaposed with the harsh realities caused by shoreline sprawl, pollution and overfishing. The documentary describes the role each of us can play in securing future generations with a legacy of a rich, diverse and healthy ocean environment.
This free showing of “Oasis of the Pacific” is part of Pacific Whale Foundation’s ongoing “Making Waves Lecture Series” which provides talks, slideshows and films about the ocean, at no charge.
The series takes place at the Ocean Science Discovery Center, located downstairs at The Harbor Shops at Maalaea, next to Maui Ocean Center, on Route 30. To learn more, please call 249-8811.
New Onsite Coral Reef Naturalist Program Encourages Protection of Maui's Coral Reefs
MAALAEA (MAUI), HI -- Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa's Office of Economic Development in partnership with the Hawaii Tourism Authority has awarded $17,000 to Pacific Whale Foundation for an Onsite Coral Reef Naturalist Program that will promote protection of Maui's coral reefs through visitor education.
Pacific Whale Foundation will match the $17,000 grant with cash and in-kind donations, to bring the total amount devoted to the program to $35,000.
"We are grateful to the County and HTA for their support of this very worthwhile reef protection program," said Greg Kaufman, President of Pacific Whale Foundation. "The program is effective because it takes environmental education right to the location where snorkelers are entering and leaving the ocean, to answer their questions about the marine life they are viewing and to encourage eco-friendly enjoyment of the reef."
The Onsite Coral Reef Naturalist Program is being launched this month at Ulua Beach in Wailea, one of the most popular of Maui's nearshore reefs. A clearly identified naturalist will be stationed there, to help visitors identify the fish and corals they are seeing, and to answer any questions about the reef.
Twice a day, the naturalist will offer a free talk on the beach about the coral reef environment. One talk will be oriented toward adults; the other will be for children. The program will take place from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Ulua Beach. It will be available year-round.
Pacific Whale Foundation will soon be expanding the Onsite Coral Reef Naturalist Program to additional beaches that are located alongside popular snorkeling reefs.
"Visitors view it as a positive service to have a resource on site who can give them information about the reef; it's a friendly, welcoming gesture that reflects Maui's aloha spirit," says Kaufman. "We find that this approach is the most effective way to help ocean users understand the things they can do to protect the reef and the ocean."
"Our educational goals are to help snorkelers learn that corals are living and should not be stepped or walked upon; to discourage fish feeding, which upsets the balance of the reef; to help keep marine debris out of the ocean; and to protect sea turtles and other endangered or threatened species," he notes. "We also want to impart an appreciation of the many endemic species that are found here."
Pacific Whale Foundation has 26 years of experience in marine education for visitors. The nonprofit organization has worked with NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Hawaii's Coastal Zone Management to produce and print a free educational guide, "Exploring Hawaii's Coral Reefs," which is offered free to the public and visitors. Other wildlife watching guides created by Pacific Whale Foundation and provided free to the public include "Watching Hawaii's Humpback Whales," "Watching Hawaii's Toothed Whales and Dolphins," and "Enjoying Maui's Unique Ocean Environment." All of these educational guides can be downloaded at Pacific Whale Foundation's website.
Pacific Whale Foundation's Making Waves Lecture Series Presents:
“Whale/Boat Collisons: Understanding Where They Are Likely to Occur; What’s Being Done to Prevent Them”
A free talk and slideshow by Greg Kaufman and Sara Lehmann
MAALAEA (MAUI), HI -- Pacific Whale Foundation's Making Waves Lecture Series will present a special program on the topic of “Whale/Boat Collisons: Understanding Where They Are Likely to Occur; What’s Being Done to Prevent Them” featuring Pacific Whale Foundation President Greg Kaufman and researcher Sara Lehmann. This free talk and slideshow will take place on Thursday, April 27, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Ocean Science Discovery Center at The Harbor Shops at Ma'alaea on Route 30.
Since 1991, Pacific Whale Foundation has been working to understand the nature of how and when whale/boat collisions occur and how to prevent them. In 1991, researchers Eric Brown and Paul Forestell of Pacific Whale Foundation published a scientific report detailing the need for speed limit considerations while operating vessels in vicinity of whales in Hawaii. This report was based on their study of whale distribution and abundance patterns in Ma’alaea Bay.
Since January of 2006, Pacific Whale Foundation has been conducting a new study in Ma’alaea Bay to monitor changes in the distribution of humpback whales and boats, to assess where and when collisions are most likely to occur, and to determine ways to help avoid such collisions This talk will share the results of this study and introduce Pacific Whale Foundation’s progress in developing Whale Protection Systems (WPS) for Pacific Whale Foundation's vessels and to announce Whale Avoidance and Guidance System (WAGS) which will serve as a 'traffic/whale control system' for all vessels operating out of Maalaea Harbor next whale season.
To learn more about the talk, please call Pacific Whale Foundation at 249-8811.
FREE Ocean Awareness Cruises Offered by Pacific Whale Foundation In Celebration of Earth Day
MAALAEA, MAUI –– Our Earth is an ocean planet -- with about 70% of its surface covered by sea. To celebrate Earth Day, Pacific Whale Foundation invites you to take a FREE cruise out on the ocean.
Pacific Whale Foundation will be offering free Ocean Awareness Cruises throughout the day on Saturday, April 22, 2006 from both Ma'alaea and Lahaina Harbors.
These one-hour adventures offer you a unique opportunity to view our oceans and islands from an offshore perspective. Sightings of whales, dolphins or sea turtles are possible. While you're enjoying the beautiful scenery, you'll learn about ways you can help protect Hawaii's unique and fragile ocean environment.
All participants will receive a copy of Pacific Whale Foundation's list of “Ten Things You Can Do To Save Our Oceans.” Children will receive a free Jr. Naturalist Handbook and a "Save our Oceans" sticker.
"These free Earth Day cruises are a tradition at Pacific Whale Foundation, our way of helping the community to enjoy and appreciate the incredible ocean environment that surrounds us here," says Jennifer Dillon, Cruises Director at Pacific Whale Foundation. "We are giving away over 1,000 free cruises for Earth Day."
Reservations are recommended for these free cruises. To learn more or to make reservations for the Free Ocean Awareness Cruises on Earth Day, April 22, please call Pacific Whale Foundation reservations at 249.8811.
David Mattila To Discuss "Pacific Humpback Whales and the SPLASH Project" at Upcoming "Making Waves Lecture Series" Presentation
MAALAEA (MAUI), HI -- As part of Pacific Whale Foundation's Making Waves Lecture Series, there will be a free talk and slideshow by Dave Mattila, Science and Rescue Coordinator at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, on Thursday, April 20 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., at the Ocean Science Discovery Center in Ma'alaea. Mattila will discuss Pacific humpback whales and the SPLASH (Structure of Populations, Levels of Abundance and Status of Humpbacks) Project in the North Pacific.
Humpback whales travel greater distances than any other mammal known, inhabiting entire ocean basins and knowing no boundaries between nations. While this has been a successful adaptation for them, it is an incredible challenge to those trying to understand and protect them. Mattila will talk about the ongoing efforts to learn about North Pacific humpback whales through the SPLASH project and collaboration by researchers throughout Oceania to meet this challenge internationally.
The SPLASH (Structure of Populations, Levels of Abundance and Status of Humpbacks) project in the North Pacific is the largest whale study ever attempted, with over 300 researchers from eight countries coordinating their efforts.
The work by researchers in American Samoa and much of Oceania is very relevant considering a proposal by Japan to "take" humpback whales from Antarctica under a scientific research permit.
Mattila is the Science and Rescue Coordinator for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, where he has helped to establish a large whale rescue network. In addition, he has conducted surveys around American Samoa for the past three years, providing the first information on this population of humpbacks. The co-chair and Hawaii regional coordinator for the SPLASH project, Mattila will share new discoveries from these efforts and the status of various threats to humpback whales in his lecture.
This talk is free and open to the public. The Ocean Science Discovery Center is located downstairs (facing the ocean) at The Harbor Shops at Ma'alaea on Route 30. For more information, contact Pacific Whale Foundation at 249-8811.
On April 27 the Making Waves Lecture Series continues with a free talk and slideshow by Pacific Whale Foundation President Greg Kaufman and Researcher Sara Lehmann on “Whale/Boat Collisions: Understanding Where They Are Likely to Occur and What’s Being Done to Prevent Them.”
Special Cruise Tunes In To Whale Songs By the Light of the Full Moon
MAALAEA (MAUI), HI -- Humpback whales produce some of the most complex "songs" in the animal kingdom. You can listen in to their haunting and fascinating serenades by the light of the full moon during the upcoming "Whale Song Serenade" Cruise offered by Pacific Whale Foundation. This special cruise will take place on Thursday, April 13, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. aboard the catamaran Ocean Quest from Lahaina Harbor.
"Male humpback whales produce these songs while at their winter mating and calving areas," says Jennifer Dillon, Cruises Director at Pacific Whale Foundation. "The songs are actually long, complex patterns of sounds which include notes or units in patterned sequences."
"The songs are fascinating, but we're not entirely sure of their purpose," she says. "They may serve to attract females, to facilitate interactions between males, display status to other males, or to maintain distance between singers."
You'll learn more about whale songs as Ocean Quest cruises along at a slow and relaxed pace, allowing you to enjoy the moonlight and the expert narration by Pacific Whale Foundation's naturalists. A hydrophone -- underwater microphone -- will be used to pick up the sounds of singing whales in the vicinity, and to transmit them to loudspeakers on the boat. Sightings of whales are also possible.
The cruise includes light pupus, plus two drink coupons for beer, wine. Mai Tais and soft drinks. (You must present a valid i.d. to show that you are age 21 or over to consume alcoholic beverages.)
The price is $39.95 (plus tax and fees) for adults, $15 for kids ages 7-12; free for kids ages 6 and under. Pacific Whale Foundation members save 20%.
For reservations, call Pacific Whale Foundation at 249-8811.
Haleakala Distillers Introduces New "Save The Whales" Rum
Each Bottle Sold to Result in a Donation for Pacific Whale Foundation's Children's Education Programs
MAALAEA (MAUI), HI -- Haleakala Distillers has just introduced “Save the Whales Rum” -- and has pledged to provide a donation for each bottle sold to Pacific Whale Foundation's marine education programs for children.
Haleakala Distillers offers the only rum that's actually produced in the Hawaiian Islands. Their distinctive "Save the Whales Rum” is handcrafted in small batches on the slopes of Haleakala from Maui-grown sugar cane, Maui water and Maui sunshine. The combination of an artfully shaped bottle, a beautiful label (featuring a photo of a breaching whale, of course!) and the quality light Hawaiian rum inside adds up to an impressive gift for visitors to bring home to friends and family.
While you're sipping a Mai Tai concocted with Save the Whales Rum, you can pat yourself on the back for helping to make a difference for Hawaii's humpback whales. An estimated 6,000 of these endangered marine mammals spend their winters in the warm waters of Hawaii, where they mate, give birth and care for their young.
"We are a local company, and we want to support local efforts to protect whales," says Jim Sargent, Master Distiller at Haleakala Distillers. "Because kids in Maui live around an important habitat for humpback whales, we decided to support marine education programs that would help kids understand the importance of protecting whales and their ocean home."
“In fact, the attendance of one of the Sargent children at a Pacific Whale Foundation educational event has been the genesis of this project,” notes Jim Sargent.
The nonprofit Pacific Whale Foundation has offered marine education programs for schoolchildren on Maui since 1980. Teachers and school classes can embark upon whalewatches, explore tidepools, learn about coral reefs and explore careers in marine biology with the professional marine education team at Pacific Whale Foundation. The programs are based at Pacific Whale Foundation's Ocean Science Discovery Center, a facility outfitted with scientific lab equipment for student use. All of Pacific Whale Foundation's marine education programs are correlated with the State of Hawaii's curriculum standards. To learn about Pacific Whale Foundation and its research, education and conservation programs, visit www.pacificwhale.org.
Save the Whales Rum can be purchased at Long's Drug Stores and almost all general stores and liquor retail stores on Maui. To learn more about Haleakala Distillers, visit www.mauirum.biz.
Haleakala Distillers reminds everyone to please drink responsibly.
Public Forum on Hawaii's Proposed Superferry To Be Held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 30
MAALAEA, MAUI, HI -- A much needed interisland transportation option? A threat to whales and the environment? Economically beneficial -- or not?
Find out about the pros and cons of the planned Hawai'i Superferry at a free public forum featuring a panel of experts and representatives from all sides of this controversial issue. This free event will take place on Thursday, March 30 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Ocean Science Discovery Center, located on Route 30, next to the Maui Ocean Center Aquarium at The Harbor Shops at Ma'alaea.
The forum will be moderated by Dick Mayer, retired Maui Community College Professor. Representatives from Hawai'i Superferry, Maui Land and Pineapple, and the Department of Transportation have been invited to appear on the speakers' panel, along with a representative from the Hawai'i State Legislature. Experts on the topics of marine mammal (whale) safety, ferry system planning, alien species impacts on farming and the environment, freight shipments, County government, maritime law and Hawaii's environment have been invited to make presentations.
Each speaker will be given seven minutes for their presentation. After the presentations, there will be a question and answer period for the public to address their inquiries to the panelists.
"We want this to be an opportunity for the public to learn more and to get answers to their questions about the Superferry," says Dick Mayer. "This will be a fair and balanced forum for this issue."
Sierra Club will be serving refreshments. To learn more about the forum, please call the Ocean Science Discovery Center, which is hosting this event at 244-8385.
Free Talk to Focus on Under Water Noise Pollution
MA’ALAEA (MAUI), HI – A compelling talk and slideshow on the burgeoning threat of underwater noise pollution will be given by Dr. Marsha Green, Professor at Albright College and Director of the Ocean Mammal Institute on Thursday, March 23, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. It will take place at the Ocean Science Discovery Center and is free and open to the public.
The talk is part of Pacific Whale Foundation's ongoing "Making Waves Lecture Series." It is titled "Effects of underwater noise on marine mammals and fish: research, conservation and politics. "
Dr. Green’s studies explore how whales communicate and the effects of noise on marine mammals. Professor at Albright College and Director of the Ocean Mammal Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to doing ecologically sensitive research, she has been studying humpback whales for over twenty years. Co-author of the paper, “Acoustic interactions of Humpback Whales and Whale Watching Boats,” her studies apply to current problems facing Maui’s humpback whale population. Green lectures internationally on ocean noise and its impacts on marine life.
Traveling five times faster in water then air, and over distances as far as 2000 miles, noise pollution is increasingly infiltrating our oceans. The intense noises are generated from various sources including: commercial air guns used for oil and gas exploration, ocean experiments, underwater explosives, shipping traffic and low frequency active sonar (LFAS).
Dive underwater along the leeward coasts of Maui and you may be lucky enough to hear the song of the humpback whale. The unique song of the humpback whale is the most complex song of the animal kingdom, yet its exact function remains unknown. Noise pollution may interfere with whale song and other communication and is now being found to play a role in whale and other marine life’s deaths and displacement. “Noise pollution is deleterious to both the whales physiology and social behavior,” said Greg Kaufman of the Pacific Whale Foundation.
Learn more about noise pollution at this free talk at the Ocean Science Discovery Center at Ma’alaea Harbor. For more information contact Pacific Whale Foundation at 249-8811.
On April 20 the Making Waves Lecture Series presents Dave Matilla, who will lecture on “Pacific Humpback Whales and the SPLASH Project–the largest whale study ever attempted." To learn more, call Pacific Whale Foundation at 249-8811.
1,265 Whale Sightings Recorded in The Great Whale Count on Maui on Saturday, Feb. 25
MAALAEA (MAUI), HI – A record number of whale sightings – 1,265 in all – were tallied today during Pacific Whale Foundation’s Great Whale Count on Maui. The count was conducted between 8:30 and 11:40 a.m. by more than 100 volunteers who worked alongside Pacific Whale Foundation researchers and staff. Armed with binoculars, compasses and data sheets, they tallied whale sightings from 13 counting stations along Maui’s south and western shores. The stations extended from the Ritz Carlton in Kaanapali to Pu'u Olai in Makena, and also included Hookipa Beach Park in Paia.
The wind kicked up whitecaps and small waves, but the day was mostly sunny, offering excellent visibility for the counters. Of the 1,265 whale sightings, 10% were sightings of calves.
“We observed whales of all age classes, wth lots of aerial activity including breaching and tail slapping,” remarked Greg Kaufman, President of Pacific Whale Foundation and the leader of a counting group that was stationed at the top of Pu’u Olai, the cinder cone that overlooks Makena Beach. “From our observations, I would say that we are at the peak of whalewatching season here on Maui.”
The Great Whale Count is an annual event conducted by Pacific Whale Foundation. Volunteers from across the country assist in the effort, some even arranging their vacations to coincide with the count. The count helps to raise public awareness about whales and whale research, and supplements data about whales gathered by Pacific Whale Foundation and other researchers.
Today’s count had more than 100 sets of watchful eyes looking seaward, not only observing whales but noting how boats were being driven around whales. The whale counters at Pu’u Olai were distressed to observe a cigarette-style boat driving right on top of pods of whales for about an hour. “It was an act of grotesque harassment,” said Greg Kaufman. “We called the National Marine Fisheries Service to report it.”
According to Pacific Whale Foundation researcher Alicia Mallo who coordinated this year’s count, the largest numbers of whale sightings this year were reported from the top of Pu’u Olai, which recorded 215 sightings. This site last year had the fewest whale sightings.
The McGregor Point Lookout, home to Pacific Whale Foundation’s free Whale Information Station, reported the second highest number of whale sightings this year. 174 sightings were recorded. The offices of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary reported the third highest number of sightings, 118 in all.
For those who don’t believe that whales can be seen on Maui’s North Shore, Mallo points out that 105 sightings were recorded at Ho’okipa.
The activity levels of the whales appeared fairly constant throughout the counting period. There was no time of day that stood out as being statistically better than any other for recording number of whales, whale pods, calves or whale behaviors.
The counters worked in 20-minute intervals. During the first ten minutes of each interval, they scanned the area extending three miles out from their station, noting the numbers of pods, the numbers of whales in each pod, whether calves were present and the direction in which the animals were moving. They took compass bearings to note the location of the whales on a map. They also recorded data on sea state, percentage glare, wind speed and wind direction.
Immediately following this scan, the counters devoted five minutes to recording significant behaviors, such as breaches, pectoral fin slaps, tail slaps, and peduncle throws. The next five minutes were "rest time" -- and then the scanning cycle was repeated. The same cycles were followed at each of the counting sites.
The count is limited to within three miles of shore, because the accuracy of determining numbers in each pod or group and the sightability of calves diminishes dramatically beyond that point.
"Over the years, we have followed this systematic counting method for each of The Great Whale Counts," says Anne Rillero, spokesperson at Pacific Whale Foundation. “This lets us compare results from year to year.”
There were 649 humpback whale sightings recorded during last year’s count, which took place on a gusty, windy day. In 2004, rainy weather caused a disruption in the counting. In 2003, there were 815 sightings tallied. The counters on 2002 reported 673 sightings. In 2001, counters recorded 952 humpback whale sightings. In 2000, the sightings equaled 643, preceded by 558 in 1999. During the 1998 count, a total of 710 whale sightings were reported. In 1997, there were 750 sightings.
“With 1,265 sightings, this year was clearly a banner year,” she said.
The Great Whale Count is scheduled for time of year that is considered the peak of the season -- a time when the greatest numbers of calves and adult whales are found here, and the mothers and calves are nearest to shore. “However, the peak of the season can shift by one or two weeks in either direction, which has influenced the results of past year’s counts,” notes Kaufman. "What we saw this year places us clearly at the peak.”
About 60% of the population of North Pacific humpback whales migrates to Hawaii each winter to mate and to give birth to calves conceived during last year’s breeding season. The first whales of the season generally appear during the autumn, with the greatest numbers in residence from December through early May. Maui County, comprised of the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe, is known for the highest concentration of humpback whales in Hawaii.
Scientists believe the overall population of North Pacific humpback whales is growing at a rate of 7% per year.
The Great Whale Count by Pacific Whale Foundation was the first and original annual whale count to take place in Hawaii. Pacific Whale Foundation helped the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary launch its own version of the whale count, called the “Ocean Count” on neighboring islands. However, as Rillero reports, “Maui is the best for watching whales – we have more whales, and certainly more that can be seen from shore.”
Pacific Whale Foundation offers a variety of ways for Maui residents and visitors to learn more about whales. In addition to more than 15 whalewatch cruises offered daily, the nonprofit shows its film “Why Whales Do That!” free of charge between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays at its Maui Whale Center, located in the lower level of The Harbor Shops at Ma’alaea. Admission to this interpretive center is free. There is also a Pacific Whale Foundation naturalist stationed at McGregor Point lookout, on Route 30 between Ma’alaea and Lahaina, from around 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.
The Great Whale Count is part of The Great Maui Whale Festival, held from February 11 through February 26. The final event of this year’s Great Maui Whale Festival is a celebration whalewatch and booksigning led by Pacific Whale Foundation President and Founder Greg Kaufman, on Sunday, February 26, on the Ocean Odyssey out of Ma’alaea Harbor at 12:30 p.m. For reservations and to learn more, call 249-8811.
Pacific Whale Foundation President Presents Evidence of Humpback Whales Feeding During Southward Migration at Cetacean Research Priorities Conference in Adelaide, Australia
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA -- Contrary to popular belief, humpback whales do feed while migrating southward along the coast of Australia, reported Gregory D. Kaufman, president and founder of Pacific Whale Foundation, during a presentation at the Cetacean Research Priorities Conference held this week in Adelaide, Australia. The conference was organized by the Australian Government Department of Environment and Heritage.
A non-profit research, education and conservation organization, Pacific Whale Foundation has studied humpback whales off the coast of Australia for more than 20 years. Much of this research has focused on the east coast of Australia. Each spring, humpback whales migrate southward along this coastline. The whales swim from their warmer water winter mating and calving areas to the cold, nutrient rich waters near Antarctica, where they spend the summer months feeding.
It's been generally believed that the whales don't engage in significant feeding while at the mating and calving areas or during their southward migration. However, Kaufman presented evidence collected during a 15 year period that describe regularly occurring episodes of feeding bouts by humpback whales, during the southward migration, off the coast of Australia's New South Wales, near the town of Eden.
"These observations are significant because they extend the range of behaviors known to occur during migration in what has been described as a seasonal feeding and breeding species, and they extend our understanding of the role feeding behavior plays in the overall population during the late southward migration," remarked Kaufman.
The study area where Pacific Whale Foundation observed the feeding whales is near the town of Eden, located within a five hour drive of Sydney and Melbourne, and about 3 hours from Canberra. Eden's Twofold bay is famous for being east Australia's first whaling station (commencing in 1832), and is especially famous for the cooperative hunting of humpback whales that occurred between humans and orca whales.
Cat Balou Cruises began offering whalewatch cruises in Twofold Bay in October of 1990 and first observed feeding occuring on October 27, 1990.
Pacific Whale Foundation conducted independent research in Eden from 1996-1999, using a Naiad Excel 5.8m aluminum hull inflatable, equipped with a 90 hp outboard motor. Pacific Whale Foundation also engaged in collaborative research effort onboard Cat Balou in 2003 and 2005. In all, from 1995 to present, Cat Ballou and Pacific Whale Foundation have undertaken nearly 2600 hours of observation of humpback whales.
The proportion of observed animals engaged in feeding is varied significantly from year to year, but in some years, the number of animals feeding is a significant proportion of those passing through. Opportunistic feeding appears to be a high priority for adult females (possibly newly pregnant), mothers with newborn calves, and sub-adults.
Kaufman believes the whales are feeding on Australian krill or coastal krill. He noted that feeding has been observed both near shore and as far offshore as 17 - 20 kms. Where the feeding goes on is massively influenced by the annual effects in the East Australian Current, the largest ocean current close to the coasts of Australia. The extent of the southward flow varies considerably from year to year, and its separation from the Australian coast is a very unstable process.
"Changes in the current may well be related to the variation and proportion of feeding bouts that we see from year to year," says Kaufman, noting that Pacific Whale Foundation would like to explore this further.
Pacific Whale Foundation has carried out research in Australia since 1984 to determine the migratory patterns, behavioral characteristics and population estimates of Australian humpback whales. This research has included shore, aerial and water based studies on both the east and west coasts of Australia. Through the years, Pacific Whale Foundation has photo-identified 3,000 individual humpback whales along Australia's east coast. Study areas have included North Stradbroke, Brisbane, then expanded to Hervey Bay, the Whitsunday Islands, Eden and Townsville. The research team has also studied whales in Tonga, Fiji and Samoa, Ecuador and West Australia in the Southern Hemisphere.
Pacific Whale Foundation is dedicated to promoting appreciation, understanding and protection of whales, dolphins, coral reefs and our planet's oceans. This is accomplished by educating the public -- from a scientific perspective -- about the marine environment. Pacific Whale Foundation supports and conducts responsible marine research and address marine conservation issues in Hawaii and the Pacific. Through educational ecotours in Hawaii, Pacific Whale Foundation models and promotes sound ecotourism practices and responsible wildlife watching.
The Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage ( DEH ) develops and implements national policy, programs and legislation to protect and conserve Australia's natural environment and cultural heritage.
Pacific Whale Foundation's "Making Waves" Lecture Series Offers Free Talk and Slideshow by Noted Ecuador Whale Researcher and Educator
MAALAEA (MAUI), HI -- Off the western coast of the developing nation of Ecuador is Machalilla National Park (PNM), a beautiful area of white sand beaches, tropical rain forests and islands that are home to species of animals and plants similar to those found in the Galapagos Islands. From June to October, this fascinating area is also home to humpback whales -- called ballenas jorobadas in Ecuador -- who visit here to mate, give birth and care for their calves in warm tropical waters.
Travel to this remarkable area and meet these southern hemisphere whales during a free talk and slideshow by Cristina Castro, noted whale researcher, educator and conservationist from Ecuador, and director of Pacific Whale Foundation's Ecuador Humpback Whales Project. This free talk is part of Pacific Whale Foundation's "Making Waves" Lecture Series and will be offered on Thursday, February 23, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Ocean Science Discovery Center in Ma'alaea (next to Maui Ocean Center).
"Cristina Castro is one of the most dynamic environmentalists and researchers I've ever met," says Greg Kaufman, President of Pacific Whale Foundation. "She has done remarkable things -- from publishing free books about whales to provide free to impoverished schoolchildren in Ecuador, to convincing local fishermen to give up shark finning, to publishing research papers and presenting at international conferences about marine mammals."
"Cristina is a true go-getter," says Kaufman. "For example, when she met with fishermen, she found that financial pressures were driving them to kill sharks for their fins. To ease their financial burdens, she obtained donations of sewing machines from a company in Germany, then worked with the fishermen's wives to create a cottage industry of sewing marine-themed puppets."
Castro and local performance artists utilize puppetry to convey messages about marine protection and environmental awareness to schoolchildren in Ecuador. Castro's team has published two books about the marine environment, Elena La Ballena (Elana the Whale) and Los Riquezas Del Mar (The Riches of the Sea), which she has given free to more than 1,000 children. For many of these children, these are the first books they've ever owned.
Castro points out that Ecuador's many environmental issues -- such as the creation of protective laws and regulations regarding whale watching and whale approaches -- require the imput of the greater Ecuadorian population. "The best way to protect our future will be education," she says. "People cannot take care of what they are not aware. "
For additional information about the "Making Waves" Lecture Series or about this talk, please call Pacific Whale Foundation at 249-8811.
Celebration Whalewatch Cruise with Pacific Whale Foundation Founder and President to be held on Sunday, February 26
MAALAEA (MAUI), HI – The two-week series of events known as The Great Maui Whale Festival will conclude on Sunday, February 26 with a special celebration whalewatch cruise led by Pacific Whale Foundation’s founder and president Gregory D. Kaufman.
The whalewatch cruise will take place aboard Pacific Whale Foundation’s double-deck power catamaran Ocean Odyssey from Ma’alaea Harbor. The cruise departs at 12:30 p.m. and returns at 2:30 p.m. Check-in is at 11:45 a.m. at Pacific Whale Foundation’s Ocean Store at The Harbor Shops at Ma’alaea. Cristina Castro, Director of Pacific Whale Foundation’s Ecuador Humpback Whale Project, will be a special guest on this cruise.
Greg Kaufman was born in Portland, Oregon and has been a full-time resident of Hawaii for more than 30 years. An international activist in the "Save the Whales" movement in the 1970s, Kaufman founded the nonprofit Pacific Whale Foundation in 1980. Pacific Whale Foundation became known as a pioneer in whale research and a leader in educating the public about whales.
Kaufman has studied whales in Hawaii, Tonga, Australia, Alaska, Ecuador, Japan, Samoa, Fiji and other parts throughout the Pacific for more than a quarter century. As president of Pacific Whale Foundation, Kaufman has helped to establish marine sanctuaries in Hawaii and Australia and a ban on the display of captive whales and dolphins in Maui County. He has worked tirelessly to encourage responsible whale watching and to prevent whale/ship collisions throughout the world’s oceans. Kaufman continues to study whales throughout the Pacific, and is known as an outspoken advocate for their protection.
Kaufman is also the co-author of the book Hawaii’s Humpback Whales, which will be available for sale during a book signing at the conclusion of the cruise.
The price of the cruise is $29.95 (plus tax and fees) for adults; $15 (plus tax and fees) for children ages 7 -12. Children ages 6 & under go free, one child per paying adult. Pacific Whale Foundation members save 20%.
For reservations, call Pacific Whale Foundation at 249-8811.
Pacific Whale Foundation to Hold Maui's 2006 Great Whale Count on Saturday, February 25
MAALAEA (MAUI), HI - It's the peak of whalewatch season on Maui, with whales readily visible from Maui's south and western shorelines. It's also time for the annual Great Whale Count, a citizens' count of humpback whales that is organized by the nonprofit Pacific Whale Foundation.
The Great Whale Count will take place on Saturday, February 25, 2006. Maui residents and visitors are encouraged to sign up to don binoculars, head to a shoreline whale counting station and record information about the whales they see.
"The Great Whale Count is a tradition we began on Maui back in 1988," says Greg Kaufman, President and founder of Pacific Whale Foundation. "This annual count is conducted by teams of Pacific Whale Foundation staff and volunteers stationed at specific points along Maui's shorelines."
According to Kaufman, the Great Whale Count is a great way to learn about humpback whales and whale research. "We have our research teams from Australia, Ecuador and Hawaii taking part, so our counters will have opportunities to 'talk story' with our staff about the world of whale research," says Kaufman.
Already, volunteers from across the United States are signing up by email, letter and telephone to assist Pacific Whale Foundation's staff with this effort. "People plan their vacations around it, so they can participate each year," says Kaufman.
You don't need any experience to volunteer for the Great Whale Count. Training and materials are provided by the staff at Pacific Whale Foundation. Training begins at 8:00 a.m. and the Great Whale Count takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at each of the thirteen shore-based counting stations. The counting stations stretch from Makena to Kapalua (and also include Ho'okipa). The counting is limited to animals sighted within three miles of the shoreline to ensure more accuracy and to allow the counters to best determine the whales' pod composition and behaviors.
To volunteer, call Pacific Whale Foundation at (808) 249-8811. You can also email the Great Whale Count volunteer coordinator, Sparrow Serrano at sparrow@pacificwhale.org. From the neighboring islands or the mainland, please call 1-800-942-5311.
"People are amazed at how many whales they see from shore when they devote their attention to actively looking," says Kaufman. "It's a wonderful way to spend a morning."
"During the Great Whale Count you'll learn how to collect and record scientific data.This is also a great opportunity to ask all those questions you have about the whales and their behaviors you see," says Kaufman.
How many whales will be seen this year? "It's been a fantastic season for whalewatching so far, so we expect that there will be a lot of activity on the day of our Great Whale Count," says Kaufman. "Maui is where the largest numbers of humpback whales are found in Hawaii, which is why we even have people fly in from Oahu or the Big Island to help with the Great Whale Count here. "
On neighboring islands, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary will be conducting an Ocean Count, which evolved from Pacific Whale Foundation's Great Whale Count.
The Great Whale Count supplements Pacific Whale Foundation's humpback whale research efforts in Hawaii, and encourages citizen awareness of and participation in whale research. Based on the latest population studies, there is thought to be about 12,000 to 14,000 humpback whales in the North Pacific, with about 60% spending at least some of the winter months in Hawaii to mate, calve and nurse their young. The population is believed to be growing at a rate of 7% per year.
You can view the results of The Great Whale Count at Pacific Whale Foundation's Ocean Discovery Stores at the Harbor Shops at Ma'alaea (next to Maui Ocean Center) and at 612 Front Street, Lahaina, or online at www.pacificwhale.org.
The Great Whale Count is part of The Great Maui Whale Festival, a series of whale-related events taking place from December through May. Whale Day, a free all-day family celebration at Kalama Park in Kihei will be the centerpiece of this year's festival on Saturday February 18. Whale Day includes a Parade of Whales, a Keiki (Children's) Whale-a-thon and the Wild and Wonderful Whale Regatta. Volunteers are needed to assist at these events as well. For more information about these events and a free schedule, please call Pacific Whale Foundation at (808) 249-8811.
26th Annual Whale Day Celebration To Feature Grammy Award Nominee Raiatea Helm Plus a Day of Fun for Everyone
Winner of "Best Community Festival" in Maui Time Weekly's "2005 Best of Maui" survey
KIHEI (MAUI), HI - Weighing in at 40 tons, humpback whales are known for the big splash caused when they breach at sea. The whales will be the reason for a "big splash" on land, too -- the 26th Annual Whale Day Celebration, on Saturday, February 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Kalama Park in Kihei.
This popular family-oriented festival, organized by the nonprofit Pacific Whale Foundation, features free admission and free all-day entertainment. Winner of 'Best Community Festival' in Maui Weekly's 2005 Best of Maui Survey, this event attracts 8,000 to 10,000 people each year. It's a fun way to honor the whales that come to Maui to mate, give birth and care for their young.
Whale Day's live entertainment starts at 10:00 a.m. with a line-up of popular Hawaii recording stars guaranteed to please all tastes. Taking the stage will be Grammy Award nominee and Hoku Award winner Raiatea Helm, who will be performing with her father Zachery Helm and her band.
By popular demand Brother Noland will be making a return appearance at Whale Day with his band. Winner of multiple Na Hoku Hanohano and Billboard Music Awards and the Hawaii Music Awards 2002 Male Vocalist of the Year, Brother Noland is a native Hawaiian musician and an acclaimed Ki ho'alu (Hawaiian Slack-Key) guitarist, a prolific recording artist and a composer of scores and songs for film and television. He's also an engaging and charismatic entertainer.
That's not all. Throughout the day, there will also be performances by Malino, Scott Huckabay (Bam Magazine's Guitarist of the Year award in Los Angeles) and The Gina Martinelli Band, along with a performance by GameKids and Halau Maui Nui o Kama with Kelii Taua.
For those who want to put on their dancing shoes, late afternoon brings a performance by Dr. Nat & Rio Ritmo (featuring irresistible African, Brazilian and Caribbean salsa tunes!) and The Afrodisiacs.
Enjoy an affordable brunch, lunch or even an early dinner featuring delectable dishes by some of Maui's most popular restaurants, including Outback Steak House, Horhitos Mexican Cantina, Bada Bings Restaurant, Alexander's Fish & Chips, Fiesta Time Mexican Food and Pizza Hut, along with shave ice by Auntie Terri's Treats, tantalizing kebobs by Kahuna Kebobs and Maui Kazowie Kettle Corn.
To encourage festival-goers to "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle," Pacific Whale Foundation will be providing free drinking water to all who bring a reusable cup or container. Bring your own cutlery and plate set an example for the rest of the world by helping to make this event as eco-friendly as possible.
Stroll through the craft fair featuring about 80 local artisans and crafters from Maui. At Whale Day's "Eco-Alley" you'll find environmental displays, along with information about whales, dolphins, turtles and other ocean life.
A huge, multi-media, kinetic and interactive whale sculpture will also be on display, by artist William Evans.
The bustling Silent Auction tent is a place to scoop up great deals on everything from restaurant meals to whalewatches to local art to hotel stays on Maui and Las Vegas. And, you'll want to purchase one of the colorful commemorative t-shirts available at the festival.
If you're a visitor who wants to come back to Maui next year, or a resident who wants to visit the Mainland, be sure to enter the Wild and Wonderful Whale Regatta, with the grand prize of roundtrip tickets for two between the U.S. Mainland to Maui. It's Maui's own version of the popular "rubber ducky" races found across the country, only that - you've got it - rubber whales do the racing.
Don't forget to bring the kids! They will enjoy the Keiki Whale-a-thon, a series of interactive exhibits about the life of Hawaii's humpback whales created by Pacific Whale Foundation and the Ocean Science Discovery Center, which is open from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The first 150 kids to complete the Whale-a-thon will receive a free pass to Maui Ocean Center, sponsor of the Keiki Whale-a-thon.
There's also a carnival for the youngsters, with an array of inflatable attractions, plus face-painting, shave ice and cotton candy.
The day begins at 9 a.m. with Maui's Parade of Whales. This annual event is bigger and better than ever, with its trademark life-sized whale balloon, plus an array of fantastic sea animals and other walking "eye candy." If you want to make Whale Day extra memorable for yourself, be sure to sign up to volunteer in the parade. A snapshot of you carrying a giant whale down Kihei's main street is certainly one for your photo album!
If your creative juices are flowing, you can also sign up to be your own act in the Parade of Whales. There's a prize of $275 for best overall act or performance, along with other prizes for best musical act, cutest keiki, best interpretation of the parade theme ("Hail to the Whales") and more.
And a friendly reminder from the County of Maui Police Department: South Kihei Road will be closed along the parade route from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m.
Throughout the day, free parking will be available at Azeka Place (Mauka) on South Kihei Road. A free shuttle bus will run from this satellite lots to Kalama Park and back beginning at 10 a.m. The Kalama Park parking lot across from the Island Surf building will be closed to the public from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday, but will be available for handicapped parking.
The purpose of this festival (in addition to being a fun-raiser!) is to be a fundraiser, to support marine science education programs offered to kids through Pacific Whale Foundation's Ocean Science Discovery Center. This new center features hands-on learning programs for school classes, all matched with the new state and federal science performance standards, on topics ranging from whales to dolphins to coral reefs to marine conservation. There are also summer and vacation "Ocean Discovery Camps," plus ed-venture programs for preschoolers and free daily presentations for the public.
Whale Day's major sponsors are County of Maui Office of Economic Development, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Kopies Business Center and Maui Ocean Center.
Want to help out? Volunteering has its rewards: three hours of volunteering at Whale Day will earn you a free Whale Day 2006 t-shirt! To volunteer, call Sparrow Serrano at 1-800-942-5311 or 249-8811.
Whale Day is part of The Great Maui Whale Festival, a two-week series of events that take place from February 11 through February 26. You can pick up a free schedule of events at Pacific Whale Foundation's Ocean Stores at 612 Front Street, Lahaina or at The Harbor Shops at Ma'alaea, next to Maui Ocean Center. You can also call Pacific Whale Foundation at 249-8811.
Community Invited to Participate in Maui's Parade of Whales; Prizes To Be Awarded!
(photos available upon request
KIHEI (MAUI), HI --"Hail to the Whales!" is the theme of the upcoming Parade of Whales that will take place in Kihei on Saturday, February 18.
Starting at 9 a.m. on that day, the Parade of Whales will step off at the intersection of South Kihei Road and Kahele Street (just south of Lipoa Street, at Kihei Baptist Church) and continues south to Kalama Park by the big whale statue.
Everyone is invited to view this parade -- the official kickoff to the 26th annual Whale Day Celebration and the only parade that takes place each year in Kihei. For those who'd like to take a more active role, Pacific Whale Foundation is inviting individuals, families, businesses, musicians, dancers, performers, clowns, non-profits and civic groups to take part. By participating, you can win great prizes!
A $275 prize will be awarded for "Best Overall Act or Float." Other prizes will be awarded for "Best Musical Presentation," "Funniest Presentation," "Most Creative Individual or Family," "Cutest Keiki," and "Best Interpretation of the Theme."
The Parade is the kickoff to Pacific Whale Foundation's Whale Day Celebration, a FREE all-day family event featuring live entertainment by Grammy Award Nominee Raiatea Helm, Gina Martinelli, Dr. Nat & Rio Ritmo, The Afrodesiacs, Malino, Scott Huckabay and others, plus food by popular Maui restaurants. A children's carnival, silent auction, craft fair and displays about whales will also be part of the day. And it's all for a good cause: marine education programs for schoolchildren on Maui.
Past years' Parade of Whales participants have included costumed whales, dolphins, crabs and coral characters, a family dressed as rabbits (with a sign, "We Wabbits Wuv Whales"), another family riding unicycles, costumed performers from Maui Myth and Magic Theater, a float by Community Work Day, members of the Maui Girl Scouts, Kihei 4-H Club -- and even a troupe of belly dancers. Pacific Whale Foundation encourages community members and visitors to be creative and join in the fun of participating in a memorable "home town" parade.
The parade is sponsored by Hawaii Tourism Authority and the County of Maui Office of Economic Development. All of the Whale Day events are part of The Great Maui Whale Festival, which takes place from February 11 to February 26.
To sign up, please call (808) 249-8811 or write to publicrelations@pacificwhale.org. Or simply stop in at Pacific Whale Foundation's Ocean Stores at The Harbor Shops at Ma'alaea (next to Maui Ocean Center) or at 612 Front St.. Lahaina, across from Banyan Tree Park. A downloadable entry form is available here.
The Maui County Police Department reminds motorists in the area to note that South Kihei Road from Kahele Street to Kalama Park will be closed from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 18.
Volunteers Needed To Help With The Great Maui Whale Festival Events
KIHEI (MAUI), HI -- Pacific Whale Foundation is issuing a call for volunteers for a two week series of events known as The Great Maui Whale Festival.
Some of the events are Whale Day (February 18), Run for the Whales (February 11, Maui's Parade of Whales (February 18) and The Great Whale Count (February 25).
"Quite frankly, without the help of volunteers, we would simply not be able to hold these worthwhile events," says Sparrow Serrano, Community Outreach Coordinator at Pacific Whale Foundation. "We hope that individuals or groups in the community will donate some time to help with one or more of these events .
events."
"We can promise that you'll have fun -- and that you'll meet other wonderful folks who care about whales and the marine environment," she says.
"As a special bonus , we are offering a FREE Whale Day T-shirt if you volunteer for three hours or more at Whale Day," notes Serrano. "The Whale Day T-shirt sells for $17, and is a fun collector's item as well."
Whale Day is a free, all-day festival that benefits marine education programs for kids on Maui. It's held at Kalama Park in Kihei on Saturday, February 18, and includes a Parade of Whales, Keiki Whale-a-thon, Keiki Carnival, Wild & Wonderful Whale Regatta, food booths, silent auction, craft fair and displays about whales and the environment. Volunteers are needed to help with Pacific Whale Foundation's soda/food booth, silent auction, keiki carnival, litter control and more. In addition, volunteers are sought to help with the parade, including walking the life-sized humpback whale balloon down South Kihei Road and helping with traffic control along the parade route.
Volunteers who assist with the 5K/Half Marathon Run for the Whales on Saturday, February 11 will be able to enjoy a free post-race victory breakfast with the runners. Help is needed to staff the aid and water stations, monitor the course, check-in runners and assist the professional timers. The race takes place in Makena, at the Polo Beach parking lot (next to the Fairmont Kea Lani Hotel). Volunteers are needed between 5:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
About 100 volunteers are needed for The Great Whale Count, Pacific Whale Foundation's annual citizen's count of whales that can be sighted from Maui's shores. No experience is necessary; all tools and training are provided. This event is held from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, February 25.
To volunteer for any or all of these events, please contact Pacific Whale Foundation at 249-8811, fax 243-9021, email sparrow@pacificwhale.org or visit www.pacificwhale.org.
Free Workshop Helps Boat Operators Avoid Whale Collisions
MAALAEA (MAUI), HI - A 40-ton humpback whale suddenly surfaces in front of your boat or kite board, resulting in a collision. It can be dangerous to the whale...and to you.
With the North Pacific humpback whale population increasing at an estimated rate of 7% each year, the chances of such collisions in Maui County are increasing as well. But boaters and recreational water users can take steps to prevent such potentially life-threatening accidents.
Preventing whale collisions is the topic of a free workshop that will take place on Tuesday, January 31, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the Ocean Science Discovery Center in Ma’alaea. All Maui boaters
and water users are invited.
The workshop will feature discussion about the “Best Practices Guidelines for Operating Vessels in Areas Where Whales are Present” -- a document created two years ago and subsequently updated last year by Maui County boaters and Pacific Whale Foundation, and used by many Maui boaters and water users.
Attendees will learn proven techniques that they can use to prevent accidental collisions with whales, and will review proper techniques for boating or recreating around whales. They will also learn what to do when collisions occur and how to avoid them.
”The recent January 2 collision between a humpback whale and a whale-watching vessel off the coast of Maui is a good reminder about the value of this workshop,” says Robyn Dobruck, Marine Safety Coordinator at Pacific Whale Foundation. “I am a licensed captain myself, as is my husband. No one wants to hit a whale; this workshop is about avoiding such incidents.”
Copies of the “Best Practices Guidelines” will be available at the workshop. They can also be downloaded from Pacific Whale Foundation’s homepage at www.pacificwhale.org. A flyer about the workshop can also be downloaded.
To sign up for the workshop or to obtain more information, please call Alison Cohan at 244-8396.649 Whale Sightings Recorded in The Great Whale Count on Maui on Saturday, Feb. 26
MAALAEA (MAUI), HI -- Gusty, brisk trade winds didn't chase away the enthusiasm of 110 volunteers who participated in The Great Whale Count this morning on Maui. A total of 649 humpback whale sightings were recorded by the counters, who worked alongside Pacific Whale Foundation staff at 13 shoreline counting stations. The count took place from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The stations extended along Maui's west and southern shores, from the Ritz Carlton in Kaanapali to Pu'u Olai in Makena, and also included Hookipa Beach Park in Paia.
The Great Whale Count is an annual event conducted by Pacific Whale Foundation. Volunteers from across the country assist in the effort. "This year, there were volunteers from Florida, California, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, British Columbia, Alberta and of course, from Maui and Oahu," said Kate Shapiro, coordinator of The Great Whale Count. "We are very grateful that so many people took time from their vacations and their busy lives to help with this tally."
According to Shapiro, the largest numbers of whale sightings this year were reported from the McGregor Point lookout (on Route 30, between Ma'alaea and Lahaina), which recorded 133 sightings. The next two best whalewatch locations were at the Maui Marriott in Kaanapali and S-Turns Park in Kahana, which had 77 whale sightings each. The fewest whale sightings were recorded at Pu'u Olai, the cinder cone which overlooks Makena Beach.
Shapiro also notes that the most calves were seen in North Kihei and Maalaea Bay. The mothers and calves were often seen only a few hundred yards from the coast. A total of 67 calf sightings were recorded. "We even saw a mother and calf right near shore who appeared to be pushing the calf along in a certain direction." said Kecia Joy, Education Director at Pacific Whale Foundation's Ocean Science Discovery Center. She was stationed with a group of counters on the rooftop of the Marriott in Kaanapali.
The activity levels of the whales appeared fairly constant throughout the counting period. "Our counters saw lots of breaches, peduncle throws and some competition pods," said Shapiro. There was no time of day that stood out as being statistically better than any other for recording number of whales, whale pods, calves or whale behaviors.
The counters worked in 20-minute intervals. During the first ten minutes of each interval, they scanned the area extending three miles out from their station, noting the numbers of pods, the numbers of whales in each pod, whether calves were present and the direction in which the animals were moving. They took compass bearings to note the location of the whales on a map. They also recorded data on sea state, percentage glare, wind speed and wind direction.
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