Humpback whale songs provide insight into population changes
By Staff | Dec 31, 2020 Approximately 8,000-12,000 of the North Pacific humpback whale stock visits the shallow waters of the Hawaiian Islands seasonally to breed. During this time, mature males produce an elaborate acoustic display known as “song,” which becomes the dominant source of ambient underwater sound between December and April. Following reports of unusually low whale numbers that began in 2015-16, researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, in collaboration with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Oceanwide Science Institute and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, examined song chorusing recorded through long-term passive acoustic monitoring at six sites off Maui as a proxy for whale populations between September 2014 and May 2019. The findings were published in “Endangered Species Research.”
December 18, 2020
Approximately 8,000–12,000 of the North Pacific humpback whale stock visits the shallow waters of the Hawaiian Islands seasonally to breed. During this time, mature males produce an elaborate acoustic display known as “song,” which becomes the dominant source of ambient underwater sound between December and April. Following reports of unusually low whale numbers that began in 2015–16, researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in collaboration with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Oceanwide Science Institute and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, examined song chorusing recorded through long-term passive acoustic monitoring at six sites off Maui, as a proxy for whale populations between September 2014 and May 2019. The findings were published in
Credit: HIHWNMS/NMFS ESA Permit #782-1719
Approximately 8,000-12,000 of the North Pacific humpback whale stock visits the shallow waters of the Hawaiian Islands seasonally to breed. During this time, mature males produce an elaborate acoustic display known as song, which becomes the dominant source of ambient underwater sound between December and April. Following reports of unusually low whale numbers that began in 2015-16, researchers at the University of Hawai?i at Mānoa in collaboration with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Oceanwide Science Institute and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, examined song chorusing recorded through long-term passive acoustic monitoring at six sites off Maui, as a proxy for whale populations between September 2014 and May 2019. The findings were published in Endangered Species Research.
NOAA to boaters: Be extra cautious as humpback whale season is underway in Hawaii
Humpback whale season gets underway in Hawaii By HNN Staff | December 15, 2020 at 7:42 PM HST - Updated December 17 at 12:56 PM
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - NOAA is asking boaters to look out for mother and calf humpback whales as Hawaii’s whale season gets underway.
The season runs from December 15 until May 15, with the peak being January through March.
Federal rules prohibit mariners and swimmers from approaching whales within 100 yards on the water. The distance is much greater, 1,000 feet, for aircraft including drones.
“Collisions between whales and vessels occur annually, presenting serious risks to boaters as well as the whales,” said Ed Lyman, natural resource specialist for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.