I’m in Petersburg, Alaska where I just gave an interview on KFSK radio on our latest research on habitat use by humpback whale mothers and their calves in the Hawaiian breeding grounds. You can listen to the interview here.
Tomorrow, I head out into Frederick Sound aboard the vessel Northern Song for the 12th summer season surveying the humpbacks on their feeding grounds. Many of these whales come to Hawaii in the winter so it is important to document which individuals from our Hawaii home we see here, who they are associating with, and what they are up to. Since 2016, researchers have seen an apparent reduction in the number of whales and calves in Hawaiian and Alaskan waters, making it especially critical to document these animals in both their breeding and feeding grounds.
I’ll be joined by a set of eager participants, as well as a great captain and crew, including an amazing chef from Molokai who just happens to be the sister of one of my former UH Hilo students (small world!). If you are interested in joining us on a future expedition, check out this link.
Well, that’s it for now. I can’t wait to share stories of our adventures at sea, images of known and new whales, and all that we are learning… more later.
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