Humpback whales are a big attraction for visitors to a number of NPS sites, and seeing a whale from a boat or the shoreline is a memorable experience. Now a non-profit group's website lets you hear the haunting songs of the humpbacks as they begin arriving in Hawaiian waters for their annual migration.
The warm and shallow waters around Hawaii are a critical wintering site for these impressive marine mammals—according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as many as 12,000 humpback whales winter in Hawaiian waters each year. NOAA manages the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, which ranges from north to south through the main Hawaiian Islands, with areas off six of the main eight islands. The Sanctuary constitutes one of the world's most important humpback whale habitats.
It's possible to view whales during the winter in Hawaii from a number of sites along the shore or from boats, but thanks to the Jupiter Research Foundation, anyone with an Internet connection can also listen to both live and recorded sounds from humpback whales.
The project began in 2004 when the Foundation developed, constructed and deployed a series of solar powered radio buoys that would detect and wirelessly transmit the whale sounds to shore. The buoy technology has improved considerably since that time, and now includes installations near Puako, Hawaii, off the northwest coast of Hawaii Island and in Angoon, off the coast of Admiralty Island in Southeastern Alaska.
During the early years of the effort, the maximum listening range for the equipment was about two miles. Now, the addition of a radio repeater system is expected to increase that distance to as much as 40 to 50 miles.
According to the group, "The whales are extremely active vocally during their winters in Hawaii when they are mating and birthing calves, so when the system is up and functioning, the songs can be heard for hours at a time over a period of several months."
The sounds you can hear are quite different from the winter season in Hawaii to the summer season in Alaska. According to the groups website, "the whales are feeding in Alaska and don’t sing all the time, but instead make random feeding and hunting calls and noises."
The live, on-line audio of whale sounds from Hawaii is available from mid-December through April. A recent update on the group's website notes, "We're back on the air live for the 2010/2011 humpback season here in the Hawaiian sanctuary. The whales are just starting to arrive in greater numbers, so the singing is not yet constant. Please be patient, and stay in touch."
Comments
The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary IS NOT the entire State of Hawaii. It is in still in the management plan stage and HAWAII DOESN'T NEED IT. Whales are not in danger here in Hawaii, we don't hunt them. Same goes for the Hawaiian Monk Seals.
Do not buy this baloney.
you're actually not right.
whales are in danger of things other than hunting.
ship strikes.
naval sonar.
sound pollution.
global warming.
these animals still need our protection.
Adding to Skott's list:
entanglement
Education is a large part of what the sanctuary is trying to accomplish.
“Collisions with vessels are a major source of injury and death for endangered whales in Hawaii,” said Allen Tom, Pacific Islands regional director for NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. “It’s important for boaters to be extra vigilant during whale season, for their own safety and the protection of these magnificent animals.”
If we can educate boaters on keeping safe distances and following the sanctuary's rules, it makes it safer for both the whales and boaters who are subject to risks when whales surface, breach, or slap their massive tails or flippers.