Dr. Meagan Jones studying whale tails. Note the date, time, general location, and latitude and longitude (if possible) of the animal photographed. We suggest using a telephoto lens to maximize your distance to the whale. There are a total of 476 pictures of blue whales in the photo-id catalogue held by the Institute of Cetacean Research, which were We also collaborate with colleagues to update Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s province-wide catalogue (maintained to 2010) to learn more about Humpback Whale habitat use and distribution throughout the province. The North Coast catalogue is now available for free download on wildwhales.org. Updates (with new whales) will be added each winter. You can contribute your humpback whale fluke photos from this region by emailing [email protected]! Using this technique, individual whales … Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrate between high latitude summer feeding grounds and low latitude winter breeding grounds. Most photographs and data were collected in known areas of concentration along the coast of British Columbia, including Langara Island, southeast Moresby Island, the northern mainland, and southwest Vancouver Island. Identifications photographs are of the ventral side (underside) of the tail flukes. Humpback whales are also well known for their social, aerial behavior at the surface including breaching, lob-tailing, and flipper-slapping. Nanaimo B.C. A screen grab from the CWR humpback whale photo-id catalogue which now contain over 3000 individual whales . Humpback Catalogue. Photographs were collected by 16 different research groups. Cetacean Sightings Network is partially funded by the Government of Canada. The MFRI Humpback whale ISMN Catalog online version is up to date, you can, now, find 1434 unique Humpback whale individuals gathered over a span of 40 years (from 1980 to date). Keep your distance, even after COVID: New study identifies how well boaters in the Salish Sea follow regulations around whales, The BCCSN Welcomes BC Ferries to the Whale Trail. The North Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalog is based on the research technique of photo-identification (photo-id). Is COVID-19 a Potential Threat to Marine Mammal Populations? At least 50% of the flukes should be above the surface and in the photograph. This catalogue is a collection of identification photographs of humpback whales seen in British Columbian waters from 1989 to 2007. Photographs should be in sharp focus in order to obtain the identifying features and trailing edge. Overall, findings suggest that capelin spawning sites are important foraging areas for humpback whales in coastal Newfoundland under these altered prey conditions. They use the shape of whales’ tails and unique markings found in footage to identify what species of whale they’re analyzing and meticulously log whale pod dynamics and movements. If you would like more information on a humpback you have identified or would like to contribute identification photographs, please contact the Cetacean Research Program at the Pacific Biological Station. MERS researchers have created and maintain a catalogue of individual Humpback Whales that have been seen in our study area. In the North Pacific, winter breeding grounds are known in waters off Japan, Hawaii and Mexico; summer feeding grounds are found in coastal waters of Alaska, British Columbia and the western mainland United States. Photographs in the Gulf of Maine Humpback Whale Catalog, maintained by the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, and the North Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalog, maintained by the College of the Atlantic in Maine, allow scientists and naturalists to identify and monitor individual animals and gather valuable information about population sizes, migration, health, sexual maturity and behavior patterns. It features an online catalog of over 600 humpback whales. We curate the Gulf of Maine Humpback Whale Catalog which contains detailed information on individuals, including age, gender, relatedness, reproduction, behavior, distribution and … Email:
[email protected]. by Caitlin | Nov 6, 2019 | News, Research. This paper summarizes the information on photo-identification of blue whales obtained by JARPA/JARPA II surveys in Antarctic Areas IIIE, IV, V and VIW during the austral summer seasons from 1992/93 to 2008/09. This technique involves taking photographs of animals and using natural markings to identify each individual. Non-invasive photo identification research allows us to identify individuals and their families, monitor their health, track their migrations and estimate overall population size. The whales are each given a nickname as well. Nicknames are given based on what can be seen in the pattern on the flukes, a little like a marine Rorschach test. For example, âPortobelloâ has a white mushroom on their right fluke, and âMouseâ has a black spot that looks like a small rodent on their left fluke. Like a human fingerprint, the tail flukes of each humpback whale are unique. Used by researchers throughout the world, this technique of taking photographs that document the specific markings, shape and colouration of each fluke help to individually identify each animal. Being able to uniquely identify whales is key to monitoring and understanding the fluctuations in distribution and population of these whales. The B.C.  An inter-matching effort between catalogues was established in 2018 to understand distribution and movement of these animals in B.C. Further, by collaborating on an international research project, we are contributing to understanding movements and non-calf survivorship in the greater North Pacific. Researchers use photographs of the ventral surface of the tail flukes to identify and track movements of individual whales and to estimate abundance. The majority of the data were collected by the Cetacean Research Program at the Pacific Biological Station, as part of its assessments of the conservation status of cetacean species-at-risk. Following the BC is an X, Y or Z, corresponding to the amount of white on the flukes and a number to identify the individual. For the past 40 years, most of this work has been done manually by individual scientists, leaving a huge trove of data untapped and underutilized. July 2019 Report number: 3311 Each individual humpback is given a unique alphanumeric identifier. Each identifier starts with BC to indicate that the animal was seen in British Columbian waters. Video: Humpback Whale call on the Eastern Scotian Shelf, Humpback whale© Fisheries and Oceans Canada. BCX## contain approximately 0-20% white, BCY## have approximately 20-80% white and BCZ## have approximately 80-100% white. Through this catalogue, we aim to advance our understanding of humpback whale biology and population status to help further conservation and management efforts. This summer, we released the first edition of the âHumpbacks of the North Coastâ, an identification catalogue documenting the different whales encountered in Chatham Sound and surrounding areas between 2014-2018. 162 individuals are included in the catalogue. Photographs and data may not be used in any form without permission. This catalogue is a collection of identification photographs of humpback whales seen in British Columbian waters from 1989 to 2007. The humpback whale photo-identification (or photo-ID) project involves photographing and cataloging flukes, which are the underside of a humpback whale’s tail. NOAA Fisheries worked worldwide to identify and apply protections for humpback whales. Remember to follow the. Cetacean Research Program
As a whale enthusiast, Maurina collected fluke photographs of the whales she saw that day and submitted them to the North Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalog. Humpbacks of the North Coast is a photo-identification catalogue of individual humpback whales observed in Chatham Sound and surrounding areas. Commercial whaling severely reduced humpback whale numbers from historical levels. SUPPORTED BY This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under … 3190 Hammond Bay Rd
A photo‐identification catalog compiled during July–August, 2003–2017, revealed a 22% return rate of whales to the hotspot. The majority of the data were collected by the Cetacean Research Program at the Pacific Biological Station, as part of its assessments of the conservation status of cetacean species-at-risk. Collecting identification photographs of humpback whales is encouraged but caution must be used to avoid disturbing the animals while doing so. ... by comparing whale ID between the breeding ground and the feeding ground (or within the feeding ground). Humpback Whale Photo Identification Database The collection of humpback whale individuals presented here is the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute's collection of known humpback whale since 1980 through our dedicated surveys and private partner contributions. Since then, the ID program has been expanded to include all of Greenland and today GCRC manages ID catalogues of humpback whales from both West and East Greenland. This project will enable us to understand the broader picture in regards to habitat use and social relationships of humpback whales. Fluke photographs in this catalog were taken between 2006-2019, the year first cataloged by Juneau Flukes is shown in parentheses (YEAR), and are arranged whitest to darkest. The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation has been tasked with developing a centralized, collaborative humpback whale photo-identification catalog for … Patterns of pigmentation, scarring and shape of the flukes are unique to each individual. Humpback whale catalog The Center for Coastal Studies has studied individual humpback whales since the 1970s. The United States listed all humpback whales as endangered under the Endangered Species Conservation Act in 1970, and then under the Endangered Species Act in 1973. Please refer to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans viewing guidelines and follow these guidelines closely. In collaboration with other whale research groups in British Columbia, we are building a coast-wide identification catalogue for humpback whales. Humpback Whales are typically found in small and unstable groups, larger aggregations occur in summer in the feeding areas. North Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalogue Allied Whale was instrumental in the development of photographic identification (photo-ID) techniques for humpback whales and in 1977 published the first North Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalogue. This website is a collection, or catalog, of the best photographs of nearly 1900 different humpback whales seen in southeastern Alaska across the past three decades. BCX flukes are further arranged into groups of similar appearance, and thus may not be in order of increasing white pigmentation. With a final exhalation, a humpback whale arches its back high into the air and slowly lifts its tail out of the water. Itâs at this point that our itchy trigger fingers spring into action, as we snap a series of photos of the flat underside of the whaleâs flukes when they align perpendicular to the waterâs surface before slipping below on a long dive. humpback whales calls the waters off Newfoundland and Labrador their home from June to September. Many thanks to all photo contributors to this first edition: Megan Baker, Doug Davis, April Macleod, Nicole Robinson, Trevor Ruelle, Bruce Whittington, Keila Stark, Sarah Ducharme, and Stephanie Spencer.  These nicknames are more fun and engaging, but more importantly, easier to remember while working in the field. Beth, who has been doing humpback whale photo-ID for over 30 years as part of Eye Of The Whale, has created an interactive catalog where she and others can post and try to match their fluke photo IDs as well as their "Best Of" pictures of humpbacks whales seen along the Kohala Coast (primarily between Blacks Point and Anaehoomalu Bay out to ~3nm). Flukes should be at an angle of 90° or facing you in such a way that the identifying features and the trailing edge are clearly visible. The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. Le Réseau dâObservations des Cétacés de Colombie-Britannique a été réalisé avec lâappui financier partiel du gouvernement du Canada. Version imprimable du Guide d’Identification. Pacific Biological Station
Using photography, researchers capture this image to identify each whale. Our North Coast catalogue is not only an important tool for our research and those working locally but is also contributing to several larger projects. In 2014, when our North Coast Cetacean Research Initiative began in Prince Rupert, we started opportunistically collecting photographs of humpback whale flukes we encountered. Thanks to many days of field work and many contributors, the number of photos has grown into a catalogue! Phone: (250) 756-7253
Getting to Know Individual Whales. This site is maintained by researchers at the New England Aquarium, who serve as curators of all North Atlantic Right Whale photographs for the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium. This on-line catalogue represents the largest web-based collection of Newfoundland and Labrador humpback whales in the world. The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale.It is one of the larger rorqual species, with adults ranging in length from 12–16 m (39–52 ft) and weighing around 25–30 metric tons (28–33 short tons). V9T 6N7
Each whale can be identified by the unique black and white pattern on the underside of the flukes. This summer, we released the first edition of the “Humpbacks of the North Coast”, an identification catalogue documenting the different whales encountered in Chatham Sound and surrounding areas between 2014-2018. GCRC conducts fieldwork in Godthåbsfjord […] The catalogue is generally arranged in order of increasing white pigmentation. Special thanks so Leya Tess Anderson for the layout, design and illustration. Photo-identification Catalogue, Population Status, and Distribution of Bigg’s Killer Whales known from Coastal Waters of British Columbia, Canada. Within this catalog the whales are grouped by color pattern. One of those whales was just identified as na3044. Each whale in the catalogue is represented by a photo of its tail fluke and assigned an alphanumeric identifier. Up until 2013, humpback whales on the BC coast were catalogued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. As such, many of them already have identification numbers. Their prefixes âBCX, BCY, BCZâ refer to the amount of white/black on their flukes. Identifiers that include âUKNCâ indicate whales that did not have names assigned by DFO previously. UKNC represents âUnknown North Coastâ. There is a strong fidelity to breeding and feeding stations. A number of NGOs created local catalogues after the coast-wide effort by DFO suspended in 2013. This website is provided for the use of researchers or people interested in humpback whale identification. Although humpback whales are an iconic species in Australia, there is still a lot to learn about their life history, behavior, and migration patterns. The whales seen near Juneau area are part of a larger, feeding aggregation and move in and out of the Juneau area. BC Humpback Catalogue In collaboration with MERS and the Pacific Wildlife Foundation, we are building a coast-wide identification catalogue for humpback whales. 162 individuals are included in the catalogue. We are still adding records from our archives and from new surveys. This is a website about humpback whales in Clayoquot and Barkley Sounds on the west coast of Vancouver Island, and since 2015, humpback whales seen around Victoria, BC. Photo identification of humpback whales in Godthåbsfjord, West Greenland was launched as part of the Greenland Ecosystem Monitoring MarinBasis Program in 2007. The Whale Trust Maui catalogue includes photos of individual humpback whale flukes that date back to the 1970s when Jim Darling was working on his Ph.D. We have information on some individual whales … Each whale has unique features, including the overall shape of the flukes, the shape of the trailing edge, any acquired scars, and natural pigmentation patterns. Since 1999, the IWDG has added individual sightings to the 'Irish humpback whale photo ID catalogue' with many of the mammals becoming regular visitors. Status. This catalogue was compiled by the North Coast Cetacean Research Initiative (NCCRI), a program of the Coastal Ocean Research Institute, an initiative of Ocean Wise Conservation Association. This site is a public resource focused on humpback whales seen in Juneau's waters. Humpback Whale Photo ID Catalogue Humpback Whale Flukes Identification Thanks to all the wonderful Observers that help us to record humpback whales through our Observers App - we are learning more about the humpback whales in the North-east Atlantic, particularly the ones that visit Irish waters every year. This catalog contains photographs of nearly 1900 different humpback whales taken in southeastern Alaska from 1979 to present. Photographs should be taken at a range where the identifying features and the trailing edge are clearly visible. VICTORIAN HUMPBACK WHALE FLUKE IDENTIFICATION CATALOGUE This document is the first and only identification catalogue for humpback whales in Victorian Waters and fills and important gap in the understanding of this species in the region. That first catalogue contained 120 … Report a match This project will enable us to understand the broader picture in regards to habitat use and social relationships of humpback whales. 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