Per Joy Hampp (Project Coordinator), who "joy-fully" spotted the first mother and calf pair of the season, there have been 13 mother-and-calf pairs spotted to date in the Georgia and Florida waters, the latest of which were spotted this past Wednesday in St. Augustine.
So this is sure to be a whale of a year for we citizen volunteers as we team with local scientists and resource managers in their monitoring and conservation of the endangered North Atlantic Right Whales during their calving and wintering grounds in our local waters.
As per my usual routine at the top of the new season, below are a few reminders. My watch day is Fridays and I will attempt to post whale activity news and photographs on a weekly basis. Whale on!
In the HAMMOCK DUNES SECTOR call Sharon at 313-333-7344
THE WHALE HOTLINE:
1-888-97-WHALE / 1-888-979-4253
VOLUNTEER ROLES
(1) Search for and sight right whales
(2) assist with data recording and photography
(3) document potential human impacts
(4) help inform and educate the public
(5) provide stewardship for whales and their habitats
(6) serve as the eyes, ears and voice for right whales in coastal waters of Florida
DISTINCTIVE RIGHT WHALE FEATURES:
> no dorsal fin on the whale’s back
> V-shaped blow when it exhales
> white, raised patches of skin
on the head (callosities)
> short, paddle-like, black flippers on both sides of the body
> triangular tail, black on both sides, with a deep notch in the middle