A YEAR IN REVIEW 2017 - SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS
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AYEARI
NREVI
EW
2017
SHEARWATEREXCURSI
ONS
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS
Data Collection and Sightings
WDC collected data aboard 9 whale watch trips with Shearwater Excursions between
June 28th and August 27th, 2017.
Throughout the 2017 whale watch season, WDC identified 272 individual humpback
whales, including 30 new calves (323 and 37 in 2016, respectively).
The chart below displays the cumulative sightings for Shearwater Excursion trips
where WDC collected data (n=9):
Species % of trips sighted n= Total Sightings
Humpbacks 100% 9 76
Minkes 66% 6 35
Marine Debris 44% 4 8
Grey Seals 33% 3 6
Blue Sharks 22% 2 2
Common Dolphins 11% 1 2
Atlantic White-Sided Dolphins 11% 1 1
Finbacks 11% 1 1
White Sharks 0% 0 0
Basking Sharks 0% 0 0
Harbor Porpoises 0% 0 0
NA Right Whales 0% 0 0
Ocean Sunfish 0% 0 0
Harbor Seals 0% 0 0
*These data are not comprehensive of the Shearwater Excursions seasonal sightings and consider only those trips
for which WDC collected data.
The following page displays the fluke patterns of all 62 individual humpback whales
seen on Shearwater Excursions trips. Those individuals in turquoise were only seen
on Shearwater Excursions trips and would not have been documented otherwise.
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS
1507 1708 ASWAN
1555 1713 AXLE
1605 ANKH AZRAEL
1622 ANTEATER BLACKHOLE
1628 A-PLUS BUZZARD
1642 A-PLUS’ 17 CALF CAT’S EYES
1706 ARROYO COSMOS
1706’S 17 CALF ARROYO’S 17 CALF COSMOS’ 17 CALF
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS
CROSSBEAM HANCOCK PIANO
DYAD’S 09 CALF HANCOCK’S 17 CALF PIVOT
ECHO LILIUM PLATEAU
ERASER LOLLIPOP RAVINE
FARFALLE LONGBOARD ROCKER
FERN MULTIPLY RUNE
GREEN BEAN MUSIC SANCHAL
GUMDROP NILE’S 16 CALF SHUFFLEBOARD’S 15 CALF
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS
SNARE TEAR UFO
SPELL TECTONIC VENTISCA
SPIRIT THUMPER VENTISCA’S 17 CALF
SPRINKLER TOBOGGAN WHIRLYGIG’S 15 CALF
STREAMER TREASURE
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS SEI WHALES This year, we saw more sei whales than ever before! We had 22 confirmed sightings of sei whales in 2017, compared to only 3 sightings from 2013-2016. We added almost 300 pictures to our database of sei whales from 2017, totaling almost a third of our 900 total pictures of sei whales dating back to 2007. This was the first year where we had a whale watch that only saw sei whales and many of the sei whale sightings stole the show in the early spring! With the increased numbers of sei whales in Cape Cod Bay in the spring eating the same copepods as right whales, it will be interesting to see if they will use this area more in future years.
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS
UNUSUAL MORTALITY EVENT-HUMPBACKS
Since January of 2016, there have been 62 humpback whale deaths documented
along the Atlantic coast. NOAA reports that they have performed full or partial
necropsies on about half of the whales. Of those necropsied, about 50% of
them had evidence of either vessel strikes or entanglement. So far in January of
2018, another humpback washed ashore in Florida, as well as two in Virginia. By
collecting sightings information from whale watch boats, we are able to record
healthy and living whales so if one should wash up, we would have information as
to when they were last seen before their death. This helps contribute to solving
the mystery as to why these whales are facing a major die-off.
2016 and 2017
humpback whale
stranding loca-
tions along the
Atlantic Coast
through 10/20/17
NOAA Humpback Whale Strandings by State
MA ME NH RI NY NJ DE MD VA NC SC FL
2016 3 2 1 2 4 2 3 1 3 4 1 0
2017 6 0 0 3 5 3 2 1 7 6 0 0
2018 (thru 1/30) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1
Total 9 2 1 5 9 5 5 2 12 10 1 1
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS UNUSUAL MORTALITY EVENT-RIGHT WHALES Unfortunately, humpbacks aren’t the only species facing an unusual mortality event. Critically endangered North Atlantic right whales (NARW) faced their worst year on record in 2017. From April-October, 17 deceased NARWs were seen and reported. In January 2018, a young female was found in Virginia, marking the first known death of 2018. With 18 deaths in 9 months, NARWs have lost over 4% of their population (now thought to be close to 435) and have fewer than 100 breeding females left. Necropsy results show that entanglements in fishing gear and vessel strikes are the causes of death for the majority of the whales, likely due to their recent change in habitat use. If NARWs continue to decline at this rate, scientists believe they would be extinct in just 20 years.
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS MINKE & WHITE SHARK SIGHTING One of the most exciting days on the water this past season was August 11th. Although we were sad to have documented a dead minke whale, the sharks that were feeding on the carcass gave whale watchers and interns a once in a lifetime experience. In fact, this day made the list of favorite experiences for most of our interns. The day after the feeding frenzy, which lasted most of the day, the minke whale was covered with seabirds who were eating the fish and other small animals feeding on the carcass. We were very excited to be able to document these sharks feeding and this part of the circle of life.
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS SCARRED CALVES CAJUN’S 17 CALF PERSEID’S 17 CALF Calves are some of our favorite whales to see throughout the whale watching season. We are lucky enough to see them grow, learn, and become more and more independent. Unfortunately, this year, we also saw calves get their first experience with human interactions. We saw a number of calves with scars from already being entangled in fishing gear in their first year of life. The two that we saw most frequently and who had the most severe entanglement scars were Cajun’s 17 calf and Perseid’s 17 calf. Rapier’s 17 calf also was photographed with scars from an unknown cause. We are sad to see these young ones joining the 50% of humpbacks who have had to survive an entanglement, but are appreciative for the time on the water to document them this year and in the future.
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS KICKFEEDING STUDY In the past 2 years, WDC has had a dedicated returning intern to focus on analyzing kickfeeding behavior to show that humpback whales have personalities. For this study, we are recording video and using archival footage to see if Gulf of Maine humpback whales display unique characteristics when they kick feed. From what we’ve seen so far, there are some distinct differences between the kickfeeding styles of individuals with some whales kicking just once, while others “kick” several times before beginning the bubble net. Most of the whales have fast, forceful kicks while others are more slower and more dramatic. So far, it does appear that individuals are consistent with their style. In 2016, Laine McCall spearheaded this project, with Hannah Vegh taking it on in 2017. We hope to add to this project in the future and appreciate your cooperation in documenting kickfeeding!
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS INTERNS With the support of the Jessica Rekos Foundation, WDC was lucky enough to be joined by 6 new interns between April and October. Many thanks to Claire, Hannah, Melissa, Lindsey, Monica, and Carrie! Special thanks to our volunteers Kimberly and Michelle, plus our UK colleague Vicki for their help!
THANKYOUFORYOUR
CONTINUEDSUPPORT
ANDCOL L
ABORATION
WITHWDC!
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