Old Weather Forum

Why whales in Alaska have been so happy

The Covid pandemic brought tourism to a near-halt in Alaska last year. What will happen to the majestic humpback whale when cruise ships and visitors return in August?
The humpbacks seem to be spreading out across larger swathes of the bay. Whales can hear each other over about 2.3km (1.4 miles), compared with pre-pandemic distances closer to 200m (650ft). That has allowed mothers to leave their calves to play while they swim out to feed. Some have been observed taking naps. And whale songs - the ghostly whoops and pops by which the creatures communicate - have become more varied...

Great picture!

There are probably a lot of animals that have enjoyed the Covid pandemic

Flame: Juneau, Alaska’s Wildlife Superstar
and
New Photos May Be First Visual Evidence Of North Pacific Right Whales Feeding In Bering Sea In Winter

Wonderous news, Randi ! Thank you for bringing it to us! It sounds like better days may well be ahead for these two noble creatures.

Federal lawmakers want to save the North Atlantic right whale

One of New England’s most critically endangered species is getting some love from federal legislators.

On Thursday, Congressional Democrats introduced a bill focused on saving the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts and Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, would start a new grant program, making $15 million available each year for the next decade to projects that can reduce the risks of entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes.
Related: After years of delay, federal regulators issue sweeping fishing rules to protect right whales.

I remember Joan mentioning NASA's need for whale oil a long time ago, but I just came across this article...
Whaling for NASA on the Tom and Al

Randi wrote: ↑Thu Mar 31, 2022 3:24 pm I remember Joan mentioning NASA's need for whale oil a long time ago, but I just came across this article...
Whaling for NASA on the Tom and Al

Oh my goodness - well found Randi! What a shame that Andrew Marshall didn't find it for the great Reuter's article 'Ice Bound'. Still - he did ask NASA, and no reply came I reckon that somewhere out in interstellar space Voyager 1 is winging around with a bit of whale oil in it.

That's tremendous news! We often get reports of fin whales, or finbacks, in the whaling logs. Usually seen as a useful sign of feed for other whales i.e. bowheads.
They are just a bit smaller than the great Blue Whale (called 'Sulphur Bottoms' in the logs).

Echoes of Oceans Past

Important findings have emerged through analyses based on simple sources such as old photographs, the logbooks of whalers, the diaries of missionaries and even pirates, oral histories, market receipts, restaurant menus, and archaeological and paleontological digs

1988: Thick ice hinders migration of gray whales
Very cold weather had firmly established itself across the Arctic in the late summer and early autumn of 1988. Ice began forming almost 45 days earlier than normal on the regions close to the Alaskan and Siberian coast lines. This impeded coastal travel much earlier than in a normal season. It also disrupted the seasonal migration of wildlife. On October 14, 1988 off the coast of Alaska, a thick layer of ice had already formed along the north shore that blocked the southward migration of California gray whales near Point Barrow, Alaska and could have had disastrous effects on those whales. So, on that day American and Russian rescuers worked together and cleared a passage to the open sea and prevented the whales from drowning.
https://www.accuweather.com/podcast/thi ... 001376508e