To: Journey North
From: Anne Smrcina, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
Greetings Virtual Whalewatchers
This is school vacation week up here in Massachussetts. After all
the storms and cold weather, many families are heading south for
warmer climes -- just like the whales. Except most of these
"migrations" are of the one-week variety (and for many folks, it may
not be an annual event).
My humpback whale sightings report is a bit short this week. We've had an unsubstantiated report that whale spouts were seen north of Cape Cod (but the type of great whale and numbers of individual whales were not given). A whalewatch observer/trainer from the United States on assignment to the Dominican Republic has reported that the numbers of humpback whales down there seem to be similar to amounts in previous years but that the number of whale watch vessels has increased enormously. What was once an almost nonexistent business is now booming, with a substantial fleet of large vessels (about 16) and over 40 small boats bringing European and Canadian tourists out to the whales in Samana Bay and other locations.
Mark Swingle from the Virginia Marine Science Museum reports that only one whale has been sighted off the Virginia coast over the past two weeks (and they're not sure if it was a humpback or fin whale). The lack of whales here (as was noted in my first report) is puzzling scientists. My challenge question to you two weeks ago was about this phenomena. What did you come up with?
Here's what students in Ms. Snyder's class in Illinois had to say:
"We think the reason that the humpback whales are not in Virginia this year is because it's too cold, or it may be polluted, or harmful boats may scare them away. Most of the class thinks it's probably too cold for them." jsnyder@isbe.state.il.us
While it can't be known for certain, Ms. Snyder's students may be right. Mark and other whale researchers believe that the lack of whales may be due to the below normal water temperatures now being recorded off the Virginia coast. Over the past six years, the two down years (fewest sightings) were in '94 and '96 when the water temperatures were (and are) below 4 degrees Centigrade. It may be that the whale's prey (they're also not sure exactly what the whales are feeding on) may have moved south to warmer waters.
Here's my Challenge Question for this week:
Challenge Question #11
"How cold is 4 degrees Centigrade in degrees Fahrenheit? In an average year, what do you think the water temperature off the Viginia Coast might be?"
How to Respond to This Challenge Question:
1. Address an e-mail message to jn-challenge@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question #11.
3. In the Body of your message give your answer!
The Next Humpback Whale Migration Update Will be Posted on February 28, 1996.
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