Scott and Tree Mercer: Founders of Mendonoma Whale and Seal Study

Scott Mercer began researching marine mammals in 1974 with a 2-year study of the feeding ecology of the California sea otter. Scott studied Invertebrate Marine Zoology in order to be able to identify what the sea otters were bringing to the surface to consume. He became so enamored with marine mammals that he switched his emphasis to marine mammals.

In the late 1970s, Scott moved back to his native northern New England and in 1978 founded New England Whale Watch, the only whale watch north of Boston and the only biologist-owned company. He went from leasing and renting vessels to purchasing a 70-foot boat in 1983. Customers paid to get Scott on the water over 200 days a year—and in some years 265 days! In return, Scott gave them the best marine-mammal-watching experience possible. These day-to-day whale watches took close to 12 hours a day for months at a time, year after year.

Scott was also a Major Contributor to the Catalogues of Identified Individuals for humpback, finback, and North Atlantic right whales. He flew aerial surveys for the New England Aquarium for right whales of the S.E. Coast of the US. He coauthored The Great Whale Book in 1982 with two colleagues at the University of New Hampshire and taught a marine mammal class there for 14 years. He cofounded the Brier Island Ocean Study Research Station on Brier Island Nova Scotia, Canada. He led winter expeditions in the British Virgin Islands for humpback whales and coral reef study.

Theresa ("Tree") Mercer retired in 2013 from 34 years of teaching biology to grades 7-12. She used Journey North in her classroom for many years! Then Scott and tree decided to move and spend winter on the coast of northern California. They began a new project, calling themselves Mendonoma Whale and Seal Study. (Mendonoma is a combination word based on Sonoma and Mendocino Counties.) They do a lot of public education during the 4-5 months they are in California. Tree creates their presentations at conferences and public presentations. She also talks to the visitors that sometimes stop to walk out on the cliffs to ask what they are doing. And of course, they contribute data and observations to Journey North, helping document the gray whale migration.

Thank you, Scott and Tree Mercer, for your daily reports!