This weekend started the best stretch of weather we have had all season. With very little wind, the water is flat calm and allows us to see so much more of the whales than we usually can. Take a look at this slide show of images from Saturday, February 7. All the images are of mom/calf pairs, the first is of Eg#3320 (You can search for this individual on the North Atlantic Right Whale Catalog) and her calf.The water was so clear, you can see the calf on both sides under mom! The next series is something I have never seen before, 2 mom/calf pairs interacting; the whale on the left is Eg#3320 and her calf and the whale on the right is Eg#2611- Picasso, she got her name from all of the scars on her head. The last series is of Eg#3101, a relatively new mom, notice how small the calf is!
Hopefully this weather will keep up and we continue to be able to find whales so easily!!
~ Kara
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My mother, husband, and I were near the St. John's Pier in St. Augustine Beach today and got to see Picasso and her calf. The Whale Watcher volunteers were able to tell us so much about the whales, even down to Picasso's name. Keep up the great work - what beautiful, stunning animals!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry - I meant to ask as well, where were they on 2/8/09?
ReplyDeleteAuthor's reply: Hi Jamie, we heard about the "show" Picasso was putting on yesterday, what a lucky sighting for you and your family!
ReplyDeleteOur survey team did not sight Picasso in our survey area on 2/8/09, so I am not sure where she was on that date. The images from 2/7/09 were taken about 15 miles off the south end of Amelia Island.
Thanks for your comment!
Whoops - I meant the 7th. Is it usual for them to head further south after they've calved?
ReplyDeleteAuthor's reply: Hi Jamie, we find that mother/calf pairs travel all over the calving grounds during the time that they are here. There are always exceptions; three years ago, Eg#2503 took her calf around Florida and in to Corpus Christi Bay in Texas, these animals can be quite unpredictable! Eg#2503 is a mother again this year, but so far she has remained in the calving ground, only time will tell where she will go!
ReplyDeleteMother/calf pairs are usually down here for 2-3 months, although there are always exceptions. Even though each whale is different, they all seem to head back up north by the end of March.
Picasso's calf was born around the beginning of January and since then they have been spotted all over the calving ground!