Humpback Whale Song
The Humpback Whale song is one of the most complex in the animal kingdom. Both male and female Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) produce sounds, such as moans, grunts, blasts, hums, whups, chirps, and shrieks, however only males produce long, complex songs for which they are famous.
Whales have no vocal cords, so they generate their song by forcing air through their massive nasal cavities. Each part of their song is made up of high and low frequency sound waves from 30 Hz to about 8,000 Hz, and these sound waves can travel more than 10,000 miles in the ocean. Whales could once communicate halfway around the world, but due to increasing noise pollution of the oceans, this is now nearly impossible.
Males generally sing during the breeding season suggesting that the purpose of the songs is to attract females, and as a warning to other males. The song is made up of repeated phrases and themes, which can last for hours, and will slowly evolve over time, making it different from year to year.
Whales within a large area sing the same song, so all of the humpbacks of the North Atlantic sing the same song, and those of the North Pacific sing a different song. Each population’s song changes slowly over time, never returning to the same sequence of notes. Researchers working together in Mexico, Japan, and Hawaii, found when the song altered slightly in Hawaii, within several days it also altered in Mexico and Japan to match the Hawaiian singers.
Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Report
NOAA has produced a report on the health of humpback whales within the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The report provides a summary of the status of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and their related habitats in the sanctuary, pressures on those resources, current condition and trends, and management responses to the pressures that threaten the health of humpback whales and their habitat.
The sanctuary was designated to protect the humpback whale and its breeding and calving waters around the main Hawaiian Islands. This area encompasses 1,370 square miles and supports more than half of the North Pacific humpback whale population. Although their overall population is increasing in the sanctuary, their health rating is “fair” because of an increase in reported collisions, entanglements, and associated impacts.
Entanglement and whale-vessel collisions have been widely identified as the primary human cause of mortality for humpback whales, both in Hawaii and around the world. Therefore, these two issues have been identified as immediate and pressing concerns for the sanctuary. This report reaffirms why humpbacks need protection. Through management, resource protection, education, outreach, research and cultural activities, the sanctuary strives to protect humpback whales and their habitat in Hawaii.
This condition report also includes the most up-to-date information from SPLASH (Structure of Populations, Levels of Abundance and Status of Humpbacks). The SPLASH project represents the largest and most complete examination of humpback whale migrations in the world and has revealed a far more complex pattern of movements than had been previously documented. You can read the entire condition report on the health of humpback whales here.
Humpback Whale Season Ending
The first whale sighting in the Hawaiian islands for the 2009-2010 season was at the end of October, and now the time is coming to say good-bye to the humpback whales as they migrate north to Alaska for the summer. The whales need to return to cooler waters so they can feed upon the large schools of small fish that are the mainstay of their diet.
The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is the nation’s primary mating and calving grounds for the endangered humpback whale. The population of North Pacific humpback whales has recently been increasing about five percent each year. During the Sanctuary Ocean Count in March, volunteers spotted 1,208 humpback whales off the coast of Maui.
The Pacific Whale Foundation reported three sightings of humpback whale calves without their mothers this season. Calves may be without their mothers for a number of reasons – either the mother was accidentally separated from her calf, or she abandoned the calf after deciding it had a health problem which would not allow it to reach maturity, or that the mother died shortly after birth.
Just as the whales do not arrive all at once, they do not depart all at once. Immature whales of both sexes that are still growing and not yet ready to breed usually depart early. Mature males stay here as long as mature females are around (no surprise there). Mothers and young calves are often the last ones to leave Hawaii allowing the calves grow as fat and strong as possible before making the 3,000 mile migration. Mothers will have lost nearly 10,000 pounds by the time they return to the feeding grounds.
In 2009 the last whale sighting in Hawaiian waters occurred as late as mid June.
Humpback Whales Healthy In Hawaii
Humpback Whales are increasing their numbers in Hawaii by a healthy 6 to 7 percent each year. Humpback whales of the Northern Pacific Ocean undertake a great migration from Alaska covering about 3500 miles one way. Considered an endangered species, the Humpbacks are doing well in Hawai’i's protected waters. Now numbering about 10,000, they will mate, calve, and nurse their young in Hawaii before returning.
One way to study the population size of the humpback whales is the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary’s annual whale count, where hundreds of volunteers go to 60 sites on the last Saturdays of January, February, and March to count whales. More than 800 volunteers showed up in January and counted whales from the shores of Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island, with some seeing as many as 6 whales within a 15-minute interval. Here are the average numbers of whales sighted per 15-minute count period on each island:
O’ahu – 3 whales
Kaua’i – 2 whales
Big Island – 6 whales
Again on the last Saturday in February and March, volunteers will fan out along the shores of O’ahu, Hawai’i and Kaua’i for the sanctuary’s annual whale count. The count provides key population and distribution information on humpback whales around the Hawaiian Islands. The Pacific Whale Foundation will conduct its own whale count on Maui. If you would like to volunteer and be a part of this success story see Humpback Whale Ocean Count 2010.
Humpback Whale Wing on Wing
The humpback whale’s scientific name is Megaptera novaeangliae, meaning ‘Giant Wings of New England’, which refers to their large pectoral fins that can reach a length of 15 feet. These fins are used for maneuverability, stabilization, enabling the whale to stop, and swim backwards. And sometimes they are used just to show off.
Photo by Phillip Colla
Humpback Whale Ocean Count 2010
Each winter, a portion of the North Pacific humpback whale population migrates from their feeding grounds in Alaska to the warm waters of Hawaii to breed. The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is dedicated to protect humpback whales and their habitat in Hawaii. The Sanctuary Ocean Count was initiated as a means to provide Hawaii residents and visitors with the opportunity to observe humpback whales in their breeding grounds by conducting a yearly shore-based census during the peak breeding season. It also serves as a tool to supplement scientific information gathered from other research activities.
The Sanctuary Ocean Count is held concurrently on four islands (O`ahu, Kaua`i, the Big Island, and Kaho’olawe), covering 60 sites, and enlisting over 2000 volunteers. By assisting in the count, volunteers will be helping to monitor the number of humpback whales around our islands and ensure their health and safety for generations to come. The 2010 Sanctuary Ocean Count will be held on Saturday, January 30, February 27, and March 27 from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Online registration for the islands of Hawai’i and O’ahu is available at www.sanctuaryoceancount.org.
To register by phone:
O’ahu – 397-2651 ext. 253.
Kaua’i – 246-2860.
Big Island – 1-888-559-4253, ext. 253.
