A YEAR IN REVIEW 2017 - SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS

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A YEAR IN REVIEW 2017 - SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS
AYEARI
     NREVI
         EW
      2017

 SHEARWATEREXCURSI
                 ONS
A YEAR IN REVIEW 2017 - SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS

Data Collection and Sightings
WDC collected data aboard 9 whale watch trips with Shearwater Excursions between
June 28th and August 27th, 2017.

Throughout the 2017 whale watch season, WDC identified 272 individual humpback
whales, including 30 new calves (323 and 37 in 2016, respectively).

The chart below displays the cumulative sightings for Shearwater Excursion trips
where WDC collected data (n=9):

        Species                  % of trips sighted                   n=                    Total Sightings
 Humpbacks                             100%                           9                            76
 Minkes                                 66%                           6                            35
 Marine Debris                          44%                           4                             8
 Grey Seals                             33%                           3                             6
 Blue Sharks                            22%                           2                             2
 Common Dolphins                        11%                           1                             2
 Atlantic White-Sided Dolphins          11%                           1                            1
 Finbacks                               11%                           1                            1
 White Sharks                            0%                           0                            0
 Basking Sharks                          0%                           0                            0
 Harbor Porpoises                        0%                           0                            0
 NA Right Whales                         0%                           0                            0
 Ocean Sunfish                           0%                           0                            0
 Harbor Seals                            0%                           0                            0

*These data are not comprehensive of the Shearwater Excursions seasonal sightings and consider only those trips
for which WDC collected data.

The following page displays the fluke patterns of all 62 individual humpback whales
seen on Shearwater Excursions trips. Those individuals in turquoise were only seen
on Shearwater Excursions trips and would not have been documented otherwise.
A YEAR IN REVIEW 2017 - SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS

         1507                   1708            ASWAN

         1555                   1713              AXLE

         1605                   ANKH            AZRAEL

         1622               ANTEATER         BLACKHOLE

         1628                 A-PLUS           BUZZARD

         1642         A-PLUS’ 17 CALF        CAT’S EYES

         1706                 ARROYO           COSMOS

1706’S 17 CALF       ARROYO’S 17 CALF   COSMOS’ 17 CALF
A YEAR IN REVIEW 2017 - SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS

   CROSSBEAM                  HANCOCK                     PIANO

DYAD’S 09 CALF       HANCOCK’S 17 CALF                    PIVOT

         ECHO                   LILIUM                  PLATEAU

       ERASER                 LOLLIPOP                   RAVINE

     FARFALLE               LONGBOARD                    ROCKER

         FERN                MULTIPLY                      RUNE

   GREEN BEAN                   MUSIC                   SANCHAL

     GUMDROP             NILE’S 16 CALF   SHUFFLEBOARD’S 15 CALF
A YEAR IN REVIEW 2017 - SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS

   SNARE              TEAR                  UFO

    SPELL         TECTONIC             VENTISCA

   SPIRIT         THUMPER     VENTISCA’S 17 CALF

SPRINKLER         TOBOGGAN   WHIRLYGIG’S 15 CALF

STREAMER          TREASURE
A YEAR IN REVIEW 2017 - SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS

SEI WHALES
This year, we saw more sei whales than ever before! We had 22
confirmed sightings of sei whales in 2017, compared to only 3
sightings from 2013-2016. We added almost 300 pictures to our
database of sei whales from 2017, totaling almost a third of our
900 total pictures of sei whales dating back to 2007. This was
the first year where we had a whale watch that only saw sei
whales and many of the sei whale sightings stole the show in the
early spring! With the increased numbers of sei whales in Cape
Cod Bay in the spring eating the same copepods as right whales,
it will be interesting to see if they will use this area more in
future years.
A YEAR IN REVIEW 2017 - SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS

UNUSUAL MORTALITY EVENT-HUMPBACKS
Since January of 2016, there have been 62 humpback whale deaths documented
along the Atlantic coast. NOAA reports that they have performed full or partial
necropsies on about half of the whales. Of those necropsied, about 50% of
them had evidence of either vessel strikes or entanglement. So far in January of
2018, another humpback washed ashore in Florida, as well as two in Virginia. By
collecting sightings information from whale watch boats, we are able to record
healthy and living whales so if one should wash up, we would have information as
to when they were last seen before their death. This helps contribute to solving
the mystery as to why these whales are facing a major die-off.

                                                                     2016 and 2017
                                                                     humpback whale
                                                                     stranding loca-
                                                                     tions along the
                                                                     Atlantic Coast
                                                                     through 10/20/17

                       NOAA Humpback Whale Strandings by State
                        MA   ME   NH   RI   NY   NJ   DE   MD   VA    NC    SC    FL
    2016                 3    2    1   2     4   2    3     1    3     4     1    0
    2017                 6    0    0   3     5   3    2     1    7     6     0    0
    2018 (thru 1/30)     0    0    0   0     0   0    0     0    2     0     0    1
    Total                9    2    1   5     9   5    5     2   12    10     1    1
A YEAR IN REVIEW 2017 - SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS

UNUSUAL MORTALITY EVENT-RIGHT WHALES
Unfortunately, humpbacks aren’t the only species facing an unusual mortality
event. Critically endangered North Atlantic right whales (NARW) faced their worst
year on record in 2017. From April-October, 17 deceased NARWs were seen and
reported. In January 2018, a young female was found in Virginia, marking the
first known death of 2018. With 18 deaths in 9 months, NARWs have lost over
4% of their population (now thought to be close to 435) and have fewer than 100
breeding females left. Necropsy results show that entanglements in fishing gear
and vessel strikes are the causes of death for the majority of the whales, likely
due to their recent change in habitat use. If NARWs continue to decline at this
rate, scientists believe they would be extinct in just 20 years.
A YEAR IN REVIEW 2017 - SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS

MINKE & WHITE SHARK SIGHTING
One of the most exciting days on the water this past season was August 11th.
Although we were sad to have documented a dead minke whale, the sharks that
were feeding on the carcass gave whale watchers and interns a once in a lifetime
experience. In fact, this day made the list of favorite experiences for most of
our interns. The day after the feeding frenzy, which lasted most of the day, the
minke whale was covered with seabirds who were eating the fish and other small
animals feeding on the carcass. We were very excited to be able to document
these sharks feeding and this part of the circle of life.
A YEAR IN REVIEW 2017 - SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS

SCARRED CALVES
CAJUN’S 17 CALF

PERSEID’S 17 CALF

Calves are some of our favorite whales to see throughout the whale watching
season. We are lucky enough to see them grow, learn, and become more and
more independent. Unfortunately, this year, we also saw calves get their first
experience with human interactions. We saw a number of calves with scars from
already being entangled in fishing gear in their first year of life. The two that
we saw most frequently and who had the most severe entanglement scars were
Cajun’s 17 calf and Perseid’s 17 calf. Rapier’s 17 calf also was photographed
with scars from an unknown cause. We are sad to see these young ones joining
the 50% of humpbacks who have had to survive an entanglement, but are
appreciative for the time on the water to document them this year and in the
future.
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS

 KICKFEEDING STUDY

In the past 2 years, WDC has had a dedicated returning intern to focus on analyzing
kickfeeding behavior to show that humpback whales have personalities. For this
study, we are recording video and using archival footage to see if Gulf of Maine
humpback whales display unique characteristics when they kick feed. From what
we’ve seen so far, there are some distinct differences between the kickfeeding
styles of individuals with some whales kicking just once, while others “kick”
several times before beginning the bubble net. Most of the whales have fast,
forceful kicks while others are more slower and more dramatic. So far, it does
appear that individuals are consistent with their style. In 2016, Laine McCall
spearheaded this project, with Hannah Vegh taking it on in 2017. We hope to
add to this project in the future and appreciate your cooperation in documenting
kickfeeding!
SHEARWATER EXCURSIONS

INTERNS
With the support of the Jessica Rekos Foundation,
WDC was lucky enough to be joined by 6 new interns
between April and October. Many thanks to Claire,
Hannah, Melissa, Lindsey, Monica, and Carrie!
Special thanks to our volunteers Kimberly and
Michelle, plus our UK colleague Vicki for their help!
THANKYOUFORYOUR
CONTINUEDSUPPORT
ANDCOL L
       ABORATION
    WITHWDC!

  SHEARWATEREXCURSI
                  ONS
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