First Florida Sighting of the 2014-15 Season

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, taken under NOAA research permit #15488.

Happy Whale Season!  The first sighting for the Volunteer Sighting Network was also the first sighting of 2015, and the first documented sighting in Florida!  A call came in to MRC's hotline on the morning of Sunday, January 4th from Volusia County Beach Safety & Ocean Rescue in Daytona Beach Shores.  Brian Brocious was quick enough to record a short video of a right whale on his phone and sent it to the Marine Resources Council after reporting the sighting.   The video confirmed it was a right whale and responders from the Marineland Right Whale Project and the right whale team from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) moved quickly to gather photo-ID pictures.  While too far offshore for the Marineland team to photograph, FWC obtained aerial photos and posted the above picture to their right whale Flickr page.

The 2015 right whale calving season is off to a slow start in Florida.  So far, only 14 right whales have spotted in the southeast U.S., including 2 calves.   The numbers are low compared to previous seasons because the aerial survey teams (only two this year) have met poor weather and had to cancel many flights.  With the surveys grounded during bad weather, it's that much more important for shore-based whale spotters to keep a watchful eye on the water so we can report locations of right whales to local ships and ports.  

To keep up with this season FWC whale sightings, visit their 2014-2015 winter calving season page on Flickr.   MRC will continue to post updates with photos to this blog.  In addition, don't forget to check out the Marineland Right Whale Project blog . Happy whale watching!

Volunteers Help Name Right Whale

It was announced on Nov. 5th at the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium annual meeting that last season's only first time mom nowhas a name, thanks in part by the Right Whale Volunteer Sighting Network.  Catalog #3546, a 9-year-old female that frequented Brevard County in March 2014 (and traversed the Canaveral ship channel at least six times) was successfully named 'Halo,' as suggested by Becki Smith, a member of the Marineland Right Whale Project (MRWP).  During aerial photo-ID documentation, Becki noticed that #3546's six post-blowhole callosities appear to make a semi-circle on the top of her head (see photo).  It was reminiscent of a halo, and the idea was born.  During the summer, Julie Albert, MRC's Right Whale Conservation Program Coordinator, requested that #3546 be added to a short list of whales to be considered for a name in 2014.  The New England Aquarium added her to the list, a number of suggestions were made for various names, voting took place among researchers, more voting took place to break ties, and finally... #3546 got her name... Halo.  This is the first time the Volunteer Sighting Network has successfully helped name a right whale!  Many thanks to Becki for the suggestion, to Joy Hampp and the Marineland Right Whale Project for helping to photograph her that day and several times last season, to the researchers who voted for the name, and to everyone who helps protect these whales.  We're looking forward to Halo's return! 

Whale Volunteer Party April 5th!

It's that time of year again... it's the first day of spring, the last of the right whales are making their way north (a few a little slower than others), and it's time for our Right Whale Volunteer Party! It's a potluck lunch, so please bring a dish to share. A presentation will be given on how the whale season went, we'll award our Volunteer of the Year, and we'll be giving away door prizes and possibly have a silent auction! This is the fun, not-to-be-missed whale party of the year! Please RSVP if you plan to join us! MRC will provide paper products, silverware, cups, ice, and drinks.


April 5th, 11:30am, Lagoon House/MRC at 3275 Dixie Hwy. NE, Palm Bay, FL 32905.