Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Saving SpringerHow NOAA helped an orca go home
Lesson 3. Who’s that Whale?
Mark Sears
Mark SearsGlobal Research and Rescue
Who’s that Whale?
What will you learn?
What happened when Springer arrived in Puget Sound?
How to identify orcas
How Springer was identified
Mark Sears
Who's that Whale? Springer shows up
In January 2002 an orca calf appeared near Seattle Observed by ferry
captain
Very unusual for an orca to be alone
Mark Sears
Who’s that Whale? Early observations
Healthy except skin
Hunting catching fish
Playing with fish and logs
LonelyMark Sears
Who’s that Whale?
Everyone wondered…
Who’s that whale?
What pod is she from? Southern resident?
Northern resident?
Transient?
Why is she alone?
What is she doing in Puget Sound?
What would you do if you saw a baby orcaalone in Puget Sound?
What would you do if you saw a baby orcaalone in Puget Sound?
Who wouldyou call?
Who wouldyou call?
Mark Sears
Who’s that Whale?
How do we tell orcas apart?
Dorsal fin Saddle patch Vocalization
Mark Sears
All about orcas How do we tell orcas apart?
Dorsal fin
Male dorsal fin (J1) Female dorsal fin (J2)John Durban, NOAA John Durban, NOAA
Who’s that Whale? How do we tell orcas apart?
Saddle patch
Saddle patch - L7 (Male) Saddle patch - L7 (Female)
John Durban, NOAAJohn Durban, NOAA
All about orcas How do we tell orcas apart?
Vocalizations (calls)
Here is a southern resident
call…
Every pod has distinct calls
Every pod has distinct calls
Listen to a northern resident callListen to a northern resident call
Mark Sears
Who’s that Whale? Solving the mystery
Can we use her saddle patch to identify her?
Mark Sears
No, her skin is in very poor condition, can’t see her saddle-patch.
Who’s that Whale?
Solving the mystery
Vocalizations… Scientists recorded Springer’s calls
…a match with A4 calls! Northern residents
Who’s that Whale? It’s Springer!
Last seen with mother - September 2000 Traveled with G-pod - Fall 2001 By herself in Puget Sound - January 2002
Who’s that Whale? Now that we know who Springer is…
Why is she here? What should we do?
Mark Sears
Who’s that Whale? Community role
Reported sighting to NOAA Participated in identification process
Photos Acoustic recordings
Monitoring Volunteer researchers watched her every day
Who’s that whale? NOAA’s role
Scientists Research Identification Monitoring
Management Kept Springer safe Worked with community
Who’s that Whale? Today’s Activities
Thumbprints and saddle patches Make a whale call using balloons
