Two-Year Survey Finds Rare Whale Species, Including Blues, Cruising Near NYC - National Geographic

[hatrack]

A network of ten underwater sound recorders in place off the length of the south coast of Long Island and throughout New York Harbor (map) between 2008 and 2009 detected a surprising density of ocean giants across an unexpectedly vast area, experts say. These "open mikes" picked up the ballads of the fin whale, blue whale, humpback whale, minke whale, sei whale, and the rare North Atlantic right whale, said Christopher Clark, Bioacoustics Research Program at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York.

The fin, humpback, right, and sei whales are on the U.S. endangered species list, meaning the federal government considers them to be "on the brink of extinction."

But what amazed the team the most was not the types of whales heard, but the sheer density of animals spread out over the entire study area, said Aaron Rice, science director of the bioacoustics lab.

For one thing, the scientists were struck by the "juxtaposition of having such large charismatic animals that represent ocean biodiversity living right off of the largest city on the Atlantic coast," Rice said. Some of the whales cruised as close as 10 miles (16 kilometers) from New York City, he said.

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http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/05/110506-whales-blue-whale-new-york-city-animals-science/

[indepat]

1. The marvels of mother earth are too vast for the mere mortal to comprehend

:D

[sasha031]

3. I couldn't agree more, that is why we have to do everything we can to save it

[sasha031]

2. Record number of right whales in Cape waters

PROVINCETOWN – Record numbers of right whales have been seen in Cape Cod Bay and adjacent waters this week, including sightings from some Truro beaches and the beaches at Herring Cove and Race Point in Provincetown.

The Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies reported today that the Right Whale Conservation Program run jointly by Cape group and the state Division of Marine Fisheries had documented 201 individual right whales in Cape Cod waters over the past week. More than 100 right whales were seen today during on seven-hour research flight.



The state has issued a high-risk advisory to boaters to use caution in Cape waters to avoid hitting the whales, which spend long periods feeding and relaxing near the surface.

With a population of about 500 animals, right whales are the most endangered large whale in the North Atlantic.
http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110420/NEWS11/110429967

[elleng]

4. CHARISMA!!! NOTHING like The Big Apple!!!

C'mon over, guys!!!

:applause:

[barbtries]

5. that is so heartening

with all the doom and gloom. may they ever roam the oceans.