About admin

Website:
admin has written 129 articles so far, you can find them below.

Whales sculpture is made of willow and 70,000 plastic bottles

Whales sculpture is made of willow and 70,000 plastic bottles to highlight threat of plastic pullution to world’s oceans

whales sculpture is made of willow and 70,000 plastic bottles
Made from willow harvested in Somerset, the six-tonne sculpture depicts a blue whale and a humpback whale swimming through an 'ocean' of 70,000 plastic bottles, collected from the Bristol Half Marathon and Bristol 10k race.
The artwork, named The Bristol Whales, aims to highlight the threat to the world's fragile oceans from plastic pollution, particularly plastic bags and food and drink packaging.
Globally, eight million tonnes of plastic ends up in oceans each year, equivalent to the body weight of 45,000 blue whales.

Sculpture of two life size whales made from willow and 70,000 plastic bottles, which has been unveiled to mark the city's status as the UK's first European Green Capital.The Bristol Whales sculpture at night
The willow will naturally biodegrade over time. Read More...

Massive White Humpback Whale has been sited.

A White Humpback Whale has been spotted off the coast of Baltimore

White Humpback Whale has been spotted
White Humpback Whale spotted off Baltimore, West Cork, Ireland
The recent, very rare sighting of a 40ft white humpback whale around 14 miles off Baltimore, West Cork, Ireland by skipper Pat Collins and crewman Gerard Minihane has caused a flurry of excitement. They reported seeing "low bushy blows from a snow-white humpback whale" surfacing close to their fishing vessel.
Albino characteristics (Albinism) have been documented in around 20 species of cetaceans including sperm whales, bottlenose dolphins, southern right whales, killer whales and of course humpback whales.
White whales, like all albinos or leucistic animals, face many challenges. In spite of being otherwise healthy, such animals are likely to suffer skin problems, possibly even skin cancer due to the lack of protective melanin pigment in the skin. These animals may stand out more giving greater visibility to predators, especially when young. Their colouration may also create issues of social integration within their own species and subsequent ability to attract a mate.
Read More...White Humpback Whale has been spotted

Whale photography tricks of the trade

Whale photography tricks of the trade

Whale photography: tricks of the trade with Scott Portelli ??? Part 1

Everyone wants to take that elusive breach shot or capture a perfect tail fluke just before a humpback dives, but it can sometimes take a little patience and know how to help you achieve those special moments. Here are some technique tips to make your quest a little easier.

Scott Portelli is an award-winning professional wildlife and underwater photographer. With a passion for the ocean and an affinity with cetaceans including whales, Scott has spent the last decade working with humpbacks, photographing and filming their behaviour both above and below the waves.
In Part 1 Scott shares with the Wild About Whales community his top technique tips for capturing the perfect whale image.

Be poised and ready

Right place, right time

Keep focused

A glaring issue

Each of these topics are explained at Whale photography: tricks of the trade with Scott Portelli ??? Part 1
In the next edition of this two part series, Scott shares his top tips when it comes to your equipment, lenses, settings, filters and more.

Whale photography: tricks of the trade with Scott Portelli ??? Part 1

Whale News Events Currently on our Sonar 11

Whale News on Whales Without Borders SONAR 11

Scientists seek to ban proposal to kill whales for research

Hundreds of scientists have rallied against a new Japanese proposal to kill whales in the name of research - a plan one New Zealand marine biologist calls whaling in disguise. Last year, the International Court of Justice ordered Japan to close its "scientific" whaling programme in Antarctica, but Japan submitted a 12 year plan to kill 333 minke whales/year. "... it's whaling in the disguise as science". More... Scientists seek to ban proposal to kill whales for research

Whales Without Borders News: Scientists seek to ban proposal to kill whales for research

Open wide and say ???ah': Secret of whale mouths revealed

When the fin whale gets ready to eat, Earth???s second-largest animal opens its mouth so wide that it can gulp an amount of water larger than the volume of its own body as it filters out meals of tiny fish and shrimp-like krill. When feeding, this whale increases its swimming speed, opens its mouth and lunges in the ocean. The force of water rushing into the mouth during ???lunge feeding??? turns the tongue upside down and expands the bottom of the oral cavity into a huge pouch between the body wall and the overlying skin and blubber. As it closes its mouth, the whale filters out seawater through plates in the mouth while eating huge quantities of small prey. More interesting info here... Open wide and say "AH": Secret of whale mouths revealed

Whales Without Borders News: Open wide and say

Whales can be told apart by their voices – study

US researchers say that they can distinguish individual whales based on the sound of the animals' voices. Suction-cap sensors were attached to the backs of 13 right whales and used to record their vocalisations, over a period of more than a decade. They concentrated on "upcalls", one of the most common noises made by this species. These are fairly low-pitched vocalisations that rise over about one or two seconds. More...Whales can be told apart by their voices - study

Whales Without Borders News: Whales can be told apart by their voices - study

Sea Shepherd Sues Japanese Whalers

A US-based marine conservation organization Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has filed claims against Japan???s Institute for Cetacean Research. Sea Shepherd also claims that ICR is guilty of piracy for illegally killing and taking whales from the sea for commercial profit, and for engaging in violent actions against Sea Shepherd volunteers. More... Sea Shepherd Sues Japanese Whalers

Whales Without Borders News: Sea Shepherd Sues Japanese Whalers

Not just whale food

Researchers unveil bizarre and beautiful tiny organisms that form ocean plankton. Plankton include microscopic plants and animals, fish larvae, bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that drift in the oceans. Scientists have unveiled the most comprehensive analysis ever undertaken of the world???s ocean plankton, the tiny organisms that serve as food for marine creatures such as the blue whale, but also provide half the oxygen we breathe. More... Not just whale food

Not just whale food

Fins to legs to fins: Walking whales and other creatures that went back to the sea, part 1 & 2

Whales, dolphins, seals and sea turtles are examples of marine tetrapods, an exceptional group of animals that moved from the sea to the land and back again. Each time, they made radical changes to their lifestyle, body shape, physiology and sensory systems. Changes so radical, in fact, that whales and dolphins are referred to as tetrapods???or animals with four legs???and there was such a thing as ???walking whales???. The reverse migration of land animals back to the ocean began 250 million years ago. Fins to legs to fins: Walking whales and other creatures that went back to the sea, part 1
Fins to legs to fins: What do land animals returning to sea tell us about evolution? Part 2

Whales Without Borders News: Fins to legs to fins

Whale News Events for Whale Watchers

from around the world including News about whales and Whale Watching. Send any news about whales you think is important for the rest of us to know. You can comment and add your whale photos or your YouTube, Vimeo, etc. videos to let the rest of us see your whale experiences and adventures.

Email your links or stories about Whale news about whales, whale watching, Whale Watchers, whale rescues, whale festivals, Whale events to [email protected] and any feedback/comments.

Please support our advertisers on the https://whaleswithoutborders.info website and drop us a line if any ads are not proper

Interview with Dr. Meagan Jones from the Whale Trust Maui

Whale Trust Maui Interview

Whale Trust Maui Interview with Dr. Meagan Jones discussing whale projects, research and education programs.

The first part is from the radio program Big Alaska Show on Alaska???s KQFD.
Whale Trust Interview pt 1

The second part of the Interview picks up with more of our discussion on whale conservation and education programs involving the Whale Trust. We also mention the IMAX whale movie that is showing around the country. Links to the schedule are below.
Whale Trust Interview pt 2

Side Note
I met Meagan at the Whale Trust a few years ago. We discussed some of the Whale Trust projects and directions. We also talked about Whales Without Borders website ideas and future developments. Some of those ideas are woven into Whales Without Borders.

Then the following week, I was on a whale watch trip and noticed a whale research vessel studying whale behaviors.

Turns out, Meagan was the researcher aboard as divers studied Mom - Baby actions. They hailed us and needed to borrow some batteries for an instrument that had pooped out. I had some in my camera bag that fit. They were back to observing and taking data without much delay. These photos are from that day.

MeaganJonesHeadShot4x4x72

GordonLogBoomAnnix4x4

Whale Trust Research Boat

MomBaby_3347

WhaleEscort_3355

WhaleFluke_3351

MeaganBoat_3358

MeaganBatteryBoatB_3357

IMAX movie is actually referred to as: MacGillivray Freeman???s Humpback Whales
The IMAX film link is here:
Humpback Whales Film
List of theaters showing the film
The trailer for Humpback Whales Film

Whale News Events Currently on our Sonar 10

Whale News on Whales Without Borders SONAR vol 10

Humpback Whales’ recovery is national success story

HONOLULU ??? The humpback whale became the unofficial symbol for the conservation movement in the last century. The iconic mammal that can be found across the planet was on the verge of extinction. Their recovery after 45 years of protection and restoration efforts is a remarkable achievement.
Humpback Whales recovery is national success story

Rare up close footage captures sperm whale as it circles ROV 2000m below sea level

Staying in view of the camera for a number of minutes, the whale got so close to that a multitude of scars could be made out on the its nose. The Nautilus Live project streams live footage of its expeditions to create better understanding of deep sea life.
Rare up close footage captures sperm whale as it circles ROV 2000m below sea level

Can we finally stop worrying about the humpback whale? Not so fast, say experts

For more than 40 years, the humpback whale has been an icon of the wildlife conservation movement ??? majestic, globally beloved and always teetering on the edge of extinction. Until now, that is.
Can we finally stop worrying about the humpback whale? Not so fast, say experts

Federal agency, Alaska businesses partner on whale program

The program is intended to help reduce disturbances when whales are foraging. The Alaska participants include tour and charter fishing operations in southeast Alaska. Boats are asked to travel at slow speeds around whales and limiting the amount of time spent near feeding whales.
Federal agency, Alaska businesses partner on whale program

Online funding needed to track B.C. whales

Hydrophones help track whales through the sounds they make. A series of listening posts called hydrophones at strategic points along B.C.???s coastline ??? four networks designed to monitor fish, marine mammals and shipping tankers coming to and from shore.
Online funding needed to track B.C. whales

Killer whales are stealing fishermen’s catch to make extra calves

killer whales learned to snatch fish off of longlines. Because the groups that learned to eat those fish had a virtually endless supply of food that required no effort to catch, the individuals in those families, theoretically, should have been more reproductively successful than those who had to work for their dinner.
Killer whales are stealing fishermen's catch to make extra calves

Whale News Events for Whale Watchers

from around the world including News about whales and Whale Watching. Send any news about whales you think is important for the rest of us to know. You can comment and add your whale photos or your YouTube, Vimeo, etc. videos to let the rest of us see your whale experiences and adventures.

Email your links or stories about Whale news about whales, whale watching, Whale Watchers, whale rescues, whale festivals, Whale events to [email protected] and any feedback/comments.

Please support our advertisers on the https://whaleswithoutborders.info website and drop us a line if any ads are not proper

Capt. Terry Campbell

Capt Terry Campbell

Whales Without Borders lost one of our first and strongest supporters.

Terry Campbell had always loved whales. When it came to our Whales Without Borders projects, Terry was always ready to help and give encouragement to our fledgling ideas.

It???s amazing how much progress we made getting Whales Without Borders off the ground. Just look at our Facebook.com/whaleswithoutborders page. Whales Without Borders lost a lot of energy over the last months.

He loved helping the world learn more about whales. I loved having him help. We are going to miss him in many, many ways.
Aloha and Mahalo Capt.Terry Campbell.

Terry and I were on the news for the Whale Count in Hawaii Jan 2014. It’s on the WhalesWithoutBorders Facebook page.

Large Whale Entanglements

Large Whale Entanglements

Photo: Katie Jackson, FWC, taken under NOAA Fisheries Permit #932-1905/MA-009526

Large Whale Entanglements

Entanglement of large baleen whales, including the right (Eubalaena glacialis), fin (Balaenoptera physalus), sei (Balaenoptera borealis), Bryde’s (Balaenoptera brydei), minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), and humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) in fixed fishing gear (e.g. pot and gillnet) is a frequent occurrence along the east coast of the United States and Canada.

For right and humpback whales, which have detailed photo-identification histories, the records indicate that 78% of the right whale and 66% of the humpback population have evidence of at least one entanglement interaction, with many animals experiencing multiple entanglement events. Entanglement also appears to affect calves and juveniles more frequently than adults, although we are not sure why.
“Although most of these animals are able to free themselves from the entangling gear, serious injuries and deaths caused by entanglement occur in numbers that exceed what is sustainable to their populations.

Dynamics of Large Whale Entanglements in Fixed Fishing Gear

Mitigating bycatch in large whales differs from approaches with other animals because scientists cannot evaluate potential new gear modifications through at-sea trials. Typically, in these trials, catch rates of non-target species are compared between existing fishing techniques and new fishing devices or methods (e.g. comparing harbor porpoise bycatch in gillnets with and without pingers). In the case of the North Atlantic right whale, the species is so endangered, and the entangling events are so rarely observed, that it is not possible to measure the efficacy of new fishing gear using comparative trials.

Instead, scientists, fisheries engineers, and fishermen must link the biology and behavior of whales with the characteristics of a fishery, and infer entanglement likelihood using less tangible methods, such as estimating the level of overlap between whales and fishing gear, monitoring entanglement interaction levels over time, and making educated assumptions about how whales may respond when they first interact with fishing gear. The Consortium is working to 1) identify the characteristics of fishing gear that cause severe and fatal entanglement risk to whales and 2) provide a stronger scientific basis for evaluating the impact of existing, proposed, and future potential fishing methods to whales.”

Large Whale Entanglements

For More Information: The Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction

Whale News Events Currently on our Sonar 8


Whale News Events Currently on our Sonar at Whales Without Borders.

  • SeaWorld Scientist:??Whale??Captivity Is No Longer Educational
  • Bolivia: Mysterious??Whales??Unearthed 3800 Meters Above Sea Level
  • Whales??Invade New York!
  • Massive Donation to Help Sea Shepherd Create Perfect Anti-Whaling??Ship
  • South Carolina waters proposed as right??whale??calving critical habitat
  • NOAA tweaks gear marking requirement

    • SeaWorld Scientist:??Whale??Captivity Is No Longer EducationalSeaWorld Scientist:??Whale??Captivity Is No Longer Educational
    The clip is from the 2011 documentary “A Fall From Freedom” about the captive??whale and dolphin industry that was just unearthed by The Earth Island Institute’s Dolphin Project.

     
    Bolivia: Mysterious??Whales??Unearthed 3800 Meters Above Sea LevelBolivia: Mysterious??Whales??Unearthed 3800 Meters Above Sea Level
    LaPaz | Dozens of whale carcasses have been unearthed under Pre-Columbian earth mounds near the city of LaPaz at an altitude of more than 3,800 meters above sea level, a baffling discovery admit archaeologists from LaPaz University.

     
    Whales??Invade New York! Whales??Invade New York
    An unusually large number of humpback??whales??have been spotted in the waters around New York City. For the past few years, more and more humpback whales have been spotted near the city???s shores.

     
    Massive Donation to Help Sea Shepherd Create Perfect Anti-Whaling??ShipMassive Donation to Help Sea Shepherd Create Perfect Anti-Whaling??Ship
    With an unprecedented donation now secure, the conservation group Sea Shepherd looks to invest in a powerful piece of machinery to patrol the ocean. The maritime activist organization was been awarded $11.8 million at the Good Money Gala in Amsterdam via the Dutch Postcode Lottery??

     
    South Carolina waters proposed as right??whale??calving critical habitatSouth Carolina waters proposed as right??whale??calving critical habitat
    The number of calves born to imperiled right whales appears to be dropping in recent years, just as conservation efforts appeared to be turning the corner for the species. Right whales are the rarest of the large whales, 40-ton creatures

     
    NOAA tweaks Gear Marking RequirementNOAA tweaks gear marking requirement
    New rules for fishing gear intended to protect whales, set to go into effect June 1, include adding special marks to buoy lines on gear set outside a Maine exemption line. Any lobster gear set outside that line must have vertical lines marked at the top, middle and bottom with 12-inch red marks. HOWEVER, Most of Maine state waters are inside the exemption line designated in the rule

     

    Whale News Events Currently on our Sonar 7


    Whale News Events Currently on our Sonar at Whales Without Borders.


  • “Rare Longman???s Beaked Whale freed from nets;”
  • “Sperm whales target fishing boats off Alaska;”
  • “Whale Tales 2015: February 13-16 Learn more about Whales;”
  • “Baleen Whale Skulls have acoustic properties;”
  • “Gray??Whales??breeding off San Diego coast;”
  • “Whale??Walk makes mark and is now tradition;”
  • “The Big Alaska Show Radio Interviews Whales Without Borders;”


    • Fishermen catch rare Longman???s Beaked Whale off Thatta’s coast
    KARACHI: The Longman’s Beaked Whale released back to the Arabian Sea. Fishermen ensnared a rare Longman???s Beaked Whale off Thatta???s coast, Pakistan. A rescue operation successfully untangled the whale after a 30 minute struggle.

     Sperm whales target fishing boats for an easy mealA Priceless Museum Artifact, But in the Ocean
    Sperm whales, the ocean’s largest predators, have been targeting the boats of black cod fishermen and swiping their catch off their lines.

     
    Whales Without Borders Featured PostWhale Tales 2015: February 13-16Whale Tales 2015: February 13-16
    Whale Tales is a unique opportunity to meet some of the world???s leading researchers and photographers and hear their latest findings.??????Hosted by Whale Trust Maui

     
    Gray??whales??breeding off San Diego’s coastlineGray??whales??breeding off San Diego's coastline
    Gray whales are switching up their breeding habits off San Diego’s coastline. The animals typically pass during their migration pattern, but some incredible new video suggests something unusual is going on.

     
    Whales Without Borders Featured PostBaleen??Whales??Can Feel it in Their BonesBaleen??Whales??Can Feel it in Their Bones
    A first of its kind study sheds light on the elusive subject of whale noises. Researchers have discovered that the skulls of baleen whales have acoustic properties that allow them to detect low frequency waves. In other words, they hear with their bones.

     
    Whale??Walk makes mark at Doheny Whale??Walk makes mark at Doheny
    DANA POINT ??? Artists zip from whale to whale on a skateboard, cans of spray paint in hand, making sure massive mammals come to life on the boardwalk.

     
    Whales Without Borders Featured PostWhales Without Borders radio interview on The Big Alaska Show.Whales Without Borders www.whaleswithoutborders.info
    Listen to my recent Whales Without Borders radio interview on The Big Alaska Show. We chat about many things including recent whale news and events and technology advances.

    Whale News Events Currently on our Sonar at Whales Without Borders

    Baleen??Whales??Can Feel it in Their Bones

    Baleen??Whales??Can Feel it in Their Bones

    Baleen??Whales??Can Feel it in Their Bones

    Skulls of baleen whales the suborder of whales that comprise all toothless variations have acoustic properties that allow them to detect low frequency waves.

    Can Baleen??Whales??Can Feel it in Their Bones?


    A first of its kind study sheds light on the elusive subject of whale noises. Researchers have discovered that the skulls of baleen whales the suborder of whales that comprise all toothless variations, including blue whales, gray whales, and humpback whales have acoustic properties that allow them to detect low frequency waves. In other words, they hear with their bones.

    When baleen whales, which are the largest animals on Earth, intercept the deep murmuring noises that they send across the ocean, their skulls begins to slightly vibrate. This nearly undetectable quivering is directed to their ear bones and is interpreted as sound.

    This discovery, made by biologist Ted W. Cranford of San Diego State University and engineer Petr Krysl of the University of California San Diego, is unprecedented. Whale noise is a notoriously elusive subject for scientists. (No one yet knows what whales are communicating if at all with their deep, low frequency calls.)
    ???This makes you wonder how much we???re interfering with whale communication sounds or whatever they???re using the sounds for,??? Cranford says. ???Do we have some sort of effect? Can they not find a mate? Can they not find a food source?”

    Cranford cautions, however, against making any sweeping claim about our harmful effect on these creatures. Their research sheds some light on a previously shadowed issue, but the next step will be trying to discover just how sensitive they are to these noises.

    For More Information:
    https://www.psmag.com/nature-and-technology/whales-can-hear-through-their-bones


     
    Whales Without Borders Featured PostBaleen??Whales??Can Feel it in Their BonesBaleen??Whales??Can Feel it in Their Bones
    A first of its kind study sheds light on the elusive subject of whale noises. Researchers have discovered that the skulls of baleen whales have acoustic properties that allow them to detect low frequency waves. In other words, they hear with their bones.