Journals 2004/2005

Katie Roberts
Hingham Middle School, Hingham, Massachusetts

"Structure of Populations, Levels of Abundance,and Status of Humpback whales (SPLASH)" NOAA Ship McArthur II June 27-July 26, 2004

Journal Index: June Intro - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 July 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10       11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18       19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25

July 24, 2004

Photo: Protected Resouces Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, California. swfsc.nmfs.noaa.gov/PRD/

Due to the notification of severe weather predicted for Sunday and Monday, today may in fact be our last day of a full watch schedule. The decision to approach Kodiak a day early is still pending, but seems likely at this point. Therefore, I plan to spend every daylight hour on deck today, seeing the last of the cetaceans of my Alaskan adventure.

Fortunately, the humpbacks did not disappoint and my 0600 shift yielded four humpbacks sighted by 0624. The day continued as it started and all boats were deployed and all hands were on deck to survey the waters neighboring Kodiak Island. During the course of the day we saw the full range of humpback behaviors, fluking, pec-slapping, breaching, and bubble feeding. Taking full advantage of the lingering daylight, we worked right up until sunset at 10 PM, and many lingered on deck past dusk to take in the remaining sights.