"Tracking Killer Whales" will be the subject of the Jan. 11 Marine Science Lecture. Photo courtesy of Joe Gaydos
Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m. in the Eastsound Fire Hall
From the SeaDoc Society
The next Marine Science Lecture will be entitled “Tracking Killer Whales: Spew, Poo and Goo.” It will be given by Dr. Brad Hanson of NOAA Fisheries.
Some people think it is glamorous to study killer whales. But at times it’s probably more like a crappy job. How would you like to spend your day following southern resident killer whales and trying to collect feces and mucus they leave behind?
More like an episode of the Dirty Jobs show, this smelly job gives scientists unbelievable insight into the health of the local whale population. From the spew, poo and goo scooped up with nets, researchers like Dr. Brad Hanson learn not only what killer whales are eating but also what chemicals are present in their prey and how stressed the animals are.
The lessons learned have implications for the larger marine environment. “Whales are at the top of the food chain,” says Hanson, “and if they aren’t doing well then something lower in the food chain is likely in trouble too.” Brad Hanson is the team leader at The Center for Marine Mammal Ecology, which conducts research on Southern Resident Killer Whales. His focus is on habitat and foraging ecology.
Come hear Dr. Hanson’s killer whale stories at 7PM on Wednesday January 11th at the Eastsound Fire Hall. Join YMCA Camp Orkila and the SeaDoc Society for what promises to be a fascinating lecture.
About the Marine Science Lecture Series: The 2011/12 Marine Science Lecture Series is designed to inspire the general public and to highlight the amazing fish and wildlife of our region. Lectures are free.
The Lecture Series is presented The SeaDoc Society and YMCA Camp Orkila. It has been made possible through generous sponsorship by Tom Averna (Deer Harbor Charters), Barbara Brown, Denise and Dan Wilk (Eclipse Charters), Audrey and Dean Stupke and West Sound Marina. For more information visit https://www.seadocsociety.org.
