Whale Museum Lecture: Taking Whale Research to New Heights

Thursday, September 8, 6:30 p.m, The Whale Museum

— from Jill Berger —

The Whale Museum’s Lecture Series
Taking Whale Research to New Heights:
Aerial Photogrammetry for Health Assessment of Whales,
Including Southern Resident Killer Whales
Presented by John Durban & Holly Fearnbach

The Whale Museum is pleased to welcome John Durban as part of the 2016 Summer Lecture Series on Thursday, September 8 at 6:30 p.m. Dr. Durban and Dr. Fearnbach will give an overview of their research and collaborations using photogrammetry to fill key data gaps that currently constrain the conservation of Northern and Southern Resident killer whales in the US and Canada: specifically measuring whale growth and body condition to assess whether the abundance of their chinook salmon prey is low enough to cause nutritional stress and impair reproduction.

Currently this work involves the use of a small unmanned hexacopter to non-invasively collect images from 100 ft. above the whales to assess the health of individuals. Durban and Fearnbach will also discuss their use of this technique to study blue whales, gray whales and humpback whales, but will focus mainly on their current research on Southern Resident killer whales around the San Juan Islands and Northern Resident killer whales in Johnstone Strait. Authorized by permits and airspace clearances in both the US and Canada, this work addresses key elements of conservation plans in both countries that are aimed at maintaining adequate food supplies for these protected populations.

The September 8 lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, call (360) 378-4710 ext. 30. The Whale Museum is located in Friday Harbor at 62 First St. N. Founded in 1976, The Whale Museum’s mission is to promote stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research. In addition to providing exhibits, the Museum also provides programs including the Marine Naturalist Training, Orca Adoption Program, Soundwatch Boater Education, San Juan Islands Marine Mammal Stranding Network, and the Whale Hotline. The Whale Museum can be found on-line at www.whalemuseum.org.