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Archives – The whale news network 2002The whale news network: a weekly compilation of the "whale-watching" experience in the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf. Thanks to all the network collaborators! Here are all the weekly bulletins of 2002. You may obtain information on specific topics by using the "find" function in the "edit" menu of your browser ( Example : search for the word "dolphin" to discover where and when dolphins were spotted by the whale news network). You can consult the Whale news network archives of
other years.
10 January 2002, vol. 6 no 1 The St. Lawrence invaded by whales! So who’s complaining? Near Percé, our observer counted around thirty blows, spotting blue whales, fin whales and humpback whales. She even saw minke whales and harbour porpoises near the shore. In Gaspé Bay, our observers were walking out of the grocery store at Cap-aux-Os when they spotted five blue whales just a kilometre away. In the oblique rays of the winter sun, the blows resembled white fountains similar to those described in marine tales of yore. Two blue whales and four fin whales were also seen the morning of the same day, not far away. Gaspé is not the only area where whales are being sighted. Every day during the holidays and since beginning of the New Year, our observers noted blue whales throughout the area between Cap-de-Bon-Désir and Cap Colombier along the North Shore. Two beluga whales were also seen at the mouth of the Saguenay on December 28. So, for those who are able, strap on your snowshoes or skies, or hop on a snowmobile and take in the pleasures of winter along the shores of the St. Lawrence. The whales are there! 17 January 2002, vol. 6 no 2 Seal stories Harp seals are an integral part of the winter scenery of the St. Lawrence. Well known around the Magdalene Islands (they whelp on the ice pack in March), they are also present along the North Shore. Those that swim up the Estuary as far as the Charlevoix region to feast on schools of capelin are mostly females. After the feast, they head back out into the Gulf to give birth. When the mating season ends around mid-March, they return to the Estuary for several months before moving north. These days it is not uncommon to see groups of 100 to 200 seals as they churn the surface into a boiling froth by their rapid swimming. In certain years, as many as two thousand seals have shown up in the Estuary at a time. We have yet to see that this year. Harp seals take advantage of the ice as soon as it is formed to haul out and rest. While walking around Mille-Vaches Bay near Forestville shortly after Christmas, one of our observers noticed about twenty seals on the ice floes that had piled up near the shore. The tide was falling and the moving ice was giving a concert worthy of an ensemble of musical saws, while the winter sun caressed the ice sculptures that sat enthroned on the beach. Among the seals, our observer spotted a female accompanied by its whitecoat pup. Born as it was on such an unstable support, this pup did not likely survive. So, what about the ice pack near the Magdalene Islands? Will it provide a suitable whelping site for harp seals this year? The situation does not look promising. Our observers will keep us up to date in the coming weeks. And the whales? This week's overview resembles last week's; there are whales everywhere! The shores of the St. Lawrence are essentially ice-free so far this year, giving the whales a chance to get closer to the shoreline where they are more easily spotted by our keen observers. A few isolated belugas in the Saguenay, blue whales along the North Shore, a minke whale near Sept-Îles and large whales (blues and fins) in Gaspé Bay are on this week's list. 24 January 2002, vol. 6 no 3 Waiting for the ice While the lack of ice may have benefited whale watchers along the St. Lawrence, ice fishermen in the Saguenay Fjord have been holed up at home since the holidays. A little more than a week ago, in areas that are usually frozen over at this time, one could still see large tracts of open water and pieces of ice moving around, creating strange jigsaw puzzles with the rising and falling tide. Then, it happened! The season opened last Wednesday when the ice finally reached or passed the crucial 30-cm thickness. Small, colourful ice-fishing shacks are sprouting up everywhere. There is a festive feeling in the air and numerous are the fishermen trying their luck – bundled up, patiently waiting by their holes in the ice. So, what are they hoping to catch? Further offshore, a beautiful, highly prized, red-coloured ocean species known as redfish is usually abundant. Rainbow smelt, Greenland halibut and Atlantic cod are also on the list. Closer to shore they are trying for capelin. Surprised to hear about so many marine species in the Saguenay? Although a freshwater river flows along the surface, the deeper waters of the Saguenay Fjord are salty. This wonderful winter activity will carry on until mid-March when the Coast Guard breaks up the ice imprisoning the Saguenay in order to facilitate commercial navigation. Even now, and all winter long, ice-breakers open a 70 km long channel up the centre of the Fjord on demand, allowing merchant vessels to navigate as far upstream as Port-Alfred. 31 January 2002, vol. 6 no 4 Winter's spring! Whales have been quite numerous along the shores of the Gulf and Estuary of the St. Lawrence over the past few weeks. Blue whales, fin whales, humpback whales and even harbour porpoises were abundant in Gaspésie. This week has been impressively calm as far as cetaceans are concerned. However, all of our observers report the same phenomenon; the ice has arrived! A stray wind appears to have blown the whales out of sight, while at the same time bringing ice to the surface of a St. Lawrence River that has been oddly ice-free for the beginning of the year. It showed up around ten days ago in the waters of the Estuary. According to popular opinion, that's a good month later than usual. Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Ice Operations Centre confirms it; less than half of Estuary and a quarter of the Gulf are covered. Usually one would expect to see ice covering half of the Gulf by the end of January. Similar conditions have not been observed since 1957. But, how exactly is sea ice formed, you may ask. Well, for seawater to freeze, water temperature has to drop below 1.9° C and the wind can't be too strong. Ice is generally formed between mid-December and mid-February when the air temperature reaches - 15° C to - 20° C in the Gulf and Estuary of the St. Lawrence. The recent cold spell has allowed the ice cover to grow, although it remains abnormally thin. It's not likely that the stronger sun and wind of the month of February will make it much thicker. So, what difference does it make if there is less ice in the St. Lawrence? The case of the Great Lakes, which have already dropped to alarmingly low levels, has been made worse by prolonged evaporation due to the late arrival of the ice cover. Also, if the ice pack does not form rapidly around the Magdalene Islands, harp seals seeking out a little piece of ice will have trouble giving birth. As well, the Magdalene Island tourist industry and the seal hunt in the St. Lawrence could suffer from climatic conditions that are quite out of the ordinary. Observations from Gaspé Bay and along the North Shore of the St. Lawrence bring a ray of hope. Our observers have reported the presence of frazil; thick, slushy crystals of ice that are the precursor to true sea ice. These ice "buds" restore faith that the spring of winter is finally upon us! 07 February 2002, vol. 6 no 5 The ducks of winter With frozen fingers, but warm hearts, our observers along the shores of the St. Lawrence reported that whale blows were invisible this week beneath the low-lying fog covering the Gulf and Estuary. Unfortunately this floating blanket won’t keep the marine inhabitants warm. Harp seals, present in many inshore areas, were the only marine mammals to have been spotted over the past few days. Birds, on the other hand, appear to have stolen the show this week. Several hundred Barrow’s goldeneyes, scaups, buffleheads and black ducks were feeding at low tide on tidal flats. Two to three thousand oldsquaws were observed offshore from the mouth of the Saguenay, and nearly one thousand red-breasted mergansers were spotted near Gallix. However, the sighting of the week was likely the harlequin duck seen near the Bergeronnes’ dock on January 28 and again on February 5. The overall picture was much the same in Gaspésie with sightings of ducks and gulls in large groups. Although Old Man Winter seems to have finally taken control, these birds do not appear to be suffering too much from the cold. There are literally thousands of them wintering-over in our waters; taking advantage of areas of open water to feed while patiently waiting for the February sun to heat up a little! 14 February 2002, vol. 6 no 6 Skalugsuak II Do you recall operation Skalugsuak last winter? This expedition, which attempted to film a Greenland shark beneath the ice of the Saguenay, is back again this winter with Skalugsuak II. Between February 9 and 13, the expedition team tried once again to unveil the mysteries of the Greenland shark, A.K.A. skalugsuak in Inuktituk. This carnivore, that can attain seven metres in length and weigh over one tonne, feeds on fish, seals and even other sharks. It is present in the Arctic and the North Atlantic. Its existence in the Saguenay has been confirmed by accidental catches by ice fishermen, by several photos and even by stuffed specimens on display at the museum at Sainte-Rose-du-Nord. Yet, very little is known about its presence in the glacial waters of the Fjord it appears so fond of. We hope that the divers and scientists that braved the cold this week learned more about this fascinating animal. I want to know more For winter lovers Apart from the expedition to learn more about this cold water shark, our observers report having seen plenty of seals in small groups all along the North Shore this week. For the bird lovers, a bald eagle was seen on the afternoon of February 12 in Bon-Désir Bay. It was feeding near small gaps on the ice, probably on a carcasse. On this Valentine’s day, "cetaceaphiles" are attentive along the St. Lawrence even if no observation was made for a month, they know they will see whales in coming weeks. Until then, the shores of the Estuary and the Gulf are a paradise for winter lovers. 21 February 2002, vol. 6 no 7 Snow white and the "sea wolves" Mother Nature appears to be sending us milder weather after the winter storms of the previous week. Sliding along on dog sleds, observers in Gaspésie watched the ice breaking up under the February sun. On the North Shore, some twenty eider ducks were seen paddling around in open water pools among the ice floes. Kayakers near Bergeronnes and in Tadoussac Bay encountered a few 'sea wolves' (the local appellation for seals). Then the snow began falling on the St. Lawrence; thousands of musical flakes melting on the water. Musical they are! Most of us associate snow with a muffled, quiet ambience. Well, it is not so under water. Each snow flake frees up tiny bubbles that produce a high pitched sound on impact with the surface. The resulting noise can turn a snow storm into a veritable aquatic pandemonium for marine mammals in the vicinity. The Saguenay shark will retain its mystery As it turned out the Greenland shark was not spotted in the Saguenay last week. Expectations were high, but this mysterious fish will remain mysterious, at least for now. Despite various types of bait and a new loud speaker system broadcasting ringed seal vocalisations (one of its prey species in the Arctic), the Greenland shark did not show itself. Weather conditions were difficult for the Aqualog team. On-site temperatures dropped to - 47°C with the wind-chill factor. Wind gusts reached 80 km/h on the bay, freezing equipment and preventing divers from going below the ice on the last two days of the mission. However, dives undertaken in the shark cage on other days of the mission allowed divers to explore the Fjord bottom as well as the underwater fauna that inhabits this region. Among the species that were observed and filmed: Atlantic alligator fish, enormous sand shrimp and a species of squid that remains to be identified. Other dives will take place at this same site in the summer of 2002 in order to verify the continued presence of these species. We wish them luck in the hopes that weather conditions will be better. I want to know more 28 February 2002, vol. 6 no 8 Then, the ice slept With images of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics still fresh in their minds, shore dwellers from Charlevoix to the Lower North Shore, the Magdalene Islands and Gaspésie are discovering a new meaning for the word "ice". Oddly scarce in January, ice is now invading the banks of the St. Lawrence, forming chaotic piles displaying the flip side of the mild winter we've come to know so far. Chunks of ice that usually accumulate on the South Shore have been pushed across to the other side. In Gaspé, ice floes jostle each other; heading offshore and then floating back in. The St. Lawrence pilot boats based in Les Escoumins (which ensure safe passage by transporting pilots from shore to large cargo vessels heading upstream) are having trouble reaching the ships as they pass by. The impressive amount of ice at the mouth of the Saguenay held up the ferries for several hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. The ferry Armand-Imbeau required the assistance of the Canadian Coast Guard ice breaker Radisson. This combination of events is reminiscent of the winter of 1995 when one of the pilot boats was stuck offshore for several days and the ferry service was occasionally interrupted. So, what is causing this disorder? Strong easterly winds combined with warm weather caused several blocks of ice to break off and were responsible for major accumulations of ice where there is rarely any ice at all. To top it off, so to speak, these blocks of ice were pushed even further by yesterday and today's monthly high tides. The Saguenay normally swallows and spits out ice with the rising and falling of the tide. Presently the Fjord appears as solid and immobile as a tidal flat. This week the ice slept. 7 March 2002, vol. 6 no 9 Whale watching while sealing Two sealers experienced a close encounter last week off Les Escoumins, near Yves' Cove. As they were gazing shoreward looking for seals, they suddenly heard a blow behind them. It was a humpback whale… within metres of their boat! It fluked up two or three times before heading off in the same direction as two blue whales, 300 to 400 metres distant. Blue whales have been observed regularly in this area since the beginning of winter. Belugas on the March Small groups of belugas were spotted near the shore last Tuesday off Bergeronnes. The most recent sightings of belugas in the Tadoussac-Les Escoumins area date back to mid-January. Belugas are usually found further downstream in winter. They move back to their summer headquarters around the month of April. Icebound It is relatively quiet further downstream. There were no whale sightings, yet there were other signs of life. Greater black-backed gulls arrived this week in the Sept-Îles area, and around one hundred hooded mergansers were seen moving around between the ice floes. Gulls and mergansers were also present in Gaspé, where a cargo vessel got caught in the ice! The Marinor was immobilised for several hours Tuesday in Gaspé Bay. This is not a rare event in the area, and usually Coast Guard ships can get to the scene quite quickly. This time, however, the icebreaker Terry-Fox had to make its way all the way back from Anticosti where it has been kept busy this past week. Whitecoats in sight It is the time of the year when female harp seals give birth on the ice field around the Magdalene Islands. Pups are nursed for twelve days before weaning. They then spend between four and five weeks on the ice before diving into the waters of the Gulf. They are accompanied each year by male seals looking to mate, as well as tourists seeking a special contact with the wild. Most of the visitors are from Europe and Japan and arrive by helicopter to spend a day walking among the animals on the ice field. However, this year, due to high winds, recent warm temperatures and rain last Sunday, the ice field is almost non-existent west of the Islands. Normally the ice floes extend for several kilometres offshore. Female seals have the option of choosing other areas of the Gulf to whelp, however, for pups that have already been born, the breaking up of the ice field will likely lead to a high mortality rate. A team of reporters from National Geographic is presently in the Gulf to obtain film footage of these very seals. I want to know more Magdalen Islands Seal Interpretive Centre 14 March 2002, vol. 6 no 10 Fin whales already A rare sighting was reported last week off Bergeronnes. An expert observer spotted what were without a doubt two fin whales. This species is not usually seen here at this time of the year. What were they doing? What were they up to? Let's hope that they were harbingers of a bountiful season of fin whales. This species was relatively rare in the area last season. Plenty of belugas Truly, the sealers from the Escoumins region have a knack for great sightings. They spotted plenty of belugas on Friday the 8th and Tuesday the 12th of March. There may have been as many as one hundred animals in all. One of them even approached and swam around the boat, apparently observing the men on board. The sealers, quite used to rare sights at sea, were nonetheless very impressed. De-icing of the Saguenay The progressive de-icing of the Saguenay by the Canadian Coast Guard has begun. Ice-fishing shacks have been removed until next winter. Observers at the mouth of the Saguenay: don't be surprised if you see blocks of ice floating by marked with snowmobile tracks! However, it would be advisable to notify the Coast Guard if you also spot gloved hands and a helmet… Waiting Further along the shores of the St. Lawrence, our observers are taking advantage of the fine weather to admire the sea. Conditions are perfect for whale watching. One would expect to see the blow of a whale marking the horizon at any moment… but not yet. Patience is a virtue. 21 March 2002, vol. 6 no 11 Blew under a springtime sun Our observers from the Sept-Îles area have spotted their first whale of the 2002 season. It was a magnificent blue whale! They were able to watch it all Sunday afternoon as it blew under a springtime sun about a kilometre off the shore of Gallix. It would blow regularly and dive for only a few minutes at a time. With each dive its tail would brush the surface without coming completely out. It moved slowly around the ice. The shore dwellers, observing from their window, lost sight of it after three hours of whale watching. The ice cover reformed in the days that followed. Who will spot their first whale next week? Happy spring to all! The ups and downs of seal life Large groups of harp seals were present off Bergeronnes a few days ago. Dozens of groups of between 20 and 30 seals each could be seen resting on the ice. They happened to be relatively close to our observer's house as the ice had been pushed shoreward. Harp seals are now returning to this area of the Estuary after whelping. The females begin feeding as soon as the pups are weaned. This is a period of intense feeding activity, a feast where capelin heads up the menu. The groups of seals may also have been made up of males returning from the Gulf or immature seals of either sex that did not mate this season. In a previous bulletin we brought up the question of the mortality rate of whitecoats due to the poor state of the ice field in the Magdalen Islands. Sealers from Les Escoumins have in fact noticed that the females returning to the Estuary are abnormally fat. This is an indication that they probably lost their pups and were unable to transfer their fat reserves through their milk. However, this is not a cause for great concern. The harp seal population is very abundant and several years of difficult reproduction will not imperil this species. These are the ups and downs of seal life. 28 March 2002, vol. 6 no 12 One day it's spring, the next it's winter… This week we offer up a pot-pourri of seasons. Blocks of ice drift and march by. The wind assails us, then it's dead calm. The warm sunshine makes ideal snow for snowmen. As for the whales, our observers from the Sept-Îles area, who admired a blue whale last week, saw one once again on Monday blowing far offshore. Two blue whales were also seen blowing off Les Escoumins on Tuesday morning. Considerable groups of harp seals were present in this sector as well. Observers counted between 400 and 500 seals near the Les Escoumins shore over the past few days. Half of them were resting on the rocks. This species is in a period of intense feeding activity in the Estuary. Most of these seals will migrate to the Arctic at the end of spring. Seal hunting is taking place, however sealers have not been able to go out in their boats for a few days due to high winds. A hiker glimpsed a minke whale off the Tadoussac sand dunes. Another minke whale was sighted off Bergeronnes. These are the first reports of this species in the Tadoussac-Les Escoumins sector in 2002. Observers from other parts of the St. Lawrence, such as Gaspé and Percé, are still waiting for the whales to show up. Easter crab We will have snow crab for Easter. It was the opening of the crab-fishing season on Monday, March 25 in zone 17 of the St. Lawrence Estuary. This zone extends from Tadoussac to Pointe-des-Monts on the North Shore and a few kilometres past Sainte-Anne-des-Monts on the South Shore. The crab-fishing season started early this year. Usually it opens at the beginning of April. As much as 2 825 tons of snow crab may be caught in zone 17 this season. The other zones will also open soon. This activity will be pursued until mid-summer when it will end so as to not disturb the reproduction and moulting of these animals. Other crab species, such as rock and toad crabs are also caught in the St. Lawrence, but are of minor importance. So, let's feast! Happy Easter! 4 April 2002, vol. 6 no 13 Blue whales in Gaspé… and beyond Our correspondents in Gaspé have finally sighted their first whales of the season. Before the sighting, however, they went through an oddly thunderous snowstorm on Saturday. Thunder rumbled and the sky was lit up by lightning that was visible through the falling snow. Everything had returned to normal by Sunday and three blue whales could be seen swimming among the ice floes under a brilliant springtime sun. They were about 250 meters from the Forillon Point shoreline. Two other blue whales were present in the Sept-Îles area. A large blow would suddenly shoot up, closely followed by a smaller blow nearby. This led our observers to believe that they were likely observing a cow-calf pair. Two other blue whales have been roaming around off Les Escoumins over the past few days. Intriguing observation Our correspondents from Gallix, in the Sept-Îles area, made an intriguing observation on Friday, March 29. A very dark whale would fluke up each time it dove. The whale was slow moving and did not have a dorsal fin. At first they wondered if it could be a sperm whale. Yet, the shape of the blow and the animal's back gave them the impression that they were likely observing a right whale. If so, it was a very extraordinary sighting indeed. Right whales are sometimes observed in the Percé area and further south in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in the summer. They are rarely seen along the North Shore. Intriguing… Luminescent plankton beneath a full moon Two citizens from Tadoussac experienced a most fascinating phenomenon under a full moon last week. While walking along the beach late in the evening, they were surprised to discover blue luminescent plankton in their footprints and in the retreating waves. Bioluminescence is light produced by chemical reaction in certain marine organisms, be they unicellular organisms, crustaceans or fish. These creatures light up through physical contact or by the simple movement of water. It is believed that the purpose of bioluminescence is to attract prey or fool predators. It may also be a form of communication between individuals of the same species. Bioluminescent phytoplankton (plant plankton) is regularly observed in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence in summer. It is green in colour and is visible in streaks by moving one’s hand through the water, or in the eddies caused by oar strokes. It can also illuminate footprints in wet sand. This type of bioluminescence generally signals the presence of algae known as dinoflagellates. This time, however, it turned out to be zooplankton (animal plankton). Larger and blue in colour, these organisms were visible to the naked eye and could be picked up. They were gelatinous forms, several millimetres long and they likely belong to the ctenophore group of organisms that also includes comb jellies. An evening stroll under a full moon was thus transformed into a dance on the beach to tease plankton, causing it to light up like thousands of tiny blue stars. Sleeping in the Saguenay The crew of the Tadoussac–Baie-Sainte-Catherine ferry spotted their first beluga of the season in the Saguenay on Tuesday, April 2 near the end of the day. This first beluga appeared to be in resting mode. It was stationary, gently floating at the surface of the water. This type of behaviour is often called "logging" in reference to its resemblance to that of a log bobbing at the surface. The beluga in question didn't move when the ferry approached, forcing the captain to swerve around it. Two belugas were also spotted on April 3, once again near the ferries, possibly accompanied by a young, grey beluga. Beluga whales are slowly making their way back into their summer quarters. They will soon become a daily occurrence at the mouth of the Saguenay. They were also present this week off Les Escoumins in groups of ten to fifteen individuals. 11 April 2002, vol. 6 no 14 Flight arrivals Migratory birds are progressively returning to our various regions. Brants were sighted in Bergeronnes; like the Canada geese and snow geese, they are only passing through. They will pursue their journey north, eventually arriving on their nesting grounds in the Arctic tundra. Several flights of eider ducks were spotted over Gaspé this week. After having wintered-over in ice-free waters, this species will soon be nesting throughout the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf. Northern gannets have been seen in Percé. In summer their nests are grouped together in colonies on the cliffs and ledges of Gaspésie (especially on Bonaventure Island), on Anticosti Island and in the Magdalene Islands. Large numbers of black-legged kittiwakes were also spotted at the leading edge of the Gaspé peninsula. This species, which spends the winter on the high seas, approaches the coast to nest. Many common goldeneyes, on the other hand, winter-over in the St. Lawrence but nest in fresh water. Their mating season has already begun. They were seen courting at the mouth of the Saguenay this week. Males were displaying courtship behaviour consisting of throwing back their heads and bringing their breasts out of the water in an attempt to seduce females. Quite a turn-on (for a female goldeneye, that is). Whales : the season has begun There were whales everywhere this week. Two blue whales fluked up each time they dove off Bonaventure Island on Sunday, April 7. Three blue whales and three humpback whales were observed in Gaspé on Monday, April 8 and blows were once again sighted in the distance the next day. Two blue whales were seen near Les Escoumins on the morning of Wednesday, April 10. Beluga whales were spotted in the Tadoussac-Les Escoumins area, near Basques Island and near Lièvres Island. And…they're off! Beluga on the highway To whoever encounters a beluga in a pickup truck on the Québec City Bridge or while travelling along highway 20, here is the rest of the story. A dead beluga was discovered last Sunday in the Charlevoix region. The carcass was found on Saint-Irénée beach and was transported by truck to Université de Montréal's faculty of veterinary medicine at Saint-Hyacinthe. A necropsy will be performed at this facility to determine cause of death. Every year approximately twenty beluga carcasses are found. Between five and ten of these are analysed per year in keeping with an ongoing research project dealing with the health of the St. Lawrence belugas. I want to know more Currents events of the St. Lawrence (Archives): Cancer in St. Lawrence belugas (28 February 2002) 18 April 2002, vol. 6 no 15 Beluga on the highway, the sequel Starting with the bad news. Here is some supplemental information concerning the beluga that stranded at Saint-Irénée last week. It turned out to be an adult female 3.6 m long, weighing 698 kg. The necropsy that took place at the Université de Montréal’s faculty of veterinary medicine revealed that she had stomach cancer with metastases in almost all other organs. A more complete examination will reveal more on the diseased state of the animal as well as its age. I want to know more Currents events of the St. Lawrence (Archives): Cancer in St. Lawrence belugas (28 February 2002) The first outing of the season for the MICS research team The Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS) team took to the sea for the first time this season on Saturday, April 13. They were in the Sept-Îles area, where they followed the footprints (!) of two blue whales (the "footprint" of a whale is the circular up-welling that remains at the surface after it has dived). These two whales were surface feeding. While feeding in this manner, the whales glide along at the surface on their sides, their gaping maws dislocated, one enormous pectoral fin pointing skyward and half of the tail out of the water. Breathtaking! The next day, the team spotted a fin whale before once again becoming absorbed by the spectacle of a blue whale surface feeding. The wind was strong and the sea rough. A blow would appear behind a wave, the whale would appear in its trough, and a large pectoral fin would jut out of the following wave. The rough seas appear to have little effect on a cetacean’s ability to manoeuvre at the surface. A cheerful morning Observers in Gaspé Bay had a cheerful morning on Wednesday, April 17. No less than nine whales were present to wish them good morning. There were three blue whales, three humpback whales and three fin whales. As if this wasn’t enough, two seals, species unknown, started jumping out of the water. They would fall back on their backs or sides, splashing water in every direction. So what were they up to? It’s hard to say. Their antics lasted a good half hour. Other observers also had their days brightened by the presence of marine mammals: - a minke whale, a blue whale, three fin whales, harbour seals and harp seals near Gallix in the Sept-Îles area on Wednesday, April 10; - six blue whales and three humpback whales in Gaspé Bay on Thursday, April 11; - three humpback whales and a fin whale the same day near Rocher Percé; - groups of harp seals and belugas all through the Tadoussac-Les Escoumins area every day last week. Blows of large whales were also spotted in the distance in several areas. 25 April 2002, vol. 6 no 16 Minke whales now showing at the Bergeronnes wharf! Get your tickets now! On the morning of Friday, April 19 a minke whale was surface feeding off the Bergeronnes tidal flats. This species is quite spectacular when feeding in this manner. A minke whale can bring its mouth and part of its body out of the water, coming out on its side or on its back, displaying sections of its tail and fins. It is often difficult to determine what part of the animal is on display. On Tuesday, April 23, at around 3 p.m. our observers witnessed one of the most spectacular whale behaviours there is: minke whale breaches. A minke whale was jumping completely out of the water, like a rocket taking off, only to fall back causing resounding splashes. It repeated the manoeuvre five or six times in a row. The whale in question was 400 m off the Bergeronnes tidal flats. Of course the observers, who were busy installing the marina’s pontoons, took a break in order to take in the show. And that’s not all. On the morning of Wednesday, April 24 at 9:30, in the same area, no less than quatre minke whales were seen surface feeding. Mouths wide open in schools of capelin, this was another show for the marina personnel who were busy replacing the channel buoys. Let’s hope that the minke whales will be showing all summer. Higgledy-piggledy The whales that were present in Gaspé and Percé last week have not been re-sighted in recent days. Northern gannets and black-legged kittiwakes, on the other hand, have started to show up on their nesting sites. Several beluga whales and between six and eight large rorqual whales were spotted near Betsiamites River on Saturday and Sunday, April 20 and 21. Belugas were also present between Les Escoumins and Les Bergeronnes, and there were two blue whales at the Les Escoumins ferry dock on Monday, April 22. To the delight of two kayakers, beluga whales and a minke whale were seen leaving the Saguenay on Saturday, April 20, just as the sun was going down. Forestville fishermen report having seen four or five blue whales in their area. There were four blue whales, a fin whale and a minke whale off Gallix, near Sept-Îles. Winged fauna were also present : red-breasted mergansers, northern gannets and surf scoters among them. 2 May 2002, vol. 6 no 17 Re-placing the buoys of summer in the St. Lawrence The Canadian Coast Guard has been busy placing summer buoys throughout the St. Lawrence since the end of March. These same buoys had been replaced by winter buoys, or spars, in November. The spars are designed to resist the assault of ice. They are less numerous than summer buoys and indicate only the main winter navigational channels. In order to make winter navigation in the St. Lawrence even more safe, two pilots embark on each vessel instead of one. The summer buoys were stored either in Québec City or Sorel where they underwent annual maintenance, repainting and so on. The task of giving the St. Lawrence its buoys back is a major one and will carry on through to the end of May. It began upstream on Saint-Louis Lake west of Montreal and will end at Blanc-Sablon. This week the two ships in charge had made their way to Baie-Comeau and the Magdalen Islands. Discreet love
Did you know that it is now mating season for beluga whales? Most of the whales come into our areas to feed, and go elsewhere to reproduce. The beluga, the only species of cetacean that lives in the St. Lawrence year round, also reproduces here, obviously. As births take place between June and September, and the gestation period is approximately 14 months long, the presumed mating period is from April to June. Yet, actual mating has never been observed in the wild. This discreet love has piqued the curiosity of researchers. Voyeurs, they would like to know (see!) more. Pleasant encounters
While taking a stroll one morning on the beach at Penouille near Gaspé on Tuesday, April 30, some observers had a special encounter. A harp seal was stretched out peacefully on the beach. This is rather unusual as harp seals are most often seen in groups in the water or on the ice, in winter. Was this seal in a bad mood? Our observers took the opportunity to snap a few photos. They also saw two blue whales and three humpback whales offshore. There were also two blue whales, three fin whales and several minke whales in Gaspé Bay on Monday, April 29. Our observers in the Sept-Îles area went to sea on Sunday, April 28. They spotted one blue whale, four fin whales and two minke whales. Marine birds were also seen in the area. Among them were black scoters, oldsquaws and double-crested cormorants. The scoters are migrating; they nest further north. The oldsquaws winter-over in our areas, but will soon be heading north as well. As for the double-crested cormorants, they nest in colonies in our areas. A crab fisherman reported seeing a minke whale breaching on Tuesday, April 30, less than 200 metres from the Escoumins ferry dock. 9 May 2002, vol. 6 no 18 Runaway belugas? Beluga whales are sometimes observed far from their habitual range. This was the case for a beluga that was seen in Massachusetts Bay this past weekend. Two young, solitary belugas also attracted attention in Newfoundland in recent days. One of them is a young male that has been in Codroy Harbour on the south-west coast of Newfoundland since April 16. There is concern that this whale, nick-named Echo, may become entangled in lumpfish nets. The lumpfish season opens May 13 in this area. The other animal, also a juvenile, has been travelling from port to port along the Newfoundland’s East Coast in Bonavista Bay since May 2. The two animals are exceptionally sociable; they approach wharves and seek physical contact with humans. It is not known to which beluga population these whales belong. The St. Lawrence population is geographically closest, however they could be northern beluga whales. To determine their origin, biopsy samples (skin and fat) would have to be taken from the animals for analysis. Contaminant profiles of St. Lawrence beluga whale fat are different than those of northern beluga whale fat. The DNA can also be analysed to detect genetic differences between populations. Whatever the case may be, these intrepid belugas are arousing plenty of interest. I want to know more On Whales online: Three belugas, far from home (12 July 2001) On the home front
On Sunday, May 5, there were sightings of beluga whales, four fin whales off Pointe à la Carriole and a minke whale near the Prince Shoal lighthouse in the Tadoussac-Les Escoumins area . Numerous oldsquaw ducks were also present in the area. Tour operators that have already begun their season spotted a fin whale near Île Rouge in the morning and another in the afternoon at Pointe à la Carriole on Tuesday, May 7. Their passengers also spotted a few minke whales. Off Pointe à Boisvert, near Longue-Rive, whale watchers observed small groups of beluga whales, three or four large rorqual type whales and a few feeding minke whales. Our correspondents in the Sept-îles area went to sea on Sunday, May 5. They encountered four fin whales, four minke whales, two harbour porpoises, one blue whale and a partridge in a pear tree (just kidding!)… and thousands of sea birds. The fin whales were surface feeding. Black-legged kittiwakes and northern gannets were taking the time to fill their bellies as well. All in all, quite a show! There were two or three blue whales and two humpback whales in the Gaspé area. Observers near Franquelin, on the North Shore, spotted two or three minke whales and a fin whale at Mistassini Point. Again this week, a minke whale was reported breaching. It happened off Les Escoumins near the southern cliff smack dab in the middle of a school of capelin. Young arctic gulls are frequently observed these days. Their plumage is pale, almost white, and their beaks are black. As adults they resemble herring gulls. Arctic gulls winter-over in our area, however they nest, as their name suggests, in the Arctic. 16 May 2002, vol. 6 no 19 It’s snowing on our whales It’s true! It snowed in several areas of Quebec on Tuesday, May 14. A few whales had their blowholes tickled by snowflakes. A blue whale was spotted near Percé and two other blue whales and a humpback whale were seen near Gaspé. Some observers report seeing a blue whale at Cap à la Baleine near Sainte-Félicité on Monday, May 13. A cape that lives up to its name; baleine is French for whale. Minke whales were spotted at Gallix, Pointe-des-Monts and Les Escoumins. An observer from Port-au-Persil in the Charlevoix region saw two minke whales and several beluga whales on the evening of May 13. In the Tadoussac area, whale-watching vessels encountered three or four fin whales, one of which they believe to be the well-known Capitaine Crochet (Captain Hook in English). This whale is easily recognizable by its dorsal fin which is shaped like... you guessed it: a hook. Two other fin whales were also observed in the Les Escoumins area. And now its about time for spring to arrive! The harbour seal baby boom
This is the time of year that harbour seals give birth. Several new-born pups have been reported in the seal colonies of Forillon National Park, among others. They are present on the rocks near their mothers. Our correspondents observed them from a distance so as not to disturb them, especially at this crucial period before they are weaned. The nursing period lasts between 19 and 30 days for this species. Whelping continues until the beginning of July. Contrary to other species of seals that live in the St. Lawrence, the pup will take to the water just a few hours after being born. The harbour seal is the smallest seal in the St. Lawrence. It is the only species to reside all year round in these waters. It should be noted that seals that have beached themselves along the shore, alone or in groups, are not in any trouble; they spend part of their lives on solid ground. Several harbour seal rookeries have been identified in the St. Lawrence. The size of the population is difficult to evaluate. Its status is precarious. As with beluga whales, harbour seals are heavily contaminated by toxic contaminants (PCBs, organochlorides). 23 May 2002, vol. 6 no 20 Penguins in the St. Lawrence? Razorbills have been seen recently in the St. Lawrence. This small seabird, known as the "petit pingouin" in French, should not be confused with the true penguins, that live in the Southern Hemisphere and are not able to fly. Razorbills belong to the Auk Family, also known as the alcids, that also includes puffins. Alcids are present in the Northern Hemisphere and are quite capable of flight. Razorbills spend the winter on the high seas, yet nest in the St. Lawrence. They are recognizable by their thick beak, rapid wing movements and distinctive plumage: completely black back, completely white belly. This type of coloration is common to many species of seabirds. It is believed to have come about as an evolutionary advantage for predator avoidance. Seen from the sky, these birds blend in with the dark colour of the sea. Seen from below, their white bellies serve as camouflage against the bright light of the sun. Black guillemots (also alcids) were seen this week as well. A harbour seal near Sorel! Seals occasionally swim up the St. Lawrence far beyond the upstream limit of their habitual range. A harbour seal was spotted near Sorel on Thursday, May 16, more specifically in the Lanctôt Basin. Every year four or five seals are reported around the Sorel Islands and the Contrecoeur Islands. Are these seals sick, or disoriented? Are they young explorers? It is hard to say. Seal carcasses are also sometimes found around these islands. Others seals probably find their way back to their habitual range. Fin whales: a cow/calf pair A cow/calf pair has been spotted in the Escoumins area in recent days. The two fin whales are always seen together and one of them is much smaller than the other. A cow/calf pair was confirmed last year: Capitaine Crochet (Captain Hook) and her offspring. In 1999 and 2000, three other mothers, Triangle, Caïman and Perroquet, had returned to the St. Lawrence with their young. This type of observation requires a lot more perspicacity on the part of our experienced observers. In the case of large rorqual type whales (such as the fin whale), the male of the species is generally smaller than the female, which can lead to confusion. A calf sighting is always welcome news, a good sign for the overall health of the population. Beached whale near Caplan A whale was found beached near Caplan in the Gaspésie area on Sunday, May 19. Although its species has yet to be confirmed, it is either a blue whale or a fin whale. The carcass was not very accessible and was half submerged on occasion. It was towed and will be brought to the New Richmond garbage dump. If it is deemed appropriate, samples of the animal will be taken in order to obtain further information. Photographs will also facilitate identification. Several curious passers-by managed to get close enough to see this whale and to appreciate its size. Doubtless a remarkable experience. 30 May 2002, vol. 6 no 21 Beached whales, the sequel What follows is news concerning the whale that was found beached near Caplan last week. It was eventually identified as a blue whale, more specifically a small (if the term can be applied to this species!) male blue whale, 17.2 metres in length. The carcass was in relatively good condition. A collaborator of the Maurice Lamontagne Institute (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) retrieved a skin sample and a fat sample, as well as a few baleen plates. Another beached whale was discovered on Friday, May 24 at Newport. It turned out to be a male fin whale, 15.5 metres long. The carcass was not in as good condition as the blue whale carcass, however the collaborator was able to retrieve samples. It will be buried at Grande-Rivière. Notice to anyone living in the area that would like to see a whale close-up: here’s your chance! Runaway belugas, the sequel In our May 9 bulletin, we reported stray belugas, animals that were observed far from their habitual range. What follows is this week’s narration of the amazing destiny of these clandestine belugas. First of all, if you recall, was mentioned the difficulty researchers have in determining from which population these stray belugas had ... strayed. Were they St. Lawrence belugas or northern belugas? Here’s the scoop: the beluga that was seen in Massachusetts Bay has been identified as a St. Lawrence beluga. Photographs taken in Massachusetts were sent to the GREMM in Tadoussac for identification. GREMM researchers managed to recognize the whale thanks to individual markings that distinguish it from others of its species. They had identified and biopsied it on July 2, 1996 near île-aux-Lièvres. This was their only encounter with this whale. It turned out to be a female according to the results of biopsy analysis. At the time, the researchers had noticed unusual behaviour; the whale was not shy and followed the research vessel. Second scoop: the solitary beluga whale from Codroy Harbour in Newfoundland has also been identified. It turns out to be Casper, a whale that made headlines last summer along with two companions. These three beluga whales had spent some time upstream in the St. Paul River on the Lower North Shore. Two of them were eventually found dead. As for Casper, it was captured and released offshore; the water level in the river was too low for it to be able to leave on his own. Third case: one of the belugas from Bonavista Bay is an individual known as Lenni. This is the third year that it has been seen in Newfoundland ports. Last year it was near St. Anthony in northern Newfoundland, where a biopsy sample was taken. Finally, here is the tragic destiny of another Bonavista Bay beluga whale, nicknamed Charlie Bubbles. Charlie has died after being struck hard by a boat. This case clearly illustrates the problem of reckless beluga whales that socialize with humans. They lose their wild animal instincts and no longer possess a healthy mistrust of the unknown. Eventually, they may find themselves in situations that place them in harm’s way and... be struck by a boat, for example. This is why it is important not to try to tame these animals, feed them or come into contact with them. Thus is summed up the striking tales of these whales. These belugas have certainly filled their quota of headlines. 6 June 2002, vol. 6 no 22 Porpoise companions During an outing offshore from Rimouski, one of our regular observers had the distinct pleasure of being accompanied by a group of harbour porpoises. There were five to seven animals in the group and they appeared to be playing around the boat. They would approach regularly to within three metres. What attracted these porpoises? Did the movement of the boat create a current that allowed them to swim with less effort? Did they believe that they were following a fishing boat that would deliver easier prey? Were they simply curious, wanting to learn more about the "intruder"? It is impossible to say with certainty. This type of behaviour is quite common for several species of cetaceans and remains mysterious. Another type of encounter A captain and an experienced naturalist lived a very memorable encounter with a minke whale this past week as they accompanied eight passengers on a whale-watching cruise. The naturalist recounts the story thus: "…It dove as it was headed for our boat. And then… silence. Where was it going to re-surface for a breath? Near the boat? It’s what all whale-watchers dream of. However, the behaviour of these animals is very unpredictable. And then we saw it, very near, off the port stern. Immobile, its body vertical, its rostrum pierced the surface and it looked right at us. (This behaviour is known as spy-hopping.) Finally, it slipped back, below the surface. We were all blown away. Incredible! Afterward, it swam beneath our boat. We were able to follow its black back and white-striped pectoral fins through the surface of the water. We watched and, as it swam on its back, we clearly saw its white belly and the underside of its tail. If I hadn’t been so excited, I would be able to tell you if it was male or female! It continued the show for several minutes and then went back to its habitual behaviour. It was a unique and fortunate encounter for ten whale-watchers alone on the St. Lawrence." Humpback whale breaches There were three humpback whales in Gaspé Bay on Monday, May 27. One of them, described as gigantic by our on-the-spot observer, was jumping out of the water. One of the other two humpbacks accompanied the first with the same antics. The humpback whale remains an uncontested star among whales due to its exuberant behaviour. I want to know more Hal Whitehead: Why do whales breach? A king eider, duckling day-care and thousands of terns A king eider was spotted near Les Bergeronnes. This species of eider duck frequents the Lower North Shore, but rarely the Estuary. The bird in question was a male in nuptial plumage, very colourful. He may be accompanied by a female of the same species. According to local residents, this particular bird spent all of last summer in their area. This is an intriguing piece of information as king eiders usually nest in the far northern portion of the province of Quebec. Common eiders, present in large numbers in the St. Lawrence during the nesting period, have started to swim about with their offspring in floating duckling day-care centres. These consist of groups made up of several hens and all of their offspring. The hens take turns looking after the chicks. Thousands of common terns have been reported in the Estuary in recent days. Other species of interest in the area include common loons, red-throated loons, a few Wilson’s phalaropes and even a northern fulmar. 13 June 2002, vol. 6 no 23 The whales are feasting There have been numerous reports in recent days of fin whales and minke whales feeding, to the great delight of our observers. Gaping mouths, pectoral fins and halves of tails cleaving the surface of the water, ventral pouches appearing out of nowhere and whales rolling and splashing were all part of the action at Port-au-Persil, Pointe Mistassini, Pointe-des-Monts, Gallix, Sept-Îles, Mingan and Mont-Saint-Pierre in Gaspésie. Whale watchers on the water on June 11 near Les Bergeronnes were treated to the sight of an active pair of fin whales feeding near the surface. Abundant krill made the surface boil. One of the fin whales came up in a ventral position, as opposed to laterally (side feeding), which is more typical of this species. Its wide-open mouth was therefore not sideways, but right side up, like an enormous swimming pool. Amazed passengers were clearly able to see the glutton's baleen plates. One of the fin whales also brought its tail out of the water, which is very unusual for this species. Other remarkable behaviour that was observed; minke whales jumping completely out of the water near Percé last week and near Pointe Mistassini this week. Ready to swim off by itself? A captain and an experienced naturalist lived a very memorable encA young fin whale was spotted on its own last Monday in the Tadoussac-Les Escoumins area. Calves are usually seen near their mothers. This one, however, was a fair way off from the nearest group of fin whales. We know that a cow\calf pair of fin whales has been present in the area for some time now. Was this the same calf, or a new individual? Could it be ready to be weaned, or was this simply a brief foray while its mother was off feeding? Knowing, as we do, that fin whales calve between the months of November and January, and that nursing lasts six or seven months, it is possible that this young whale is ready to swim off by itself. Another beached whale A minke whale became entangled in lobster pot lines last June 8 near Grande-Rivière. A Fisheries and Oceans Canada officer was able to free it successfully. The whale swam off, albeit feebly. On June 10, it finally came ashore, dead, on the beach at Sainte-Thérèse-de-Gaspé. The carcass was identified by the marks left by the lobster pot lines. It turned out to be a female minke whale, 7.5 m in length. May Neptune rest her soul. 20 June 2002, vol. 6 no 24 The mystery of the sperm whale A sperm whale that was prowling off Les Bergeronnes on Tuesday, June 18 was spotted by a naturalist from the rocks at Cap-de-Bon-Désir. Several boat captains also saw it over the course of the day. It was re-sighted on Wednesday, June 19, once again near Cap-de-Bon-Désir, and then at Cave Cove and off the wharf at Les Escoumins near the end of that same afternoon. Members of the GREMM (Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals) research team were dispatched to the scene. Pictures were taken that allowed them to confirm the whale’s identity. It turned out to be Tryphon. This whale has been sighted on a regular basis since 1991. It was still off Les Escoumins and Cap-de-Bon-Désir on the afternoon of Thursday, June 20. Sperm whales are easily identified as such by their oblique spouts, their resemblance to logs floating at the surface and their habit of bringing their tails out of the water as they dive. Sperm whales generally grace us with their presence three of four times every summer. They never hang around very long, at most a few days. These cetaceans are usually found near the great abysses of the open ocean. Why, then, do they often adventure into the same area of the St. Lawrence Estuary? That remains a mystery. The first dolphins Four Atlantic white-sided dolphins were seen near Bonaventure Island last June 12. These are the first sightings of this species in the St. Lawrence this year. Atlantic white-sided dolphins frequent the Gulf of St. Lawrence in summer. They are often seen in groups of up to several hundred animals. Here’s hoping that the friends of these four scouts show up soon. The Mingan seals As many as 200 harp seals have been spotted in the Mingan Archipelago in recent days, in groups of 20 to 25 at a time. They were occasionally accompanied by a superb ballet of gulls. The birds were taking advantage of the same food source that incited the seals to remain in the St. Lawrence in spite of the season. This species visits the St. Lawrence in winter, but usually leaves our waters in favour of those off Greenland when summer arrives. In recent years, however, harp seals have been sighted in the St. Lawrence even in summer. Approximately one hundred grey seals were also present in the Archipelago. This species spends the whole summer in the St. Lawrence. Another species, the hooded seals, was spotted off Gallix, near Sept-Îles. Generally a winter visitor to the Gulf, young wandering hooded seals sometimes stay for part of the summer. Baby-lugas Beluga whales are born from June to September and are easily recognizable by their small size and distinctive colour. Beluga whales are pale brown or grey at birth. Between the age of one and two years they are a dark blue-grey and are referred to as bleuvets. They then take on the grey coloration of juveniles. They turn white between five and seven years of age, when they become adults. Land-based observation sites up-stream from Tadoussac, like Pointe-Noire or Sainte-Marguerite Bay in the Saguenay, are good places to observe females accompanied by their calves. It is even possible to catch a glimpse of a newborn calf. It is also possible to observe them at sea, keep in mind, however, that you must maintain a distance of 400 m between yourself and beluga whales. This is to avoid possible disturbance, a risk factor for the recovery of this endangered population. 27 June 2002, vol. 6 no 25 The world’s largest restaurant Observers have witnessed spectacular surface feeding scenes in recent days in the Estuary. Gaping mouths, ventral grooves, pectoral fins and tail halves of fin whales protruded and paraded gracefully by impressed whale watchers. Some were even able to perceive the baleen plates of these giants. A blue whale and a humpback whale were also seen feeding at the surface. Krill and capelin were pushing and shoving to get out of the way. Are schools of krill and capelin more abundant this year, or are they distributed differently? Whatever the case may be, the activity engendered by their presence is quite spectacular. The secret sex life of the beluga: part of the veil has been lifted On the morning of June 26, near the mouth of the Saguenay, observers witnessed the extraordinary sight of beluga whales engaged in sexual behaviour. Between four and eight belugas were involved in intense physical contact for about half an hour. Beluga heads, tails, pectoral fins and pink penises appeared at the surface among the splashes of water. These sexual games culminated in mating as the white bodies of these cetaceans rolled over each other. Up until now, only rare sightings of belugas engaged in sexual behaviour have been reported. In September of 1989, for example, a group of researchers photographed a similar event. This time, the scene was captured on video. This sighting will allow us to lift the veil on the secret sex life of the beluga. It also raises many questions. Does mating occur more often at the surface or below? Did we witness the exception or the rule? Beluga whales live in the St. Lawrence year round. All aspects of their lives, feeding, social interaction, mating and calving, take place here. It is important to remember that we are intruders in their natural surroundings. As a rule, all boats must maintain a respectful distance of 400 m from beluga whales in order to limit disturbance. Those endearing harbour porpoises Harbour porpoises are the smallest cetaceans in the St. Lawrence. They are also the most discrete. They often pass by without being seen. However they are faithful visitors from June to September. Identifiable by their characteristic triangle-shaped dorsal fins that speed by rapidly and furtively, they are almost always seen in small groups. Occasionally, a calf is seen at its mother’s side. Our observers in the Gulf spotted numerous harbour porpoises this past week. 4 July 2002, vol. 6 no 26 Those amazing minke whales Minke whales are the most faithful visitors to the St. Lawrence. They are present everywhere along its shores and are often full of surprises for whale watchers. Their surface feeding behaviour is particularly acrobatic in nature. Minke whale breaches (leaps above the water’s surface) are reported on a regular basis in different areas of the Gulf and Estuary. The ORES research group, based in Les Bergeronnes, studies the minke whales of the St. Lawrence. Since they began the research in 1978, they have identified 258 individuals in this area. This year, ORES researchers have noted the return of such remarkable animals as Broken Fin, Loca, El International, Sansfin, Drapeau and Honeycomb, among others. An undercover shark A beached beluga whale was reported in Les Bergeronnes on the morning of Wednesday, July 3. On closer examination, the carcass was identified as that of a shark! The advanced state of decomposition of the specimen made identification difficult, which explains this misidentification. This undercover fish turned out to be a Greenland shark. This species is known to live in both the St. Lawrence River and the Saguenay Fjord, however sightings are very rare. The carcass that was discovered on Wednesday was 1.8 metres in length. This carnivore can grow to seven metres. Not to worry, though, this bottom dwelling shark is not a danger for humans. I want to know more The whale news network (archives): 14 February 2002 bulletin, Skalugsuak II Feats that never cease to amaze us An observer from Gaspé witnessed one of the most impressive feats that a whale can offer. On June 27, two humpback whales were jumping clear out of the water. This took place near the Saint-Georges Cove wharf in Forillon National Park. They breached a total of fifteen times. Twice they jumped simultaneously. On June 28, a humpback whale gave a repeat performance, solo this time. I want to know more Hal Whitehead : Why do whales breach? 11 July 2002, vol. 6 no 27 Smokey the whale The St. Lawrence was covered in smoke this week as a result of forest fires burning in Northern Quebec. Visibility was reduced on the water and the smell of fire was in the air. Rain and fog added to the mix in Gaspésie, Mingan, Sept-Îles and elsewhere, further reducing visibility. In other regions the hazy sky gave a diffuse reddish tinge to the sun. Despite these difficult conditions, our collaborators succeeded in making some great whale sightings once again this week. A timid shark A basking shark was reported near Bonaventure Island last weekend and another (or maybe the same) was seen off Cape Gaspé on Monday. This species is seen on a regular basis in the St. Lawrence. Second only in size to the whale shark, the basking shark can grow to as much as 15 metres in length and weigh up to 5 tonnes. Those found in the St. Lawrence average 8 to 10 metres in length. The basking shark is not at all dangerous; it is a plankton eater. Our observers spotted it basking at the surface and, as they approached, the shark demonstrated its timid nature by diving. What’s the fuss? A humpback whale slapped its tail against the water’s surface around 25 times in Gaspé. We do not yet know the reason for this type of behaviour. Is it to signal its presence to other whales? Is it aggressive behaviour? Is it a hunting tactic used to assemble prey? There is nearly as much conjecture as there were splashes. Just like old friends We recognize individual whales through the study of distinct characteristics like coloration patterns, dorsal fin shapes and scars. Some animals are well known and return every year. Two good examples of this are the fin whale known as Capitaine Crochet (Captain Hook) and the humpback whale known as TicTacToe. Both of which were seen in the Tadoussac area last week. They are kind of like old friends. TicTacToe can be easily identified by an X on the ventral side of its tail. Capitaine Crochet is recognizable by her hook-shaped dorsal fin. These identifications, well documented on film and with detailed data, allow researchers to better understand the whales that frequent our waters. The catalogue of fin whales of the St. Lawrence Estuary, published last summer by the GREMM, is an effective tool for this type of work. Among other interesting details, this catalogue reveals that more than a quarter of the individual whales identified in the Estuary are seasonal residents, like Capitaine Crochet, while others are more or less regular visitors. 18 July 2002, vol. 6 no 28 Researchers in the Gulf Being a researcher in the Gulf of St. Lawrence is not an easy task. In recent days wind and fog have prevented MICS (Mingan Island Cetacean Study) researchers from heading out in search of whales as often as they would have liked. Nonetheless, they still managed numerous sightings of grey seals, harbour porpoises and minke whales in the Archipelago. Some members of the team also went off to explore the Gaspésie region. There they managed to identify several blue whales, fin whales and humpback whales. Splish, Tracks, Whip and Tingley, all well known humpback whales, were among those they encountered. Photo identification work is the foundation of whale research. It can lead to further studies of herds, frequentation habits, individual behaviour and so forth. Right whales and petrels Three right whales were seen near Percé on the weekend. The North Atlantic right whale is threatened with extinction. Less than 350 of them remain. Right whales have been sighted regularly around Percé over the past few years. This first sighting of the year was of a female with two young whales. Recognizable by their distinctive markings, these individual whales will be identified with the help of the North Atlantic right whale catalogue, which is a photographic record of representatives of this endangered population. Several hundred Wilson’s storm-petrels were also in the Percé area. These small, dark birds feed at the surface in flight. They appear to be walking on water as they hover, sliding their feet on the surface. Many of them were seen in the wakes of the right whales. Wild humpbacks Whale sightings in the Estuary were absolutely extraordinary this week. Minke and fin whales were surface feeding along with the more rarely observed humpback whales. These last were seen emerging from the water vertically like candles, then closing their mouths and submerging in the same manner. Other feeding techniques were also reported, such as the humpback whale that broke the surface on its side. Breaches and tail slapping were also observed. One humpback whale swam up a short distance into the Saguenay Fjord, an area rarely visited by this species. To what do we owe the presence of these animals in our area? We know that it is an area where food abounds, but has there been a change in the source of food this year? Research missions conducted in recent weeks by Fisheries and Oceans Canada should clear up this question. Oh, yes! To top it all off, three humpback whales were seen together, diving and fluking up one after the other in the space of a few seconds. Beautiful! 25 July 2002, vol. 6 no 29 Wayward belugas Two belugas were spotted far from their summer range: one near Cap Gaspé on July 14, and the other off Magpie on the North Shore on July 23. Belugas are more likely to be found further upstream, in the St. Lawrence Estuary, in summer. However, some of them become wanderers on occasion. Canary of the sea During summer, St. Lawrence belugas also occupy a portion of the Saguenay Fjord. They swim upstream at least as far as Sainte-Marguerite Bay where they are often seen active, in groups, at the surface. These groups are sometimes very noisy, hence the nickname "canary of the sea". This week, observers in Sainte-Marguerite Bay heard belugas emitting a variety of sounds reminiscent of trumpets and meowing. Nocturnal outing One of our observers told us of her nocturnal outing to meet the whales. She watched as a fin whale slid beneath the waves to engulf its prey under the light of a full moon. On another occasion, she witnessed a humpback whale feeding in the long reflection of the moon on the water. So, what do whales do at night? They are occasionally known to feed on krill as it swims up from the depths under a night-time sky. Rambunctious porpoises Another one of our observers reported seeing a small group of rambunctious porpoises. One of the animals appeared to be smacking a companion with its tail. The victim jumped completely out of the water on its side. A game? It’s hard to say really. We can but interpret from a human perspective. Sperm whale at Pointe-des-Monts A sperm whale was spotted at Pointe-des-Monts last weekend. Observers noted an oblique blow, a mass that appeared to be floating at the surface between blows, which were numerous, and a tail that rose above the surface as the animal finally dove. Sperm whale dives are usually very long; it is normal to lose sight of them for more than a half an hour. Sperm whales visit the Estuary sporadically every summer. They are more often sighted between Les Bergeronnes and Les Escoumins. Pointe-des-Monts now appears to be another area where they can be seen as they adventure into the Estuary. Another sperm whale (or maybe the same one?) was seen in this area on Monday as well. 1 August 2002, vol. 6 no 30 Dolphins! Approximately 150 Atlantic white-sided dolphins have been spotted in the Gaspé area. The white-sided dolphin is one of the two species of dolphin that visit the St. Lawrence. The other, less common species is the white-beaked dolphin. As it turns out, two representatives of this species were spotted by passengers aboard a cruise boat off Percé. This was only the third sighting in 10 years for our observers in the area. A third white-beaked dolphin was seen in the Mingan area by a team of researchers from the MICS. Right whale encore No less than seven right whales were spotted last Sunday near Percé. Some of them were seen later in the week, among them were a female with its calf. A right whale was also seen near Mingan on Tuesday, July 30. Right whale sightings are rare. It is always encouraging to be visited by representatives of this endangered species. I want to know more The whale news network, 18 July bulletin Basking shark A basking shark was spotted off Gallix, near Sept-Îles. Our observer estimates that the specimen in question was between 9 and 10 metres in length, or the equivalent of twice the length of his boat! He watched as it fed, filtering plankton for a couple of hours near the surface. He spotted it again the following day in the same area; he had just sighted a humpback whale when the basking shark suddenly surfaced off his stern. Another basking shark was seen off Port-Cartier. Three other basking sharks were seen in Gaspésie this week. I want to know more The whale news network, 11 July bulletin A sperm whale in the land of the Sagouine A live sperm whale beached itself near Bouctouche, in the land of the Sagouine in New Brunswick, on July 22. The 10-metre long animal was in approximately one metre of water. Fisheries officers attempted to push the whale into deeper water, without success. The sperm whale finally died around 5:30 p.m. The carcass rapidly deteriorated; researchers were not able to conduct analyses. Last December a live sperm whale had beached itself on Prince Edward Island. It died several days later. It is believed that these cetaceans, more at home in very deep water, become disoriented when they enter shallow water. I want to know more The whale news network, 13 December 2002 bulletin Charlevoix whales Belugas and minke whales are regulars in the Charlevoix region. Our trusty observers from this area reported beluga whales with their offspring along with a minke whale that was seen breaching this week. As a bonus this week, six fin whales were spotted between Baie-des-Rochers and Tête au Chien Cape. This species rarely adventures so far upstream. Was the food supply more appetizing in this area? Harbour porpoises were also seen off Saint-Siméon. 8 August 2002, vol. 6 no 31 Mingan and Blanc-Sablon What follows is whale news from these two regions of the Gulf. Researchers from MICS worked very hard this week off Mingan. They encountered three blue whales, around fifteen fin whales and eight humpback whales. Several of these whales were successfully identified. Numerous minke whales were seen feeding at the surface, while hundreds of harbour porpoises and over one thousand grey seals were also spotted. A right whale is still present in the area. Some members of the MICS team made their way to Blanc-Sablon to pay a visit to the humpback whales. They estimated their numbers at over 150 animals in this region! They also sighted white-sided dolphins, white-beaked dolphins, minke whales and harbour porpoises. Wow! The travelling Souffleur Exchanges of photos and information between the GREMM and the MICS have revealed that the humpback whale named Souffleur (Mn1) has covered a lot of territory in recent weeks. During the month of July it was photographed in the Estuary by GREMM researchers on several occasions, July 22 among them near Tadoussac. On July 31 it was in the Gulf, near Mingan, where the MICS managed to photograph it and obtain a biopsy. It was again photographed near Mingan on August 1 and then off Tadoussac on August 6. That’s a round trip of nearly 1200 km in less than fifteen days! Curious heads Grey seals can often be seen swimming among the whales. Usually solitary, sometimes in small groups, they are always an added bonus to any excursion. When you see their curious heads pop up, make the best of it : grey seals spend only about 9 % of their time at the surface when they are at sea. They then dive deep for somewhere between 8 to 15 minutes. Grey seals are presently feeding in the St. Lawrence. 15 August 2002, vol. 6 no 32 All washed up What follows is news concerning recent whale strandings. After the fin whale at Newport, the blue whale at Caplan and the minke whale at Sainte-Thérèse-de-Gaspé reported stranded early on in the season, other minke whales have been discovered on beaches along the St. Lawrence. One was found at Sainte-Anne-de-Portneuf on June 10, another at Sept-Îles on June 13, one on the Magdalene Islands around June 14, one at Chandler on July 1 and three near Natashquan on July 28, 29 and 30. A beached fin whale was reported at Anse Pleureuse in Gaspésie on August 8. It is very difficult to evaluate the causes of these deaths. In certain cases we suspect ship strikes or entanglement in fishing gear. Death could also be from natural causes. A baby Camel The most well known blue whale of the Estuary, Chameau (Camel in English) was seen on August 8 in the area near Bic accompanied by a calf. Chameau, a female that has been on file since 1991, is recognizable by a deep depression in her back that leaves one with the impression that there are two whales instead of one. She had never been seen with a calf before. According to data from the MICS, she is the twelfth female blue whale to be photographed with a calf in the St. Lawrence. The team from Meriscope are to thank for documenting this most recent event. A tropical seabird visits the St. Lawrence This week our observers from Pointe-des-Monts report having seen a bird whose presence in the St. Lawrence is exceptional, to say the least. They spotted a magnificent frigatebird, a marine species that lives generally in the Gulf of Mexico and in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. A large bird with a wingspan of as much as 2.4 m, it soars with ease. Its angular wings are very long and it has a forked tail. Its beak is long and hook-shaped. The male is black with a bright red gular pouch, or throat sack. The female is black with a white breast and a dark head. The individual spotted this week was a female. Surface feeding whales There are regular reports these days of rorqual type whales feeding at the surface. For example, this week near Godbout, three fin whales were seen feeding near the ferry wharf, which is rare for this area. During these feeding bouts, the animals break the surface on their sides, turn, produce eddies and point their pectoral fins skyward along with half of their tails. This type of behaviour can confuse someone who is new to whale watching. As a matter of fact, recently some visitors to the area thought they had witnessed two killer whales attacking a blue whale in the Estuary. Actually, the blue whale was all alone and was simply in the process of eating at the surface, with gusto! 22 August 2002, vol. 6 no 33 A live pilot whale beaches itself near Rimouski On August 16 a live pilot whale became stranded near Rimouski. It turned out to be a young male, measuring 2.8 metres long. It had been spotted swimming with difficulty offshore. Two attempts were made to return the animal to deeper water, however it came back to the shore each both times. A team from the Maurice Lamontagne Institute eventually euthanized the whale. A necropsy was performed and the cause of the stranding has yet to be determined; microscopic analysis of tissues is still underway. Pilot whales rarely swim upstream into the St. Lawrence Estuary, they more commonly frequent the Gulf. All washed up, the sequel A white-sided dolphin was found floating dead in the Mingan archipelago. A boat from Mingan National Park transported it to Havre-Saint-Pierre. A team from the MICS dissected the carcass and samples were sent to the MLI for analysis. It turned out to be a 2-metre-long female. Another white-sided dolphin beached on Anticosti Island, a harbour porpoise was discovered beached at Sainte-Anne-des-Monts on August 13 and a minke whale at Pointe-aux-Outardes on the North Shore on August 17. Comical rest A humpback whale (Le Souffleur) was caught snoozing off Les Bergeronnes. The whale didn't even twitch when two seagulls landed on its back. Later, a Bonaparte's gull also came to rest on the mastodon's back, only to be showered with spray when the whale exhaled. Whale watchers had a good laugh at the expense of the gull as it shook off its feathers. It is believed that cetaceans rest with only one half of their brain unconscious at a time. The birds did not appear to have much trouble deceiving the semi-vigilant animal! On their feeding grounds, such as in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, humpback whales often sleep by "logging". During their mating season, this type of behaviour is rare. It’s a good thing that humpback whales don’t have to worry about sunburn! Three males and a baby GREMM researchers made a very special sighting last Thursday. Working off Les Bergeronnes with a dispersed group of beluga whales, they were especially interested in a small group of three well-known male belugas: Jasper, Cumulus and B-Sea. After a while spent with these animals they were very surprised to note that the adult males were accompanied by a newborn beluga calf! The presence of foetal folds on the animal's skin confirmed that it was a brand new baby. What was it doing there? Adult males usually frequent the area of the Laurentian Channel, while female beluga whales with their offspring are to be found further upstream. For this species where gender segregation is common, the young are always with their mothers. The three male beluga whales appeared to spend more time at the surface than they normally would, probably to give the little guy a chance. Not surprisingly, the researchers are at a loss to explain this event. These whales are still full of surprises. 29 August 2002, vol. 6 no 34 Intimate right whales Right whales are still hanging out near Percé. As many as seven of them were spotted this week. Their behaviour left observers breathless. They could be seen floating on their backs and slapping their pectoral fins against the surface. Two animals were snuggled up real close, rolling over each other; one of them put its head on the other's belly. As you may have guessed, this type of behaviour is associated with reproduction. Observers even admitted that they felt a little indiscreet! An important visitor Friday, August 16 was rather exceptional in the Tadoussac area. A right whale swam up the St. Lawrence and was observed at the mouth of the Saguenay River for part of the afternoon. It was not seen afterwards. Right whales have been observed regularly in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, near Percé and Mingan, in recent years. However, in the St. Lawrence Estuary, the only recent sightings of this species were made in 1998. An important visitor indeed! The Mingan humpback whales The humpback whale swims under the boat… observers can follow its movements through the transparent water… it gathers speed… and explodes into the air 400 metres from the boat! This was the scene for members of the MICS (Mingan Island Cetacean Study) conducting research in the Mingan and Anticosti regions. In all, ten humpback whales were spotted in the area. Some of them are well-known individuals such as the ever-faithful Fleuret and Gronier, and Fissure and her calf, along with Stalagmite who was responsible for the show described above. Two female humpbacks also came to meet the boats, passing beneath and slapping the surface with their pectoral fins. Also present in the area were some 300 grey seals, several hundred harbour porpoises, around sixty minke whales, approximately ten fin whales and two blue whales. And, of course, several very satisfied whale watchers. 5 September 2002, vol. 6 no 35 Belugas rest in peace Fourteen beluga carcasses have been found either beached or adrift in the St. Lawrence since the beginning of the season. Seven of them were fresh enough to undergo necropsies. They were transported by truck to the University of Montreal’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Saint-Hyacinthe. Tissue samples were taken for analysis from the seven other carcasses that were not fresh enough. The health of the endangered St. Lawrence beluga population continues to be a cause for concern. Fifteen carcasses are discovered every year on average. Necropsies and tissue samples help researchers to determine cause of death. Pointe-des-Monts: daily "rorqualesque" shows Pointe-des-Monts is an ideal place to go minke whale watching. Observers from this area have been fortunate enough to spot minke whales on almost a daily basis. Black backs surmounted by curved dorsal fins, blows, bouts of surface feeding, breaches; this type of behaviour is often observed very near the shore. The minke whale is an animal that ranges in length from six to ten metres. It is present throughout the St. Lawrence. Being a coastal species, it is frequently spotted from land. If you happen to be travelling a road that is parallel to either shore of the St. Lawrence, keep a sharp eye out! You may be lucky enough to encounter this rapid and dynamic rorqual-type whale. The dolphin: always a favourite! A dolphin bounding across the waves is one of the most joyous cetacean sightings there is. A young whale watcher from Sept-Îles was filled with awe at the sight of two dolphins on the evening of August 30. The sea was calm and he spotted them breaching in Sept-Îles Bay. A cruise operator confirmed the presence of three white-beaked dolphins in the area. This species is an occasional visitor to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The Atlantic white-sided dolphin is the other species present in our waters. Approximately one hundred Atlantic white-sided dolphins were spotted off Percé on Saturday, August 31 and off Gaspé on Sunday, September 1. A final boat ride The carcass of a fin whale was found pinned across the bow of a cargo vessel on the morning of September 3 off Les Escoumins. It was the captain of the pilot boat that made the discovery. He manoeuvred with the cargo ship to free the animal from the ship’s stem. The carcass then drifted two nautical miles offshore. It was sighted later in the day some six nautical miles off Les Escoumins. Members of GREMM’s research team were dispatched to retrieve skin and blubber samples and to take a few pictures. Other photos taken by the captain of a whale-watching vessel, along with underwater video taken by ORES researchers may help in the identification. Was this animal one of the well-known fin whales that make up the GREMM’s photo-identification catalogue? This incident is not the first of its kind in the St. Lawrence. A cargo vessel once dragged a whale in the same manner all the way to Montreal! 12 September 2002, vol. 6 no 36 Pieces of a puzzle Although the Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS) is based in Mingan, they are not limited to this area. Mobile research teams from MICS attempt to cover many various regions of the St. Lawrence. Their sighting reports of the week were sent from Mingan, Anticosti and Sainte-Anne-de-Portneuf (refer to this week’s Map of Weekly Sightings on www.whales-online.net). Some of their researchers also made a trip to the South Shore to cover the area between Matane and Les Méchins. They encountered seven well-known blue whales that hadn’t been seen yet this year, with the exception of one that had been sighted in Gaspésie. They also spotted a sperm whale. Unfortunately they were not able to photograph it. Was it the famous Tryphon that had recently visited the Estuary? They also identified the humpback whale known as Tic-Tac-Toe, a regular in the Tadoussac area. After having spent part of the summer there, Tic-Tac-Toe had been re-sighted near Sainte-Anne-de-Portneuf and, with this most recent sighting, further downstream. All in all it was a pretty good harvest of observations! The whales of the Peninsula Our observers from Gaspé had their fill of whale sightings this week. They encountered as many as nine fin whales, two blue whales, three humpback whales, five minke whales, 100 harbour porpoises and 350 Atlantic white-sided dolphins while cruising the area. Although there are usually whales present off Cape Gaspé, they are also sometimes seen in Gaspé Bay where they can be spotted from land. If you add to this the sight of the ocean blue topped by the occasional whitecap breaking in the wind under a September sun, the result is the enchanting Peninsula at its best. Where is Chameau’s calf? Chameau (Camel in English), the well-known female blue whale, has been present in the Estuary for several weeks now. She was accompanied by her calf, which is a rare sighting in the St. Lawrence Estuary. That said, the young whale has not been seen for the last fifteen days. This prolonged absence far from the mother is troubling. According to Richard Sears of MICS, the relatively small size of the calf suggests a very recent birth; likely in June. This hypothesis is supported by sightings by boat captains who had spotted Chameau on her own in May. Seeing as how calving for blue whales usually takes place between the months of December and February, this case is extraordinary. Calves sighted in the St. Lawrence are usually about to be weaned, as nursing tends to last around seven months. In the case of Chameau’s calf, given the young age of the animal, it would be surprising if it had been weaned. Could it have perished? The colour of a whale’s blow Our observers from Saint-Siméon in the Charlevoix region recently recounted one of their most beautiful sightings of the summer. There were three fin whales in front of their house at the closing of the day, just before sunset. Fog hung over the River. The three whales surfaced mere metres from their front deck. Rainbow colours appeared in the mist of the blow of one of the whales. Pure poetry. A jumping shark! Our observer from Sept-Îles witnessed some exceptional behaviour from a basking shark off Gallix this past week: the shark was jumping completely out of the water. It repeated this performance ten times in a row. This shark, which feeds on plankton, generally measures between eight and ten metres long in Quebec waters, but it can grow to as much as fifteen metres elsewhere in the world. Why was it behaving this way? Experts are at a loss. The only species of shark known to jump in this manner is the shortfin mako shark, apparently to rid itself of parasites. Great white sharks off the coast of South Africa have also been known to jump to stun their prey. Last summer observers form Gaspésie also witnessed a basking shark jump completely out of the water. The mystery remains. 19 September 2002, vol. 6 no 37 Sunfish Ocean sunfish (Mola mola in Latin) have been seen off Natashquan and Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan this summer. This fish has an oval—shaped body, a large dorsal fin and a large anal fin, but no caudal fin. It measures around one to one and one half metres in length and weighs around 100 to 200 kilograms. Some specimens can attain 3.4 metres in length and weigh as much as 900 kilograms. It is often seen sunning itself at the surface, hence the name. The ocean sunfish is occasionally reported in the St. Lawrence. It is present around the world in tropical and temperate waters. Warm water currents bring the sunfish that find their way into the St. Lawrence. This year, the particularly warm water recorded in certain areas favoured its presence. The ocean sunfish feeds mainly on jellyfish. Leatherback turtle Fishermen from Havre-Saint-Pierre spotted a leatherback turtle. This sighting is as rare as spotting a sunfish in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The leatherback is the largest turtle in the world. It is easy to identify by its dorsal ridges (between five and seven of them) visible on the surface of its leathery carapace, and by its very long fins. It usually measures over one and one half metres in length and generally weighs over half a tonne. The largest specimen on record was 3 metres long and weighed 900 kilograms. It feeds mainly on jellyfish, which can be a problem: it often eats plastic bags and other detritus that resemble its food. An epic traveller, it is the only marine turtle to feed in cold waters. A final boat ride… the conclusion The fin whale that was discovered across the bow of a cargo vessel off Les Escoumins on September 3 finally came ashore at Ragueneau on the North Shore around September 9. After samples were taken on September 3, the carcass was left to drift. The carcass seen off Rimouski on Friday, September 6 is believed to have been that of the same whale. On Monday, September 9, a fin whale carcass beached off Ragueneau. Photos have confirmed that it was the same whale seen floating off Les Escoumins. The series of photos and the video footage taken on September 3 did not enable researchers to identify this fin whale as an animal known to the GREMM research team. It was not one of the "regulars" of the Estuary. It may have been a fin whale that frequented the Gulf; the cargo likely struck it in the Gulf. Thus ends the saga of the unlucky fin whale. 26 September 2002, vol. 6 no 38 Sperm whale in the mist A sperm whale was spotted on Wednesday, September 18, between Pointe-à-Boisvert and Sainte-Anne-de-Portneuf. Then, on Friday, September 20, naturalists from Cap-de-Bon-Désir also saw one through the fog. We believe that it was likely the ever-faithful Tryphon. The first sighting of this whale dates back to 1991 when it earned its nickname based on the famous professor Tryphon Tournesol from the Tintin comic book series. Its tail has notches that resemble sunflower seeds (tournesol is French for sunflower). Proof that researchers are not short on imagination! Tryphon was also seen downstream from Les Escoumins on August 27. On this occasion, the GREMM’s research team managed to extract a biopsy sample that will be useful in proving, among other things, that Tryphon is a male sperm whale. Sperm whales found at these latitudes are generally males searching for good feeding grounds. The females and the young of the species can usually be found in warmer waters, near the equator. Still in the mist… This week, observers from Percé witnessed an amazing sight: five minke whales surface feeding in a fog bank, surrounded by about fifty grey seals. To top it off, 200 to 300 northern gannets were diving in as well. There was surely a major concentration of fish in the area. An encounter with dolphins The same observers from Percé also had a great encounter with Atlantic white-sided dolphins. The small cetaceans followed their boat, swimming in and out of its wake. Observers occasionally spotted a tail coming out of the water. White-sided dolphins were also seen in Gaspé Bay. They actually swam right into the Bay; observers sighted them beyond Cap-aux-Os. Five more representatives of this same species were also reported at Pointe-des-Monts. Seals on command A captain from the Tadoussac area relates a recent encounter with a harbour seal. To put the story in its proper context, among the passengers that had embarked for the whale-watching cruise were two young girls who wanted to see… seals. Well, believe it or not, a solitary harbour seal apparently adopted the boat and tagged along for most of the cruise. It swam around the boat, gazing at the passengers. Needless to say, the girls were delighted. 3 October 2002, vol. 6 no 39 Flocks of birds The St. Lawrence is not just home to whales, it is also the domain of birds; ever-present elements of the seascape. This week the birds stole the show. Whale distribution is detailed on the map of weekly sightings. The birds of the Estuary Birders have been particularly fortunate in recent days. Hundreds of eider ducks, along with several razorbills and puffins, were seen near Sainte-Anne-de-Portneuf. Oldsquaws have arrived for their winter stay in the Estuary. Many species of marine ducks frequent the Gulf and Estuary during the coldest months of the year. Further along the North Shore… Our observer from Gallix also reported an abundance of birds. Black-legged kittiwakes were seen feeding near the shoals among the grey seals. Parasitic jaegers pursued them relentlessly forcing them to drop, or even regurgitate, their catch of fish. Also present were eiders, common murres, immature northern gannets in their speckled plumage, loons and puffins. Cormorants gathered in flocks and northern harriers patrolled the dunes. Large numbers of black-legged kittiwakes were spotted near Mingan. A carpet of scoters Our observer from Sainte-Anne-de-Portneuf described a scene that he’d never before witnessed. The water was covered with thousands of surf scoters, giving him the impression that the sea was covered with an enormous carpet. The birds were so densely packed that they did not have enough room to take off all at once. The flapping of their wings produced a deafening sound and kicked up a breeze. At Gallix, near Sept-Îles, there were also huge agglomerations of all three species of scoter (surf, white-winged and black). Black scoters are flocking together near Percé in groups of 30 to 50. These birds will spend the winter in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and on the Atlantic coast. Powerful claws and hooked beaks Migrating birds of prey were numerous at the mouth of the Saguenay last weekend. Naturalists from Pointe-Noire spotted well over a dozen American kestrels, a peregrine falcon, a merlin, an osprey, a northern harrier and various other hawks and falcons. The mouth of the Saguenay is known as one of the main migration routes for birds of prey in North America. Approximately 20 000 birds of prey fly over this area every fall. Marine mammal? A visitor to the area thought he saw a seal in Sainte-Catherine Bay, at the mouth of the Saguenay… a miniature seal. In fact it turned out to be an otter! There are no sea otters on the Atlantic coast of the continent; however, river otters sometimes venture forth into salt water. 10 October 2002, vol. 6 no 40 An autumnal giant While cruising near Percé, observers spotted a blue whale feeding near the surface. The whale would dive for just a few minutes and then come up in the middle of a cloud of krill. Black-legged kittiwakes were also present for the feast. Earlier this fall these same observers experienced another wonderful encounter with one of these giants of the sea. A blue whale emerged from the depths, right beside their boat. They were able to see the entire animal from tip to tail through the transparent water. Then, to top it all off, the whale brought its enormous flukes out of the water as it dove. The blue whale is an endangered species; there are less than 250 mature animals in the Atlantic Canada population. It is a rare privilege to observe them! Very small cetaceans Although quite discrete, harbour porpoises are ever present throughout the St. Lawrence. Mothers with calves have been seen on occasion. Harbour porpoise carcasses have been found on the beaches of Les Escoumins on August 30, Mingan on September 3, Tadoussac on September 9, again Les Escoumins on October 1 and also Les Mechins on October 1. The carcasses were all sent to the Maurice Lamontagne Institute as part of an ongoing study of the St. Lawrence porpoises. Among other data, researchers note the gender, age, physical condition and diet of these cetaceans. Rorqual whale strandings More minke whale carcasses have washed up on beaches along the St. Lawrence since our column entitled All washed up, in mid-August. One was discovered near îlets Jérémy on August 23, another at Cap-au-Renard (near Sainte-Anne-des-Monts) on September 17, a third on September 19 at Moisie and, finally, at Petit-Matane on October 1. This last carcass was marked by a deep cut wound across the back, probably caused by a boat propeller. Believe it or not, the fin whale carcass that was discovered across the bow of a cargo vessel and then floated from Les Escoumins to Ragueneau where it came ashore (see A final boat ride), went adrift once again. It was reported off Pointe-Manicouagan and then off Baie-Comeau before it once more crossed the River. It was spotted off Rimouski on Sunday, September 29, only to come ashore on Tuesday, October 1 at Sainte-Flavie on the South Shore, near the Maurice Lamontagne Institute. Its resting-place was hard to get to and far from any human habitation. The carcass was therefore left alone once again. It floated at high tide and finally came ashore, this time at Grand-Métis, (a never-ending story!) Authorities will probably take charge of the carcass at Grand-Métis. You may be wondering why they did not do so before. The handling of such an enormous carcass is not an easy matter. Sometimes, the area where the carcass comes ashore is completely inaccessible to the required machinery. For this reason, if the stranding site is far from any houses and the odour doesn’t bother anyone, nature is left to take its course. 17 October 2002, vol. 6 no 41 News of the runaway belugas This week we present you with an update on the solitary beluga whales that are exploring territories far removed from their habitual ranges (see bulletins dated May 9 and May 30). Dora and the sharks First off, the beluga that was spotted in Massachusetts Bay in early May was seen again on several occasions this past summer. Photos sent to GREMM researchers were useful in identifying this whale as a female beluga belonging to the St. Lawrence population. Her ID number is Dl481 and she was nicknamed Dora by one of our collaborators. She was observed on June 20, 3.5 miles off Plymouth, Massachusetts. A week earlier, a lobster fisherman had also spotted her off Plymouth. Around July 30, a boat captain reported seeing a beluga near Nanant, Massachusetts, not far from Plymouth. In mid-August Dora was re-sighted on Stellwagen Bank, and then off the tip of Cape Cod, near Provincetown, on August 19. On September 8, an observer spotted Dora accompanied by two basking sharks! The two sharks were swimming near the surface and the observers could see something white above them. Suddenly a beluga whale appeared between the two fish! This took place west of Stellwagen Bank. Dora appears to prefer areas where the substrate is hard and rocky, favourable habitat for lobster and lobster fishing. She likely appreciates the type of food that can be found in these areas. Casper-Echo mutilated Here is the latest news of Casper-Echo, the young male beluga from the Newfoundland area. He was nicknamed Casper when he spent time in the Saint Paul River on the Lower North Shore in 2001. The people of Codroy Harbour, Newfoundland renamed him Echo. This beluga was roaming around the port and socializing with humans… to his detriment. On July 31 he came too close to a boat propeller and suffered serious cuts to the head; he almost lost an eye. Casper-Echo left Codroy Harbour on August 14. He was not seen again until October 8 when he was reported near a small port approximately 50 km north of Codroy. His injuries appear to be healing well. Lenni on tour Lenni is a very sociable female beluga whale that has been hanging out in Newfoundland ports for three years in a row. She was sighted in Bonavista in May and then continued to travel north, along the East Coast of Newfoundland. She stopped in several villages along the way, which made for numerous opportunities to interact with humans. Lenni also often plays with objects (debris, seaweed, jellyfish, etc.) and often vocalizes at the surface. Unlike previous years when she stayed for extended periods in the same port, this year she covered a lot of territory. Could she be searching for something? The flip side of the coin Sociable beluga whales lose their wild animal instincts and become too trusting to ensure their own protection. Cathy Kinsman (Whale Stewardship Project) travels to Newfoundland ports to raise awareness about this particular problem. Casper-Echo was not the only beluga injured this summer. Another Newfoundland beluga, nicknamed Charlie Bubbles, was killed by a boat propeller. Dora does not appear to have developed sociable behaviour. Two other solitary beluga whales were reported this summer: one in Blanc-Sablon on July 13, another on the Coast of Labrador in September. I want to know more 24 October 2002, vol. 6 no 42 Windy Strong winds and waves made observations difficult along the St. Lawrence this week. Some areas even received snow last Saturday. Despite the inclement weather, several whale-watching vessels are still navigating with courageous passengers braving the cold. The most loyal of the St. Lawrence marine mammals are still present. Beluga whales are abundant, particularly at the mouth of the Saguenay and in the Charlevoix region. Minke whales have been sighted here and there all along the shores. Harbour porpoises are still plying the waves. And of course we can’t neglect to mention the grey seals with their big noses and the harbour seals with their little faces. As for bird sightings, our observer from Sainte-Anne-de-Portneuf reported seeing common murres, puffins, razorbills and northern gannets. A few big spouts were seen from shore at Pointe-des-Monts and Percé. Were they blue whales or fin whales? No one can say for sure. Around a dozen fin whales were also reported along the Lower North Shore in mid-October. 31 October 2002, vol. 6 no 43 Another solitary beluga After having read the October 17 bulletin concerning runaway belugas, one of our readers sent us some very interesting information. While on holidays in Nova Scotia, she spotted a solitary beluga from the beach at Jimtown in St. George’s Bay, near Antigonish. The beluga had been seen in the area for several days, sometimes within 100 metres of the shore. This special visit is reminiscent of a beluga whale named Wilma that had spent the summers of 1993 to 1999 not far from there, in Chedabucto Bay, Nova Scotia. I want to know more The whales of Halloween Two fin whales were sighted off Port-au-Persil in the Charlevoix region along with minke whales and a whole lot of belugas on Wednesday, October 23 and Thursday, October 24. On Sunday, October 27, our observers from the Les Bergeronnes–Les Escoumins area were eating brunch in a residence situated near Crapaud Cove when all of a sudden a gigantic blow appeared above the surface right in front of the house. A fin whale had arrived from the depths. It remained in the area for several hours along with a minke whale and several seals. At the Les Escoumins ferry dock, a minke whale performed at least ten full breaches on Tuesday, October 29. Minke whales, harbour porpoises and gulls were frolicking at Pointe-des-Monts. Large spouts could be seen in the distance at Percé. Seals, northern gannets, various birds of prey, harlequin ducks and even a couple of eagles were spotted from Bonaventure Island. No blows were seen from Gaspé, however a minke whale was swimming around near Grande-Grave. 7 November 2002, vol. 6 no 44 Minke whale or killer whale? Minke whales have been surface feeding in recent days. During these bouts, half of the animal’s body will break the surface before it falls back, either on its belly, side or back. The pale belly becomes visible, tinged pink due to increased blood flow as the animal exerts itself. Surface feeding minkes also perform lateral arcs near the surface. When they do this, a pectoral fin and half of the whale’s tail become visible. Many whale watchers mistake the tail half with the dorsal fin of a killer whale; the resemblance is quite striking. Between feeding manoeuvres the minke whale comes up to breathe normally, presenting its body in the classic manner: black back and falcate dorsal fin visible, pointing skyward. Whale watchers could get the wrong impression; that the minke whale is being hunted by a killer whale! Do not let yourself be fooled. It would be very surprising to see killer whales in the Estuary, and sightings of this species are rare even in the Gulf. November beachings A beluga whale carcass was discovered at Matane on Sunday, November 3. It was transported to the Université de Montréal’s Institute of Veterinary Medicine at Saint-Hyacinthe where a necropsy will be performed to determine cause of death. The carcass was that of a relatively thin, male beluga. Four Atlantic white-sided dolphins were discovered on beaches in the Magdalene Islands. One of them was a live stranding that occurred on Monday, November 4. That dolphin later died. The three others were already dead, their carcasses in bad shape. These carcasses will be examined by scientists from the Maurice-Lamontagne Institute in Mont-Joli. Rorqual whales and a white coat An observer from the Gaspé Peninsula reports having spotted the several spouts of large whales off Cap-des-Rosiers last week. A fin whale was spotted on Sunday near the Saint-Siméon wharf. Could this be the same whale that whale-watchers from Tadoussac (among the last of the season) observed on Monday? Another fin whale was seen near Pointe-des-Monts on Monday. A large blow was also glimpsed off Pointe-à-Boisvert on Sunday. Soon after, the early winter snow descended and covered the shores of the St. Lawrence in a smooth, white coat. 14 November 2002, vol. 6 no 45 Mission in the Gulf The Maurice Lamontagne Institute (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) carried out an oceanographical mission in the St. Lawrence from October 26 to November 8. The crew covered the Gulf and Estuary, sailing near Gaspésie, Anticosti, the Straight of Belle-Isle, Cabot Straight, Cape Breton Island, the Magdalene Islands and the North Shore aboard the Martha L. Black. Marine mammal observers joined the expedition, however, due to bad weather, sightings were limited. Nevertheless, the two days of fair weather proved productive. Around 200 Atlantic white-sided dolphins and several harbour porpoises were noted between Anticosti Island and Gaspésie. Also, humpback whales were seen in Gaspésie and pilot whales in Cabot Straight. Whales and eagles A blue whale was sighted off Percé along with several minke whales. Northern gannets are still in the area; they will soon be flying off to their wintering grounds on the East Coast of the United States. Our observer from Mistassini Point on the North Shore reports having spotted a minke whale under a beautiful autumn sun on Saturday, November 9. There are still fin whales in the Charlevoix region: two fin whale blows were reported near Baie-des-Rochers on November 9 and a fin whale was seen near the Saint-Siméon wharf on November 4. Belugas are still quite numerous in the Tadoussac-Les Escoumins sector, as well as in the Charlevoix region, and minke whales and grey seals are also seen on a regular basis. One of our observers from Tadoussac recently participated in the annual migratory bird census. From atop the lookout situated on the sand dunes not only did he spot many birds of prey, but also a few whales. Four fin whales were present in the area on the morning of Tuesday, November 12. He saw two of them again that same afternoon. On Thursday, November 14, he once more noted the presence of three fin whales. His bird sightings included a rare gyrfalcon, two bald eagles and two golden eagles. On patrol Our observer from Gallix recently went on patrol in his area. He noted five blue whales and four fin whales off Port-Cartier. One of the blue whales fluked up as it dove. He also came across two minke whales along the coast near Sept-Îles, along with several harbour porpoises and four grey seals that were spread out over the area. As for his bird sightings, he reports having seen many Atlantic puffins, common murres and dovekies in their winter plumage. It appears as though late autumn is still a good time for some great encounters, when there isn’t a storm brewing on the horizon, that is. Dolphins in the Estuary Last week, one of our observers encountered a dozen white-sided dolphins off Cenelles Point, near Grand Métis. He believes he saw an even larger group travelling in the distance. Small groups of white-sided dolphins are reported in the Estuary nearly every year. On rare occasions there may even be groups numbering in the hundreds. It is surprising to hear of such an encounter so late in the fall. Whether in small or large groups, these dolphins may have followed their prey all the way up into the Estuary. 21 November 2002, vol. 6 no 46 It’s winter! Winter has arrived a little early this year. One good storm and already the countryside is covered in a magnificent blanket of snow. Yet the whales are still around. Our observer from Gallix went to sea last week. He spotted one blue whale and four fin whales, six nautical miles off Gallix, as well as a minke whale one mile from Brochu River. Four minke whales were basking near the coast from Port-Cartier to Sept-Îles. Harbour porpoises are still present in this region along with dense flocks of scoters. Also on the North Shore, a minke whale was seen at Pointe-des-Monts. There were still fin whales in the Tadoussac-Les Escoumins area this week. Four representatives of this species were sighted off the dunes on Friday, November 15. One of them was feeding near the surface. On Tuesday, November 19, three of them were spotted, again off the dunes, very near the coast. One or two individuals were blowing near the Prince Shoal lighthouse in the afternoon. Their presence is quite remarkable considering how discrete fin whales were in the Estuary over the course of the summer! The fin whales were not alone. A blue whale was spotted on the morning of Saturday, November 16, near Petits Escoumins. There were also several minke whales near Les Escoumins and off Tadoussac, along with a number of harbour porpoises. Belugas were sighted near Les Escoumins, in the Saguenay Fjord, in the Charlevoix region and near Rivière-du-Loup. Researchers on a mission With reports of fin whales sightings off Tadoussac, GREMM researchers took advantage of the fact that their boat, Le Bleuvet, was still tied up at the wharf in order to document their presence. On Wednesday, November 20, they headed out to Pointe-à-la-Carriole where they discovered about ten fin whales. They proceeded to acquire photographs and biopsies. Among the animals present, they were able to identify Capitaine Crochet (Captain Hook), Vergetures and Zipper. Capitaine Crochet and Vergetures had spent a good part of the summer in this area. As for Zipper, it had not yet been photographed in 2002. 28 November 2002, vol. 6 no 47 The St. Lawrence in its winter finery November is the month when the Canadian Coast Guard prepares for the St. Lawrence ice season by setting up a network of commercial navigational aides. From Beauharnois to Blanc-Sablon, via the Magdalene Islands and the Gaspé Peninsula, the lighted buoys of summer will all be removed or replaced by winter spars. Spars are large floating cylinders made of steel that are as much as 10 metres in length, and weigh 3 800 kg. A spar is designed to lie flat at the surface when ice accumulates at its base. Every winter, 430 commercial summer buoys are stored in Québec City and Sorel where they are repaired and repainted. During this period, 235 spars are deployed to ensure the safe navigation of commercial vessels that venture into our waters, which are subjected to the whims of old man winter. This year the Tracy, the George R. Pearkes and the Martha L. Black are sharing the task in the Gulf and Estuary. The final stage of operations in the fluvial portion will continue through to mid-December. From land Last week our correspondent from Percé spotted a dozen fin whales surface feeding. The graceful giants broke the surface on their sides, pectoral fins and tail halves showing, their mouths wide open. This all took place very near the shore and she was able to watch the show from land. Our observer from Gaspé went for a walk in Forillon National Park. He scanned the surface of the Bay but did not see any whales. Two fin whales were present off Bergeronnes on Sunday, November 24. In Les Escoumins, small groups of belugas were sighted near the rocks along with several minke whales. At Longue-Rive, on the North Shore, our observer went for a hike, binoculars in hand. Visibility was good, however there were no blows on the horizon. On the water The Nordik Express, vessel that shuttles supplies to villages and towns along the Lower North Shore from Rimouski, made several interesting observations. There was a fin whale off Havre-Saint-Pierre, three minke whales near Blanc Sablon and harbour porpoises off Rimouski, Matane and Blanc-Sablon. Passengers aboard the Saint-Siméon–Rivière-du-Loup ferry encountered beluga whales near Lièvres Island. A young rorqual? Three fin whales were sighted once again off the Tadoussac sand dunes on Monday, November 25. One of the two that were swimming tog |