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Archives – The whale news network 2004The 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 for 2004. 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.
8 January 2004, vol. 8 no 1 Fresh News Hello everyone! Here we are, back to work after the Holidays. Our collaborator from Gaspé Bay spotted two fin whales the 2, 3 and 5 of January, along with several harbour seals. A dozen great-whale blows were sighted off Bonaventure Island on December 31. Two or three blows were spotted at the same place in the days that followed. Our collaborator from Percé continued to observe the blow of a whale from her house on the morning of January 7. Three or four blue whales were reported off Les Escoumins around December 17 and another blue whale was seen in the same area on December 31. Christmas Bird Count Over the Holidays, some of our observers participated in the Christmas Bird Count. This National Audubon Society census, which began in 1900, was initiated to study birds that winter over in North America. Sampling areas are circles with a diameter of 15 miles (24 kilometres). Volunteer ornithologists count all birds that they see and hear on a pre-determined day within these circles. This day, which varies from region to region, is around Christmas Day: from December 14 to January 5 inclusively. It goes without saying that our participating observers were in areas situated along the St. Lawrence River. They counted seabirds such as dovekies, black guillemots, barrow’s goldeneyes, common goldeneyes, great cormorants, glaucous gulls, iceland gulls, great black-backed gulls, herring gulls, oldsquaws, common eiders, american black ducks and mallards. I want to know more 15 January 2004, vol. 8 no 2 News from the (Cold) Front An observer from Chaleurs Bay spotted four minke whales at Barbe Cove–near Anse-aux-Gascons–on January 9. Two hard-to-identify blows were also spotted two nautical miles off Saint-Godefroi in early January. The ‘V’ shape of these blows indicates that they could belong to a couple of rare right whales. Thousands of harp seals were scattered along the Gaspé coast between Grande-Vallée and Cloridorme last week. The St. Lawrence is a wintering ground for this species. There have been few sightings reported in recent days. Suffice it to say that the record cold snap we are experiencing is not very conducive to going out for a stroll. Most shore-dwellers would more than likely rather stay indoors and put another log on the fire than go outside! Gaspé Bay is entirely frozen and the ice pack extends way beyond Gaspé Cape and Des Rosiers Cape. Winter fog–commonly referred to as "fuméex de mer" (sea smoke in English)– continually rises from the water’s surface at the mouth of the Saguenay. Some of it condenses and freezes on the ferries, blanketing them in a layer of ice. With the high wind, the scene takes on an ‘other-worldly’ appearance. A Narwhal? Two whale watchers posted at Pointe-Noire at the mouth of the Saguenay on December 21, spotted around 15 beluga whales and a few harp seals when a blow further away suddenly caught their attention. They managed to take note of a dark grey back mottled with white patches. A few seconds later the animal dove, showing a heart shaped tail above the surface as it did so. Their description corresponds to that of a narwhal! They never saw the 5-metre-long animal again after their initial sighting. If it truly were a narwhal, this would be a very exceptional sighting; narwhals are Arctic cetaceans. You may recall the two cetaceans spotted in the Bergeronnes-Escoumins area that held our attention in September 2003. They were also thought to be narwhals. Unfortunately, no photographs were taken of these animals. A narwhal did spend the summer off Newfoundland in 2003. In this particular case there was no doubt about species identification; the rare whale’s visit was well documented in photographs and video footage. 22 January 2004, vol. 8 no 3 The Ice Ice has begun its winter invasion of the St. Lawrence. There is not as much ice as one would imagine despite the intense cold of recent weeks. Strong winds have something to do with this; they stir things up, so to speak, and the ice has less of a chance of forming. Nevertheless, the Estuary has ice cover of 8/10 and more. The Gulf of St. Lawrence has only a 1/10 cover. Regardless of ice cover, merchant vessels must carry on through. The Canadian Coast Guard’s Ice Centre in Québec City monitors ice conditions and informs pilots of the situation. As well as the regular pilots that embark aboard cargo vessels navigating between Les Escoumins and Montreal, ice pilots are used in the Gulf–specifically from Cabot Straight to Les Escoumins. Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers conduct de-icing operations and often escort ships by breaking a trail through the ice. The icebreaker Des Groseilliers is assigned to Québec City area, the Martha L Black to the Trois-Rivières area, the George R. Pearkes to the Saguenay (Port-Alfred) area and the Pierre Radisson to the Matane area. The Terry Fox can also be called up for service in the Gulf. [Canadian Coast Guard Ice Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada] More Stories about Ice An observer stationed in Tadoussac stared out over the mouth of the Saguenay through a pair of binoculars and watched as a large seal (probably a grey seal) hauled itself up onto a piece of ice, remained there for several seconds, and then returned to the water. It repeated the same ploy a dozen times or so. Not far from there, a group of greater scaups had banded together in a small, ice-free bay, their beaks nuzzled up in their feathers. They were accompanied by a few common goldeneyes, black guillemots, an oldsquaw and a bufflehead. Three or four red-breasted mergansers were feverishly attempting to join them by clearing a path through the ice floes. It was quite amusing to watch them change direction and then skid along on miniature skating rinks. The lack of ice-free water was a golden opportunity to observe all of these birds engaged in a wide range of social behaviour. Yet, this narrow refuge soon became precarious; the ice was threatening to trap the ducks. They flew off precipitously in nervous groups. Two whale blows were reported off Gallix on January 11. We are still waiting for news from other whale watchers. 29 January 2004, vol. 8 no 4 Filling in the Gaps The waters off Gallix, near Sept-îles, are free of ice. Whale watchers in the area spotted a few enormous and slow rorqual type whales; probably blue whales. Seabirds were flying over their blows and harp seals were also present. Another whale watcher from the same area spotted three large rorqual whales on January 22. On this occasion, their black-coloured backs led her to suspect they were likely fin whales. There have been no whale sightings off Sainte-Anne-de-Portneuf recently; the cold weather has increased the amount of ‘sea smoke’ (winter fog) in the area, reducing visibility. Strong winds cleared the sea of ice off Percé, however, it eventually moved back in, closing off the shore. A few seabirds could be seen filling in the gaps in the ice. There is also plenty of ice off Les Escoumins, leaving very little room for whales. Yet, harp seals are present in large numbers, visible either in holes or on the ice. Our ornithologist in Tadoussac reported that the troop of greater scaups are present in the Bay beyond the accumulated ice. Offshore, hundreds of oldsquaws can be seen skimming the surface of the water or rising up in flocks. A special collaborator from Blanc-Sablon told us how harp seals have invaded that area. 5 February 2004, vol. 8 no 5 Harp Seals Harp seals invade the St. Lawrence by the thousands in winter. Adults are a silvery-white with a large dark V on their backs. This V resembles a harp, hence the name. Young harp seals are mottled. Groups of harp seals in the Les Escoumins area often number 50 or more at a time; occasionally they form groups of several hundred individuals. Sealers have noted quite a few young harp seals this year. This is a sign that the good ice cover of last winter was beneficial to these young animals. The year before, the slight ice cover that formed rapidly disintegrated and many pups fell from the ice pack before they were ready. Sealing Sealing is done on a small scale along the North Shore. In Les Escoumins, for example, some twenty sealers began their activities on December 8. However, the cold January weather was not conducive to hunting. So far they have taken around 200 seals. Hunting takes place on the water from aboard large motor boats. The meat is consumed locally. It is also used to feed mink on mink farms. Wildlife agents from SEPAQ also use the meat as a lure for bears. As for the pelts, they are sent to a tannery. There are around 5.2 million harp seals in Atlantic Canada. Quotas for the 2003-2005 period are set at 975 000. Belugas and Cormorants Sealers in the Les Escoumins area spotted two beluga whales on Tuesday, February 3. They also sighted over a dozen of them around January 22. Although belugas remain in the St. Lawrence in winter, their distribution area shifts to the east and we rarely see them. Our collaborator from Percé spotted some great cormorants on the ice. There were also around a dozen seals (probably harp seals), and 300 to 400 common eiders in areas of open water. 12 February 2004, vol. 8 no 6 Arctic Cetaceans Observers from Tadoussac spotted at least two or three belugas at the mouth of the Saguenay on Friday, February 6. Belugas are rarely sighted in this area in winter. They are usually to be found further east in the Estuary or in the western portion of the Gulf where they tend to be quite discreet. Little is known about the winter activities of belugas. They are very well adapted to Arctic conditions, while researchers who study them are not! The Crossing A few days ago, one of our collaborators crossed the St. Lawrence from Matane to Baie-Comeau aboard the ferry Camille-Marcoux. The River was iced over from shore to shore and the sound of the ship breaking the ice was a constant companion throughout the voyage. The rare openings in the ice were occasionally occupied by groups of 50 to 100 harp seals. 19 February 2004, vol. 8 no 7 The February Sun Observers stroll under a February sun. Sunglasses are a necessity due to dazzling reflections of the snow. The winds have died down giving some respite. Ice is either slowly moving or stacked up in large blocks. The blue current rolls along. From cross-country skis or snowshoes, frequent are the glances out to sea through frosted locks of hair that have escaped from under fur hat or long-eared tuque. It’s a beautiful sight that greets the eye… yet, there are no whales to be seen. Ha! There, a large blow appears near the shores of Les Escoumins. A great whale has surfaced. Was it a blue whale or a fin whale? The question remains… Too bad, the whale does not come back. Hey, whale! Where are your companions? We’re getting impatient over here … Oh, well, time to go in for a steaming mug of hot chocolate. 26 February 2004, vol. 8 no 8 Gone skiing The second edition of the Grande traversée de la Gaspésie cross-country ski run was held from February 22 to 27. Last year the run traversed mountain and forest. This year the organisers chose the sea and the shoreline as their setting. The route is 300-km long and runs from the parc de la Gaspésie to Gaspé, passing through the picturesque villages of Mont-Saint-Pierre, Mont-Louis, Rivière-Madeleine, Grande-Vallée, Petite-Vallée, Rivière-au-Renard, Anse-au-Griffon and several others. An observer from Mont-Louis spotted these athletes skiing on the beach on Monday. On that particular day, the ocean blue was visible beyond the bay. More often than not, the scenery there is white all the way to the edge of the horizon. Apart from this sighting, our observers counted approximately fifty great cormorants assembled near the Roché Percé and plenty of common eiders. Ice piles up and disperses according to changes in wind direction. Our observer from Gallix reported large numbers of ducks, mostly red-breasted mergansers, as well as harp seals. Last weekend, while in Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, he spotted what appeared to be a hooded seal. The wind whistles down the Saguenay. There are no belugas. Instead, the surface is covered in whitecaps. Gulls flutter over holes in the ice, wetting their beaks from time to time, apparently feeding on small crustaceans. 4 March 2004, vol. 8 no 9 A seal's life Harp seals are now less present in the Estuary. Females of the species have left to whelp (give birth) in the Gulf. Ice floes off the Magdalene Islands will be a temporary home to them and their pups. Nursing lasts a scant 12 days, after which the pups are left on their own. Male harp seals are also present on the ice pack and mating occurs once the pups are weaned. This is followed by intense feeding bouts and moulting. Many seals will return to the Estuary in the spring to take advantage of its abundant food supply. Big eyes The first excursion to the ice pack to observe whitecoats off the Magdalene Islands took place on March 1. Tourists board helicopters, disembark on the ice pack and then cautiously approach the big-eyed balls of white fur. The ice pack is relatively far from the Islands this year; finding the seals involves a 90-km flight in the direction of Prince Edward Island. 11 March 2004, vol. 8 no 10 Of seals and gulls The clement weather incites strollers to wander along the shore between the blocks of ice melting in the sun. There are still no whales in sight. The last whale sighting dates back to February 16 when a blue whale was spotted off Les Escoumins. Several belugas were also seen early on in February in the Tadoussac-Les Escoumins area. Other animals are nonetheless present. The crew of a cargo ship spotted impressive numbers of harp seals between Sainte-Anne-des-Monts and Pointe-des-Monts. Observers from Tadoussac also spotted a few harp seals at the mouth of the Saguenay, an area where they are not so frequently seen. These winter visitors to the St. Lawrence have crossed paths with harbingers of spring. Case in point: our collaborator from Percé reports the arrival of black-legged kittiwakes, and an ornithologist from Tadoussac, the first ring-billed gulls. 18 March 2004, vol. 8 no 11 Not the kind of melon you’re thinking about! On Thursday, March 11, a beluga showed the tip of its melon on the Baie-Sainte-Catherine side of the mouth of the Saguenay River. Yes, you read right, the tip of its melon. For those of you who may not know, the melon is the bulging, lipid-filled forehead of certain toothed cetaceans. Was the beluga in question alone or had its companions just dived? Last Friday, one of our correspondents was working on a cargo vessel returning from Newfoundland, heading for Montreal. At the tip of Anticosti Island he saw before him a harp seal whelping ground. There was a profusion of seals–adults and offspring–as well as traces of blood left on the ice from the births. Icebreakers have begun breaking up the ice in many areas of the St. Lawrence. Crab and shrimp fishermen will soon be heading out to bring back delights from the sea. 25 March 2004, vol. 8 no 12 Beluga whales Beluga whales are reintegrating their summer distribution area. A shore-dweller from Les Bergeronnes saw two belugas just off his house late in the afternoon on Monday, March 15. Then, on the morning of Friday, March 19, six to eight belugas–young, grey-coloured whales among them–were active in the same area. Some of them fluked up as they dove. A sealer from Les Escoumins also mentions having encountered a few belugas in recent days, as well as harp seals. A Tadoussac resident reports having seen a dozen of these seals at Rouge Point. They were swimming on their backs with their necks stretched out and their snouts in the air–typical behaviour for this species of seal. As for birds, common goldeneyes and Barrow’s goldeneyes are presently involved in nuptial behaviour. In their demonstrations, males of this species vigorously throw back their heads, nearly touching their rumps. They also sometimes accelerate rapidly along the surface, splashing water as they go. Sealing The whitecoats have moulted and are now considered "beaters". They are over 25 days old. Their fur is no longer bright white; it is more of a silvery white spotted with black. They can now be hunted. And hunting for seals in the Gulf is quite an expedition. Hunters from the Magdalen Islands go out to sea several men at a time in relatively large boats. For example, one of our correspondents heads out with seven companions in a 60-foot boat. The seals can be found dozens kilometers offshore, on the ice pack in the Gulf. Hunters disembark onto the ice to hunt beaters with a "hakapik"–a type of gaff. The beaters are then hauled back to the boat’s hold. The hunters remain in the area and live on the boat and on the ice for the duration of the hunt, which can last anywhere from five days to two weeks. Last Tuesday night, 18 crews left the Islands for the ice pack. Others will be leaving very soon. This hunt represents a major source of supplementary income for the region. With in excess of 5.2 million animals, the Northwest Atlantic harp seal population is very abundant. They are hunted for their meat, oil and pelts. The hunt has already raised–and continues to raise–a certain amount of controversy. I want to know more 1 April 2004, vol. 8 no 13 Blue whales on the horizon At 6:30 in the morning on March 29 a whale was seen swimming four or five nautical miles off Gallix’s Sainte-Marguerite Bay. According to our observer, it was very likely a blue whale. The animal was moving slowly near the ice and appeared to be feeding. A far-off blow had been seen in days previous. A Tadoussac resident—who happened to be on the dunes east of the village at the time—spotted a large blow offshore on March 30. On the morning of March 31, a whale watcher from Les Escoumins spotted two blue whales. He also saw seven or eight beluga whales on March 30 and 31. Observers are also scanning the horizon elsewhere along the shores of the St. Lawrence, impatiently waiting for the whales to return. April crab’s day Crab fishing season opens today, April 1, in Zone 17 of the Estuary. This zone extends from Tadoussac to Pointe-des-Monts on the North Shore and to several dozen kilometres beyond Sainte-Anne-des-Monts on the South Shore. Other zones are already open to crab fishing, or will be later in April. The shrimp fishery also opens today throughout the St. Lawrence. Seafood lovers will thus be able to treat themselves to a feast. 8 April 2004, vol. 8 no 14 Two fin whales in Gaspé Bay Gaspé Bay is now free of ice. On Friday, April 2, our collaborator from Cap-aux-Os made his first sighting of the season: two fin whales off Blanchette House, a historic site in Forillon National Park. Two birds return A few northern gannet that arrived from the South have already made their way to the Gaspé Peninsula. In the Estuary, near Les Bergeronnes and Tadoussac, common eiders have been seen along the coast. These birds spent the winter in ice-free waters far offshore. Resident seals In winter, harbour seals from the Forillon Park colony scatter along the coast to where the sea is free of ice. Our observer from the area mentioned that he saw three of them regularly on the pack ice near his house. Twenty harbour seals were recently sighted at Longue-Rive on the North Shore. This species of seal lives year round in the St. Lawrence, however its population is small. 15 April 2004, vol. 8 no 15 A blue spring Two blue whales were navigating the waters off Les Escoumins last weekend. Several observers saw them near the shore on April 10 and 11. A local resident had spotted two whales a couple of days previous, without being able to confirm species identification. A few beluga whales were also seen in the area, along with approximately one hundred harp seals. A Tadoussac resident fishing from the town’s wharf watched as a harbour seal swam around near his fishing line on Easter Monday. While at sea on April 9, our collaborator from Gallix encountered a blue whale, along with northern gannets, black guillemots, black-legged kittiwakes and razorbills. A concert of geese Further upstream in the St. Lawrence–where the river is more calm and water less salty–a concert of geese is taking place. Thousands of snow geese and Canada geese are feeding in the flooded fields along the shores of the River. Their calls, familiar to riverside residents, announce the return of spring. This region represents an important stopover for these birds as they head north to their nesting grounds. 22 April 2004, vol. 8 no 16 Several great whales Two fin whales are still present in Gaspé Bay and two blue whales and two fin whales were sighted at Anse-à-Beaufils near Percé. On the North Shore, one fin whale was sighted near Les Bergeronnes and three to five blue whales were swimming between Longe-Rive and Sainte-Anne-de-Portneuf. Blue whales and one fin whale were also reported at Mistassini Point, between Baie-Comeau and Godbout. Thus, the season of the great whales has officially begun. First minke whale sightings A minke whale was sighted in Gaspé Bay, another was seen at Longue-Rive, one at Les Escoumins and another at Les Bergeronnes. These are the first sighting reports of this species so far this year. Frenzy Around one hundred beluga whales were swimming up the St. Lawrence, off Les Escoumins, on Saturday, April 17. There were mostly big adult belugas, but also a few young grey ones.Then, in small groups, they began swimming in circles. Their movements became frenzied and heads, tails and pectoral fins appeared above the surface. A few minutes later they dispersed. This merry-go-round was repeated several times. Were they feeding? Beluga whales are now sighted on a regular basis in this area. They are also present further upstream in the Charlevoix area. 29 April 2004, vol. 8 no 17 First humpback whale of the season Our observer from Gaspé Bay spotted a humpback whale on Monday, April 26. For the better part of the afternoon the whale in question was blowing and fluking up as it dove. Our observer also caught a glimpse of a small blow near this whale. Could it have been a calf? Intrigued though he was, he was unable to confirm this. A little bit of everything Numerous beluga whales are milling about in all directions at the mouth of the Saguenay in Tadoussac. A minke whale surfaced for a group of very happy tourists who were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. A minke whale and a few beluga whales were also reported off Les Bergeronnes, while groups of beluga whales and two blue whales were sighted off Les Escoumins. After mating in the Gulf, large numbers of harp seals have arrived in the area to take full advantage of the abundant food supply. Further along on the North Shore the blows of great whales were seen off Baie-Comeau, and six or seven fin whales were seen off Franquelin. Two fin whales are still present in Gaspé Bay. Seals in town Around 20 harbour seals were quite active upstream from the York River bridge in Gaspé, right in front of Jacques-Cartier Place. They were leaping completely out of the water, falling back on their bellies and making big splashes. They were also seen slapping the water with their flippers. Why all the excitement? Even for scientists who study these animals this type of behaviour is hard to interpret. Breakfast thief One of our collaborators reported a comical sighting. A large herring gull in the middle of a group of eider ducks–that were diving in turns and resurfacing with sea urchins for breakfast–was just waiting for an opportunity. It eventually managed to steal an eider’s breakfast, proving once again that it is not easy living in society… 6 May 2004, vol. 8 no 18 Rorqual whale time in the St. Lawrence Another observer from Gaspé Bay has confirmed that the humpback whale that was sighted last week was indeed accompanied by a calf. Our observers from the North Shore community of Pointe-des-Monts spotted two or three fin whales and two or three minke whales. Fin whales, blue whales and at least two humpback whales have been seen on a daily basis off Mistassini Point. One minke whale was reported at Cape Colombier and two off Les Bergeronnes. One blow was sighted in recent days off Les Bergeronnes and another off Longue-Rive on Wednesday. Whale-watching cruises have begun heading out from Tadoussac; one fin whale and three minke whales have been sighted in recent days. Headless seals This is neither a horror story nor a tasteless prank. Wildlife officers counted between 150 and 200 young harp seal carcasses along the shores of the Magdalen Islands. That they were all headless is due to the fact that the head is the part of the body that decomposes first or that carrion eaters consume first. These deaths are not overly disturbing. There are on average 200 000 harp seal births annually in the St. Lawrence. It is normal that a certain pourcentage of the pups do not survive. In the case of this population, the pup mortality rate is estimated at 10 %. The capelin is rolling Spawning capelin will soon be rolling on certain beaches along the St. Lawrence. Last year, Fisheries and Oceans Canada called on shore-dwellers to survey spawning sites and dates. What follows is an overview of this survey from 2003. In the Charlevoix region, spawning activities were most intense at Saint-Irénée on May 20 and 21. On the North Shore, spawning activity began in the week of May 5 at Sainte-Anne-de-Portneuf and continued on into mid-June in the Sept-Îles area (Brochu River and Ferguson Beach) and the Aguanish area. Les Escoumins was also a spawning site. In the Lower St. Lawrence area, capelin was rolling on the beaches from June 2 to 14 at Kamouraska, Saint-Simon, Saint-Fabien and Sainte-Luce. Finally, in Gaspésie, spawning was observed mostly in the Paspébiac and Port-Daniel areas and the peak period in this area was May 25. This year, Fisheries and Oceans Canada would like to put together a network of capelin spawn observers. ZIP Committees and coastal committees are also participating in this project. For more information, or to forward your own observations, do not hesitate to contact these organizations or dial up the following toll-free number: 1-877-Ça roule (1-877-227-6853). Capelin is a key species within the St. Lawrence ecosystem. It constitutes one of the main sources of food for several species of marine mammals, fish and birds, including beluga whales, minke whales, harbour seals, Atlantic cod, Atlantic salmon and black-legged kittiwakes. The data that are collected will be used to gain a better understanding of this species and the impact that it has on certain changes in the marine environment. [Fisheries and Oceans Canada] 13 May 2004, vol. 8 no 19 Weekly whales Apparently, an adult minke whale was sighted accompanied by a much smaller young one a few days ago in Tadoussac; a rare sighting indeed. A blue whale was present off Les Escoumins and the blows of two whales were seen off Les Bergeronnes. Groups of beluga whales can be seen throughout the area. A minke whale and the blow of a large rorqual whale were seen off Longue-Rive. Our observers from Gallix spotted two minke whales. A humpback whale, a fin whale and a minke whale were reported in Gaspé Bay. Fog and rain were on the menu for Percé. We are still waiting for news from our other seasonal observers. The birds of spring Seabirds are gathering all along the shores. It is a good time to take up ornithology. Brants are numerous as they take break in our area before continuing their migration northward. The strange murmuring of common eiders can be heard here and there. Scaups and scoters are also around. Other birds that should be listed on those sighted in recent weeks include mergansers, goldeneyes and the magnificent oldsquaw. Northern gannets are also present in several quarters, as far upstream as the Charlevoix region. 20 May 2004, vol. 8 no 20 Poco in Boston In the fall of 2003 we reported on a sociable beluga whale that was present in the Bay of Fundy; a young, two to three year old animal nicknamed "Poco". Likely a member of the St. Lawrence population, there was some hope that he would return north. Unfortunately, he continued moving southward. Incredibly enough, he has been spotted in Boston harbour! He is still quite curious, particularly when it comes to divers. He approaches them, follows them, looks them in the mask and swims through the air bubbles produced by their equipment. One diver told us of his encounter with Poco. The beluga whale was just behind him while he was harvesting scallops, observing him as he placed molluscs in his bag. Cathy Kinsman of the Whale Stewardship Program is following this case very closely. The Whale Stewardship Program has the mandate of making people aware of the situation of these sociable beluga whales that often become victims of their own curiosity. People should not approach one of these animals and they should definitely refrain from feeding or touching them. Due to intense marine traffic, Boston harbour is a very dangerous place for Poco. As a matter of fact, he has already acquired several deep scars on his back, which are very likely souvenirs of close encounters with boat propellers. I want to know more A gargantuan concert On Monday, May 17, our observer from Pointe-des-Monts witnessed the colossal meal of three blue whales. They were surface feeding 150 m from shore. Not only did she hear their blows, but she could also hear the sound of water being drawn into their mouths. Two other blue whales were also active a little further off. Quite impressive! Harbour porpoises have arrived! Our collaborator aboard the Forestville-Rimouski ferry spotted two harbour porpoises on Sunday, May 16. They emerged from the waves of the Estuary that were in this case very calm. Representatives of this species will become increasingly abundant in our waters as the summer progresses. In August we will be counting them in the hundreds. 27 May 2004, vol. 8 no 21 Of giants and midgets On the morning of Friday, May 21, navigators sailing the waters off Bic spotted five blue whales. In the evening, four fin whales were seen feeding in the same area. Krill was wriggling at the water’s surface "plop, plop…" giving the impression that the water was boiling. The large cetaceans likely gulped down thousands of these small crustaceans. Beached beluga whales Beluga whales are born, and die, in the St. Lawrence. Around fifteen of them are found each year along the shores of this river. These carcasses furnish precious information to the beluga health monitoring programme of the SLNIE and the University of Montreal’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Necropsies are performed on fresh carcasses and samples are taken from the others. What follows are the first confirmed cases of the season: one beluga whale on Verte Island on April 14 (sampled), one beluga whale at Rivière-à-Claude on the Gaspé Peninsula on May 4, one beluga at Sainte-Luce on May 10 (necropsied), one old beluga carcass already sampled at Bic around May 25 and one beluga in the Mingan islands on May 26 (sampled). To report a beluga carcass, call the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network by dialing 1-877-7baleine. Live Wednesday, May 26, 5:00 PM. One of our observers from Gaspé Bay is on the line. From his office he is leisurely watching the largest animal in the world: a blue whale. He reports, live, every time the animal surfaces. "There it is again!" Powerful blow, imposing mass, mottled grey-blue skin reflecting the sun’s rays. On the other end of the line one can almost smell the nostril-tickling odour of the sea. 3 June 2004, vol. 8 no 22 A visit from an old friend On June 1 whale watcher at Cap-de-Bon-Désir near Les Bergeronnes reported a whale floating at the surface like a big log and breathing at an oblique angle several times before eventually fluking up as it dove. It was a sperm whale. The GREMM team in Tadoussac was rapidly informed of the situation and immediately headed out onto the water to document the sighting and identify the animal. Photographs confirm that it is Tryphon, the first sperm whale to be photo-identified in the St. Lawrence Estuary back in 1991. Since this first encounter–when it spent a good portion of the summer in the Estuary–Tryphon has been re-sighted in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000 and 2002. Five sperm whales were reported in the Estuary in 2003 but, uncarachteristically, they did not fluke up as they dove. Thus it was impossible to confirm their identities. Was Tryphon among them? Tryphon only knows. Whales galore in Gaspésie "Rorqual whales are pushing and shoving all allong the coast" according to observers in Gaspé. For several days now, four humpback whales, a cow-calf pair among them, have been hanging out off Cap-aux-Os. Female humpback whales that give birth over the winter in the warmer waters of the Carribean undertake a long springtime migration northward to reach nutrient rich zones. Calves are weaned progressively over the course of the spring migration and learn how to fend for themselves. Often, they are not completely weaned when they reach the St. Lawrence, which is a major feeding area in the Northwest Atlantic. Along with these humpback whales, three blue whales put in an appearance in Gaspé Bay on June 2. Finally, two fin whales were spotted near the coast. Whale-watching tours are set to begin this week in this region of Quebec. There is a good chance that further interesting sightings will be reported in this area in coming weeks. Cross the St. Lawrence on the back of a whale? "There were blows on either side of our ship. It would almost have been possible to cross the St. Lawrence on the backs of the whales!" Such were the words our collaborator aboard the Rimouski-Forestville ferry used to illustrate his crossing on May 31. At least four blue whales and four to five fin whales were spotted on this crossing, along with two harbour porpoises near Rimouski. A little further downstream, in the Portneuf-sur-Mer area, one whale watcher spotted around ten blue whales spread out over an area some two nautical miles from shore along with a group of five fin whales nearer the shore. 10 June 2004, vol. 8 no 23 Marine mammal emergency: a seal on the Saint-Siméon wharf On June 3 and 4 the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network received numerous calls from residents at Saint-Siméon in the Charlevoix region concerning a small seal that was on the shore and, from time to time, on the wharf. According to eyewitness reports it was a young harbour seal and the situation did not appear to be out of the ordinary. Seals maintain a link with land for different periods of their life cycles, such as mating, whelping, moulting and occasionally resting. Generally the best thing to do when you come across a live, beached seal is to leave it alone, do not approach it and keep domestic animals at bay. However, in this particular case, the young harbour seal was right up on the Saint-Siméon wharf, an area that is easily accessible and quite busy. After having analyzed the situation, Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park wardens went to the site and decided to return the animal to the water. On the morning of June 5, the young seal had returned to the wharf. In the interest of public safety, park wardens decided to move the animal onto an island at the entrance to Rocher Bay. Finally, photographs taken by park wardens allowed a specialist from the Maurice Lamontagne Institute in Mont-Joli to determine that the young harbour seal was quite thin and had probably been prematurely abandoned by its mother, which explains why it continuously returned to land. Its fat reserves–almost completely depleted–were likely not sufficient to insulate it from the cold waters of the Estuary. What will happen to this young seal? Its chances of survival are very limited; however, wild animals sometimes demonstrate surprising resistance. If you see a beached seal that is either injured or represents a danger to public safety, do not hesitate to contact the Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network by dialling 1-877-7baleine. A rare sighting in Gaspésie Over the past few days, our observers from Gaspé have had the distinct pleasure of following the comings and goings of a blue whale and its calf just offshore. The pair was accompanied by another blue whale on several occasions. This is a very rare sighting for the St. Lawrence. Over the past 25 years only 14 or 15 female blue whales have been sighted accompanied by a calf. Two of these sightings took place in the Estuary last year. This pair is therefore the fifteenth or sixteenth. Researchers are keenly interested in being kept up to date of these sightings. They are curious to know why so few young blue whales are seen in the St. Lawrence. Could it be that this endangered population has reproductive problems or do the females simply choose not to bring their offspring into our waters? Plenty of action along the North Shore From the smallest to the largest, whales have been reported in large numbers from Tadoussac to Baie-Trinité. The weekend of June 5 and 6 was particularly interesting for North Shore whale watchers. Several blue whales, fin whales and minke whales were seen surface feeding. A sperm whale is still present in the area; it was seen off Portneuf-sur-Mer on Saturday, June 5 and then in the Les Escoumins/Les Bergeronnes area over the course of the following week. Reports of the first harbour porpoises of the year have been coming in from all over the Estuary. This species is usually not observed in this portion of the St. Lawrence until the end of June. Sometimes very small animals with a short blow are seen among them; these are this year’s calves. Harbour porpoises are some of the smallest cetaceans in the world, imagine the size of their offspring! 17 June 2004, vol. 8 no 24 Gaspé beluga whales Recently we reported two beluga whales off Rivière-Madeleine on the Gaspé Peninsula. Local fishermen admitted they had never seen this species of whale in their area in the past. However, beluga whales may actually visit this area in winter. In summer, on the other hand, their distribution area is situated further upstream, between Coudres Island and Forestville. That said, beluga whales are known to occasionally travel far from their regular stomping grounds. Also, those that do tend to be solitary animals that end up seeking human companionship, a situation that can lead to complications. These cases are monitored by the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network, which can be contacted by dialling 1-877-baleine. Recent cases of wayward beluga whales were reported in the Mingan Islands, along the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, in the Maritimes and even on the East Coast of the United States. The question remains: were these Gaspé beluga whales slowpokes that have yet to move upstream or were they strays? A curious minke whale A Sept-Îles tour operator and his passengers experienced a rare event involving a minke whale. The whale investigated their inflatable boat. It remained with them for twenty minutes, swimming from one side of the boat to the other and turning on its side to inspect the passengers with its whale-sized eye. Very impressive! A joyful procession It's suppertime on Verte Island. An observer peers at a group of common eiders through her binoculars as they parade between the rocks near the shore in a joyful procession. In all she counts 17 females, 2 males and around 25 ducklings. The ducklings are already able to swim quite swiftly. They can even dive, awkwardly splashing everyone around them. These comic scenes also attract the attention of predators like the black-backed gull. All adult eiders present are required to maintain a close surveillance of the progeny. 24 June 2004, vol. 8 no 25 Shallow whales Whales abound at Sainte-Anne-de-Portneuf on the North Shore. Six blue whales, eight fin whales, seven minke whales and two distant blows were counted during just one cruise this week. The large rorqual whales were feeding in rather shallow areas near the shore. Our observer noted the depth on his sonar in the area where the blue whales were feeding; they were in nine metres of water. Suffice it to say that for a 20-m long animal, this is not very deep. Certain fin whales were also swimming in around ten metres of water. The school of life Whelping season is almost over for harbour seals. Many riverside residents became concerned upon spotting these little ones all alone on the shore. Some of the pups were calling out. This is normal behaviour. The mother has to feed offshore and often leaves her pup alone for several hours at a time. As for the pup, these are often among its first separations from its mother. Do not touch, move or push the pup back into the water. Manipulating it in this way can transmit human odours to the pup causing its mother to abandon it. To support the mother-pup bond, avoid assembling near the little one. Also, avoid any other activity that may scare the mother off. The mother will nurse for a period of 4 to 6 weeks, after which time the pup will be independent and eventually learn to feed on fish and other seafood on its own. To see a whale up close A dead whale on the shore is a sorry sight, to be sure. Yet, it is also an extraordinary experience to be able to see a whale close up, examine all of the parts of its body and get a better grasp of its impressive size. Several people did just this at recent whale beachings. A minke whale was found at Grosses-Roches on June 6 and another at Anse-Pleureuse on June 15. A beluga whale carcass was seen drifting near Port-au-Persil and was towed to the wharf on June 4. Another beluga whale carcass was drifting off Rimouski and was also towed by a fisherman on June 11. On June 20, A dead beluga whale came ashore at Rivière-Ouelle. Another dead beluga whale has been on Saint-Barnabé Island for several weeks already. These carcasses were all examined and sampled by the various teams affiliated with the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (1-877-7baleine). 1 July 2004, vol. 8 no 26 Freeing a minke whale On Tuesday, June 29, a fisherman reported a minke whale that was caught in fishing gear off Moisie, near Sept-Îles. The Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network was immediately contacted and a team, composed of RCMP and Fisheries officers, was dispatched to the area to attempt to liberate the animal. Apparently a line attached to a 200-kg weight was holding the whale down, allowing it just enough slack to come to the surface to breathe. After several manoeuvres by the team, the whale dove and was not seen again. The operation is believed to have been a success. To report a cetacean caught in fishing gear, contact the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network by dialling 1-877-7baleine. Anticosti Action Our collaborators from Anticosti Island spotted four to five fin whales at Chicotte-la-Mer, south of the island. Around one thousand common eiders were also in the area. A dozen fin whales were seen north of the island and capelin was rolling at Baie-de-la-Tour, a little later than usual this year. Minke whales among the islands Our observers in the Mingan Island Archipelago spotted several minke whales among the islands; swimming near the wharf at Nue Island, feeding between Fantôme Island and Havre Island and leaping out of the water south of Firmin Island. Rumble in the capelin One evening last week, approximately a dozen minke whales were frantically feeding in a 300 to 500 metre-wide school of capelin at Portneuf-sur-Mer. Although these whales tend to be solitary, the fact that so many of them were present in this same area is easily explained by the abundance of food. Some fifty grey seals were also taking advantage of this major source of food. All of these marine mammals were swimming in close proximity to each other; at one point a minke whale surfaced in the midst of a dozen seals. The Gaspé Bay circus In ring number one: Three humpback whales were surface feeding near the shore in Sauvages Cove, forming an enormous circle, filing by on their sides, mouths gaping. The acrobats: A humpback whale was leaping out of the water, making a tremendous splash. Two harbour seals competed in a 400-metre round-trip sprint, five metres from shore. They would break the surface and then dive rapidly–a little like dolphins. They repeated this show on two occasions. The horses: Around thirty grey seals swam onto the scene. Grey seals are often referred to as "horse-head seals" because of their blunt snouts. The mastodons: No less than ten blue whales were seen swimming together. Later in the week they moved off Percé. From tip to tail Along with a humpback whale, minke whales and over ten blue whales (a cow/calf pair among them), a fin whale was spotted with a calf near Percé. The fin whale calf approached our observers’ boat. Those aboard managed to see the whale just beneath the surface–through the water–from the tip of its rostrum to its tail. They were able to appreciate the whale’s motion as it swam on its side or moved its tail up and down. Dolphins and a cargo ship We have had the good fortune of getting in touch with a seaman working aboard a cargo ship. As he was leaving Newfoundland–in the Gulf of St. Lawrence–he reported seeing a dozen Atlantic white-sided dolphins leaping out of the water on either side of the ship. They were likely taking advantage of the ship’s bow wave. Good sailing! 8 July 2004, vol. 8 no 27 Dynamic encounters Whale watchers in Percé experienced a remarkable encounter with fin whales. Six fin whales were swimming together, there was another group of four along with two other solitary animals. At one point, all twelve animals came together to form one very active group. The whales would dive and surface almost simultaneously. There was so much action that the whale watchers didn’t know where to look next or where to point their cameras. Were the whales feeding on a school of fish? Fin whales tend to be solitary when feeding on krill and it is thought that they get together in groups to hunt fish, which are more mobile than krill. During another cruise, whale watchers encountered a young fin whale that caught them off guard. It jumped completely out of the water a mere 30 metres from their boat… twice. This type of behaviour is occasionally observed in minke whales, but rarely in fin whales. The previous week a young fin whale–possibly the same one–had been swimming very near their boat. Rorquals of the Lower North Shore This just in from the Lower North Shore: during the last two weeks of June several fin whales and minke whales were spotted off Baie-Johan-Beetz, Chicoutai Point (between La Romaine and Kegaska), La Romaine, Saint-Augustin and Vieux-Fort. Consult the map for further details. Pilot whales One of our observers reported a very special encounter that had taken place a few days earlier off Bicquette Island. While there, he spotted a group of six cetaceans that he was unable to positively identify. They were the size of beluga whales–approximately four metres long–and very dark in colour. They had large dorsal fins that curved backwards and protruding foreheads. They were neither harbour porpoises nor dolphins. Could they have been pilot whales? Although this species is more often seen in the Gulf, pilot whales sometimes swim into the Estuary. On this particular occasion our observer also noted large schools of capelin. Seabirds were feeding and several beluga whales were present along with some very active minke whales. Could the pilot whales have followed the capelin in? A month ago–aboard the Camille Marcoux ferry–a different observer positively identified a group of 20 to 25 pilot whales in the middle of the St. Lawrence while crossing from Godbout to Matane. 15 July 2004, vol. 8 no 28 Continental shark The first report of a basking shark this year comes from Sept-Îles. Our observer was carrying passengers out on a morning cruise that included a continental breakfast. They were off Corossol Island watching minke whales and harbour porpoises when a dorsal fin appeared at the surface. A basking shark swam within metres of their boat. Through a light haze, all aboard could hear the sound of the shark’s dorsal fin cutting through the water. This shark is not at all dangerous: basking sharks are plankton eaters. This in no way diminishes their impressive size. They average eight to ten metres in length. Spies in Mingan A minke whale was "spying" on our collaborators from Mingan. In actual fact, the animal was "spyhopping", behaviour whereby a whale surfaces vertically–bringing its head out of the water–and observes what is going on above water. Breaching whales Whales have been seen jumping completely out of the water in the Mingan, Gaspé and Percé areas. Humpback whales are most often seen doing this, but minke whales also occasionally breach. Why do they do this? There are numerous hypotheses. They could be making their presence known or it could also be aggressive behaviour, hunting tactics to assemble prey, a manner of ridding themselves of external parasites such as lamprey eels. It could also be their mood or even a reaction to sea conditions such as wind and waves. Only the whales know for sure. While sitting on the porch While quietly sitting on their porch, whale watchers from Pointe-des-Monts were spectators to a whale show. Minke whales were splashing all around during surface feeding manoeuvres, a humpback whale brought its tail out of the water as it dove and fin whales could be seen blowing a little further off. 22 July 2004, vol. 8 no 29 A right whale A right whale was observed off Percé on July 16; the first reported sighting of this endangered species this year. Right whales have been seen more frequently in the St. Lawrence in recent years. This whale could have been Rat, a female right whale that regularly visits the Percé area. At one point she even brought her calf with her. Whatever the case, the whale that showed up on July 16 has not been seen since. Maybe it has been hiding out in the fog off the red cliffs. Petrel harbinger A Wilson’s storm petrel was spotted on July 15. This seabird nests in Antarctica and migrates into northern waters during summer to feed on plankton. It is known for following boats and whales, particularly right whales. Our observers thought that its presence was a harbinger. Sure enough, the next day a right whale showed up… with fifteen petrels following along behind. The Far East The MICS team has sent part of its research team to Quebec’s Far East: Blanc-Sablon. On arrival, members of the team spotted humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and a killer whale. A few days earlier an observer that was stationed in the area spotted approximately fifty dolphins in the distance although he was unable to identify the species. The Strait of Belle-Isle is a privileged site for encountering these species of cetaceans. Flying fish Imagine if you will the sight of fish being projected out of the water during the manoeuvres of three humpback whales feeding with their mouths wide open, showing off their baleen plates. This is exactly what occurred all day long on July 17 off Grande-Cave in Gaspé Bay. Greenland shark Two Greenland sharks were found dead on the beach near Baie-Comeau this past week. The GEERG team, which studies elasmobranchs and Greenland sharks, took samples from the carcasses. But beware, there are also live sharks! Last year off Baie-Comeau four sharks were filmed by divers, causing quite a bit of excitement. This year GEERG was looking to verify if these animals were still in the area. Members of the team have clocked a good number of dives as well as twenty encounters with these creatures. For further details on this story, consult the weekly Current Events section at http://www.whales-online.net/eng/3/3-1-1.html 29 July 2004, vol. 8 no 30 Dolphins have arrived Approximately 25 white-sided dolphins were reported near Godbout on July 21, while whale watchers from Gaspé encountered around thirty of them at sea on July 26. This species sports a magnificent coloration pattern: a black back, a white belly and a grey band with a corn-yellow line on each flank. An estimated 12 000 white-sided dolphins frequent the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Some of them occasionally swim upstream into the Estuary. A group of approximately 20 representatives of this species was also apparently spotted by a fisherman off Grande-Rivière. Sperm whales Quite a week for sperm whales! On July 19, 20 and 21, our observers from Baie-Comeau and Franquelin spotted a sperm whale. A photograph of the whale’s tail allowed us to identify it as Tryphon, a well-known sperm whale that visits the St. Lawrence nearly every year. Interesting anecdote: dozens of squid were found along beaches in the area. Could this prey have been what attracted the sperm whale here in the first place? On July 24, nine sperm whales were also reported off Les Bergeronnes. By day’s end they had drifted as far as Bic. They did not fluke up when they dove, instead they were mostly seen "logging". They would sometimes twist around in an odd manner and at one point they assembled into a rosette, forming a circle with their heads at the centre. They would often bring the front of their heads out of the water and one of them even turned its head exposing its eye above the surface. On July 27 and 28, small groups of two, three or four sperm whales were seen off Les Bergeronnes, Les Escoumins and the Boisés Islets. One solitary sperm whale was also spotted, it once again turned out to be Tryphon. The Far East II More precise information has just come in from members of the MICS team stationed at Blanc-Sablon who are pursuing research projects in the area. There are an impressive number of cetaceans near Vieux-Fort, including about 20 fin whales, 150 to 200 humpback whales and approximately 500 white-beaked dolphins. A whale and its calf A female humpback whale and its calf have put on quite a show for whale-watching boat passengers and hikers that happened to be walking along the Forillon National Park trails that border Gaspé Bay. Both whales—the adult and the calf—were leaping out of the water and slapping the surface with their tails. Was this training or just a game? 5 August 2004, vol. 8 no 31 Living together The 200 or so humpback whales spotted last week off Blanc-Sablon have scattered into groups of 10 to 20 this week. The decision of an animal to live in large groups or not has a lot to do with predation and prey. On the feeding grounds, humpback whale groups–like fin whale groups–tend to be small and temporary. In this case, group size appears to be dependent on the type of prey available and how it is distributed. On the other hand, the white-beaked dolphins that are in the area form more stable groups of up to several hundred at a time. This is possibly a strategy to avoid becoming prey to sharks or killer whales. Of course there is likely more to it than simply being a link in the food chain; the important things in life come to mind, such as caring and teaching of young, mating and learning to be a parent. Using this information as a starting point, various theories become possible to explain why the dozens of minke whales in the Gulf are solitary creatures, while the hundreds of harbour porpoises present throughout the St. Lawrence are most often seen in groups of three to five at a time. Those humpback whales Humpback whales are not restricted to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. One of the two seen off Pointe-des-Monts fluked up just off shore. A French tourist visiting the area managed to capture the event on video; something to show the folks back home. The two humpback whales that appear to have adopted the Tadoussac-Les Escoumins area as their summer residence–Tic Tac Toe and Cocotte–are still present, much to the delight of whale-watchers. Such behaviour! On Sunday, August 1, Tic Tac Toe and Cocotte were seen rolling over each other, belly to belly. One of them would lift its tail while the other swam beneath. Two witnesses swear they saw a trail of a white substance in Tic Tac Toe’s wake. Could this have been sexual behaviour? One of the humpback whales spotted off Percé breached 20 times in a row, 30 m from a boat. A minke whale in the same area decided to investigate a whale-watching vessel in the manner of a curious dolphin–swimming close just beneath the surface and coming up five to six times on either side. And that’s not all folks! Also off Percé, two basking sharks–one larger than the other–were seen swimming some 30 m from each other. One of the sharks came to within metres of a whale-watching boat. Enough to make one wonder who’s watching whom. Beluga whales in sight An observer at Baie-Sainte-Marguerite has noted a large contingent of beluga whales in the Bay since Tuesday. They appear to be females with young calves. Despite the fact that these white whales are often seen in this area, their preference for this site remains a mystery. Are they seeking out warmer waters for their offspring? Are they coming into the Bay to rub on the sandy bottom and slough off moulting skin? Behavioural research conducted in this area in the past has not led to any definite conclusions. What has been noted, however, is that beluga whales conduct themselves differently here than they do elsewhere within their summer distribution area. For those interested in observing them from land, Baie-Sainte-Marguerite is but one site among many where beluga whales often swim within visual range of the Estuary shore. Four beluga whales, along with six harbour seals, were spotted a mere 30 m from the South Shore near Cacouna this past week. Great whales upstream A fin whale with a calf has been sighted off Baie-des-Rochers in the Charlevoix region while a third fin whale was seen in the distance. Certain individual fin whales often seen at the head of the Laurentian Channel–like U2, Bp 049 and Bp 020–have been sporadically photographed further upstream since 1999. Why have they moved into the Charlevoix region? Is it because food has become more abundant in this area, or less abundant elsewhere? Who are the whales that were present this past week? Hopefully GREMM researchers working with beluga whales in the area will manage to snap some good quality fin whale shots for positive identification. 12 August 2004, vol. 8 no 32 Sperm whale(s) on the move A sperm whale was spotted off Pointe-des-Monts on August 3. Two sperm whales were spotted on August 9, three nautical miles off Forestville. Finally, there were several sightings of a solitary sperm whale between Baie-Comeau and Godbout on August 10 and 11. The first confirmed sperm whale sighting in the Estuary dates back to 1991. Sperm whales have been reported every year since. Are there more sperm whales visiting the St. Lawrence than before or are these sightings the side effect of heightened awareness of how to identify this species? One thing is for certain, with its enormous head, slanted blow, prolonged time spent breathing at the surface (sperm whales often breathe 20 or 30 times in a row before diving) and triangular-shaped tail flukes, it is difficult to confuse a sperm whale with any other species of cetacean. Unfortunately, without photographs of the whale’s tail, there is no way to confirm how many different sperm whales were seen last week. After birth…? What appears to be a fresh placenta was discovered off Portneuf-sur-Mer on the morning of August 11 by the Mériscope research team. Measuring four metres in length, the floating mass contained veins, fresh blood was visible and birds had not yet begun feeding on it. There was no smell of putrefaction. A transparent white sac was seen floating alongside. No umbilical cord was present. All of these details lead observers to believe that if this really was a placenta, the birth occurred in the night preceding their discovery. Two similar sightings occurred in this area in earlier years. In 1990, GREMM researchers saw a blue whale expulsing a placenta. A calf then surfaced just once and was never seen again. On August 23 2000, a placenta was found floating at the surface, leaving MICS researchers perplexed. This most recent discovery also leaves plenty of room for speculation. Presently, there is no way of knowing whether or not the birth–if birth there was–was successful or even what species of whale may have been born. If you spot a new-born whale, dead or alive, please call the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network by dialling 1-877-7baleine. Rapid transit The two star humpback whales of the Estuary–Tic Tac Toe and Cocotte (H 492)–were seen in the downstream portion of the Tadoussac-Les Escoumins area for the last time on Saturday, August 7. They were travelling eastward at a constant speed of 3.5 knots. Siam, another regular visitor to the Estuary, was also seen on Saturday off Puyjalon, far to the east off Anticosti Island. All three of these whales re-surfaced three days later off Shelldrake on the Lower North Shore, west of Anticosti Island. Had those three members of the Estuary humpback club communicated with each other for a pre-determined rendezvous or was this just a chance encounter? A group of blue whales During a whale-watching cruise on Friday, August 6, off Gaspé, observers spotted a group of 10 blue whales. This is a rare occurrence indeed! Blue whales tend to be relatively solitary animals that are occasionally seen in pairs. That said, as may have been the case off Gaspé this past week, blue whales do sometimes get together on feeding grounds to take advantage of an abundance of krill. 19 August 2004, vol. 8 no 33 Shark sightings Shark watching is fast becoming an activity in certain areas of the St. Lawrence. Two of the seven species of shark that swim our waters–the Greenland shark and the basking shark–have been the object of some spectacular sightings this past week. First of all, anywhere from 9 to 20 Greenland sharks, several metres in length, were seen swimming in two metres of water from the floating docks at Saint-Pancrace Bay, near Baie-Comeau. The Greenland shark has a varied diet composed of everything from sand lance and sea snails to seals and even caribou. Several shallow-water sightings of this shark have been reported in the Baie-Comeau area this summer. This is not a usual occurrence. Visit the Website of the research group studying these fascinating animals to learn more about them: www.geerg.ca. Observers in the Percé area watched in fascination as four basking sharks over ten metres in length swam past their boat. They could clearly see their immense gills through the calm surface of the water. Basking sharks–the second largest fish in the world–feed using their gills to filter small organisms from the water. They are regularly sighted near the surface in the St. Lawrence; several representatives of this species have been reported off the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula over the past few weeks. One was also sighted near the northern shore of the Magdalen Islands on Monday. Babies Two very small minke whales have been spotted in the Estuary. The first sighting took place from shore near Les Escoumins on August 10 when an observer spotted an adult accompanied by a very small minke whale. The two whales were swimming and breathing simultaneously within three metres of each other. The second sighting took place off Pointe-au-Boisvert, between Les Escoumins and Forestville, on August 18, where a miniature minke whale was seen swimming on its own. Due to its diminutive size, researchers from the Mériscope at first mistook it for a harbour porpoise; they estimate that the baby minke whale was a mere two to three metres in length. It is surprising that a whale this small was observed swimming alone, unaccompanied by an adult. A blue whale calf has also been observed on several occasions in the waters off Portneuf-sur-Mer since the weekend. The mother appears to be quite protective of her offspring, often placing herself between her calf and any approaching vessel. Photos taken by Mériscope researchers have led to the confirmation of the mother’s identity; she is on file in the MICS´s blue whale photo-identification catalogue under the code number B108. On the lookout for right whales A pair of right whales was spotted some 15 nautical miles off Cape Gaspé on the afternoon of August 15. This is the second sighting of right whales in the St. Lawrence this year. The two whales were photographed and, if photographic quality is sufficient, their identity will be confirmed. Photographs of the heads of these animals are necessary for individual identification purposes. Only 300 or so right whales are left in the North Atlantic Ocean; almost all of them are on file and their movements are closely monitored. Right whales are seriously endangered. Due to the precarious status of this species any sightings should be promptly reported to the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network by dialling 1-877-722-5346. 26 August 2004, vol. 8 no 34 Into the breach, out of the water Although minke whales are generally known around the world as discreet animals, here in the St. Lawrence they are everything but. Their exuberance in our waters is nothing short of spectacular. They are often seen leaping completely out of the water, a type of behaviour known as "breaching", which is common to several species such as the humpback whale, the sperm whale and the right whale. On August 20, three minke whales were seen breaching repetitively at Cave Cove near Les Bergeronnes. That same day, a minke whale was seen breaching in the wake of the Rimouski-Forestville ferry one nautical mile off Forestville. Our observer from Percé also watched a minke whale breach from her office window and yet another minke whale performed several breaches off Sauvages Cove, near Forillon. Possibly due to their size and body shape, fin whales hardly ever breach. Yet, on August 17, a fin whale performed 10 breaches off Les Bergeronnes! Why?…Good question! Researcher Hal Whitehead describes this behaviour as an exclamation point, a way of emphasizing other, often sub-aquatic, behaviour. Where are the fin whales? And speaking of fin whales, representatives of this enigmatic species, which have been relatively hard to come by in the St. Lawrence Estuary in recent years, are presently spread throughout the St. Lawrence. From the Estuary to the Gulf, here is an overview of where the fin whales roam. As many as eight fin whales, including a baby, have been sighted in the Les Bergeronnes-Les Escoumins area. Three fin whales and a baby were sighted off Portneuf-sur-Mer, three more off Gaspé, five off Percé and four off Matane. But the record number is in the Mingan area off Rivière-au-Tonnerre where MICS researchers estimate there are as many as 60 fin whales. Researchers working on the photo-identification of fin whales are curious to know which individual animals are where, and why they are so few in the Estuary. To woo a blue The early morning nip in the air is more a sign of autumn than of spring, which is the mating season for many animal species. But try telling that to the blue whales. As happens every year at the end of summer in the St. Lawrence, blue whales have begun pairing up and swimming in single file, likely in preparation for their mating season, which takes place over the winter. As noted by Richard Sears, head researcher at MICS, these couples are usually a female accompanied by a male, with the female in the lead. Whale watchers in the Portneuf-sur-Mer area have noted this typical behaviour among the eight or so blue whales swimming their waters. One known male blue whale, Torishinto, was seen approaching two known females, B108 and Chameau. Chameau reacted by "trumpeting": blowing air noisily through her blowholes. Was she flattered or flustered? 2 September 2004, vol. 8 no 35 Tryphon and company Once again this year, sperm whales have been sighted along the North Shore of the Estuary. The first of the most recent sightings was of two animals in the Portneuf-sur-Mer area on August 25. One to three sperm whales have been spotted and photographed in the Estuary almost every day since. One of the whales photographed is Tryphon, who has become something of a regular visitor to the Estuary since 1991. The two others do not seem to match any of the 21 individuals in the GREMM’s catalogue of the sperm whales photographed in the Estuary. Curious dolphins Whale watchers off Percé were treated to quite an encounter when the boat they were on became the object of the curiosity of a group of around 50 Atlantic white-sided dolphins, many of them accompanied by young animals. The small cetaceans swam near the boat frequently and whale watchers could clearly observe them through the water just below the surface. The fact that the animals did not appear to be feeding could explain why they took the time to visit. Belugas in the Saguenay Beluga whales have been numerous in the Saguenay this past week. Groups of 10 to 40 at a time were seen in Ste. Marguerite Bay and even further upstream. Two were spotted as far upstream as Cape Trinité on Friday August 27. Nearer the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord, smaller groups are seen almost on a daily basis swimming either upstream or downstream depending on the flow of the tide. Observers at Pointe Noire were especially fortunate last Sunday morning when 30 adult and young beluga whales hung around just off the point for nearly three hours. The whales were swimming rapidly just below the surface every which way—apparently chasing fish—bringing their heads above the surface and spitting water. At one point, as a minke whale came into view, the beluga whales were heard vocalizing, making a noise somewhere between a growl and a duck quacking. Was it a message? For other belugas or the minke whale? 9 September 2004, vol. 8 no 36 Light and fog Today a northwest wind breaks the bright sunlight reflected off the surface of the St. Lawrence into myriad diamonds. Possibly due to the lower angle of the sun on the horizon, light always appears brighter, the air cleaner and details sharper at this time of the year. Yet, visibility is not always as exceptional as it is today. When a bank of fog as thick as pea soup enshrouded Pointe-des-Monts on August 7, whale watchers had to resort to using their ears to perceive the whales. One observer from the area reports hearing as many as five minke whales blowing just offshore; the whales appeared to be particularly close. While visibility diminishes drastically in the fog, sounds travel farther; the denser air facilitates the transmission of sound waves, which cover greater distances before fading away. Indefatigable great whales Great whales are still quite numerous in the Mingan area this week. They are also quite active. Researchers from MICS report some 20 humpback whales to the west of Anticosti Island. While these whales do not appear to be feeding, there is plenty of interaction between males and groups of females. Are they revving up for their mating season, which takes place in warmer waters of the Caribbean over the winter? There are also approximately 50 fin whales in this same area. These greyhounds of the sea are living up to their nickname, swimming rapidly and dynamically, bringing their tails out of the water as they turn and frequently changing groups. The ten fin whales observed in the Estuary this week were just as lively. This type of behaviour is more often associated to feeding than anything else, as the 40-tonne animals actively hunt small schooling fish. Numerous harbour porpoises and the odd minke whale offer up quite a contrast in size as they swim among the lively leviathans. A Charlevoix resident In contrast to all of this frenetic activity, our observer from Port-au-Persil, in the Charlevoix region, reports a solitary minke whale hanging around just offshore for a long period of time on September 4. Later in the day what she believes to be the same animal swam calmly past her kayak, following the coastline on a backdrop of white beluga whales alternately surfacing in the distance. Peace. 16 September 2004, vol. 8 no 37 In the sky… and on the water There is no denying it; the signs are becoming too numerous to ignore. Summer is definitely fading into autumn with the unmistakable call of V-shaped flights of Canada geese heading south all along and above the St. Lawrence. What if migrating birds could put together slide shows of their travels–like human travellers do when they go abroad–would they include aerial shots of the many whales they observe from on high? Imagine what the humpback whale seen fluking up just offshore must have looked like to the numerous groups of black and white, pointy-tailed oldsquaw ducks seen gathering near Pointe-des-Monts. These birds have been observed in lines and V formations on the water, likely in preparation to moving upstream into the St. Lawrence Estuary where many of them will spend the winter. Our observer from Portneuf-sur-Mer reports having seen blue whales blowing bubbles under water. Try to picture what this might have looked like to a black-legged kittiwake flying overhead! Thousands of kittiwakes–whose name resembles their call–have been sighted between Tadoussac and Les Bergeronnes. They will hang around until the ice forces them to flee to the maritime provinces. What image would phalaropes, landing on the surface to feed, retain of the five blue whales and ten fin whales spotted off Sept-Îles? Finally, high-flying, fast-diving northern gannets must command an impressive view of the basking shark reported near Bonaventure Island. These impressive birds will be leaving soon, heading to the east coast of the United States and the Gulf of Mexico for the winter. Off-season whale watching Off-season travellers are being treated to some impressive whale watching this year. While the number of whale watchers diminishes, cetacean species remain abundant throughout the Gulf and Estuary. September is often a wonderful time to be on or near the water, however one must dress in layers, as the weather can be quite unpredictable. Yet, those who continue to scan the water’s surface are likely to get an eyeful. If the wind doesn’t whip up the waves too much, harbour porpoises can be seen bobbing up unpredictably just about anywhere. Minke whales are also pretty much omnipresent. Some of them have been seen forming pairs near the Saguenay, uncommon behaviour for this species. Fin whales continue to ply the waters of the Estuary while dozens of fin whales and humpback whales swim the waters near the Mingan Islands. A trip to the Gaspé Peninsula could include sightings of blue whales, humpback whales, fin whales, and white-sided dolphins. All in all, well worth the effort of dressing up and heading out. What was that? A whale watcher reports seeing several minke whales near Manitou–situated between Sept-Îles and Mingan–along with something completely different. While she was watching the minkes, a group of four or five black-coloured, melon-headed whales the size of beluga whales, but with large dorsal fins, swam slowly by. This description closely resembles pilot whales, rare visitors to this part of the Gulf. One never knows what will appear at the surface of the water, another reason to keep an eye on the horizon. 23 September 2004, vol. 8 no 38 There she blows! High winds blew for several days in the Gulf and off the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula last week making offshore whale-watching excursions adventurous, to say the least. The wind wasn’t the only thing blowing, however. Dozens of blows of great whales could be seen from the shore between Anse-au-Griffon and Cape Gaspé. Whale watchers were also treated to quite a show as four fin whales spent the better part of a day feeding near the surface to within 100 m of the Grand Grave wharf, while three other fin whales were doing the same a mere 50 m from the Brillant Cove wharf. Numerous minke whales, fin whales, blue whales and humpback whales could also be seen feeding a little further offshore with even more blows in the distance as a backdrop. When great whales feed at the surface, they often turn onto their sides, bringing pectoral fins, mouths and half of their tails out of the water, thus allowing whale watchers a view of body parts normally hidden beneath the waves. The whales were feeding on large banks of krill near the surface in the area, a feast fit for a giant! A beluga far from home A solitary beluga whale has spent the entire summer in the Gulf of St. Lawrence near the mouth of the Musquaro River some 50 km east of Natashquan on the Lower North Shore, far from the regular distribution area for this species. The whale is apparently quite curious and often approaches boats navigating in the area, occasionally rubbing up against their hulls. This type of behaviour–typical of solitary wayward whales–can prove to be dangerous for boaters as well as for the animals. In recent years, several beluga whales in the same situation have ended up with either serious injuries or dead due to physical contact with boats and propellers. Repetitive interaction with humans can also reduce the ability of a solitary beluga whale returning to the wild. For this reason, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has issued an advisory to use caution when in proximity of this whale. A member of the GREMM’s research team was dispatched to the area last week to document the situation and raise awareness concerning the hazards of interaction with the whale. He photographed and videotaped the animal, and took a biopsy sample to verify its origin (Arctic or St. Lawrence). The stray beluga whale appears to be a young female in good health. A very small seal Researchers from Mériscope happened across a group of approximately 40 seals near the mouth of the Portneuf River. The group was essentially composed of grey seals with a few harbour seals mixed in. The researchers noticed a very small seal swimming among them. The small seal was much darker than the average seal pup. Intrigued by the odd colour and small size–grey seals give birth in the middle of winter and harbour seals in the spring–they moved a little closer to get a better look. When they finally re-sighted the small animal from behind, the mystery of this odd seal was revealed: it was in fact a muskrat! 30 September 2004, vol. 8 no 39 The whale exchange Every week the Whale News Network receives information concerning the movements of whale species and even of certain individual whales. This week, for example, the fin whale known as Boomerang showed up in the Estuary. It had apparently been seen earlier in the summer in the Mingan area. Conversely, the humpback whales known as Cocotte and Tic Tac Toe, which had spent the better part of the summer in the Estuary, are now present in the Mingan area. As the amount of information increases, a clearer image of how different whale species use the St. Lawrence is emerging. Researchers from different groups (MICS, MLI-DFO, ORES, GREMM, etc.) talk about site fidelity, correlate whale gatherings to accumulations of prey species and have a general idea of the overall dynamics of certain whale species throughout the St. Lawrence. It is an exciting time to be studying these animals. This clearer understanding of the lives of whales is useful when it comes to making decisions about how to better protect them. Yet, some questions, such as; "Why did the fin whale cross the river?", may remain forever unanswered. Was it really just to get to the other side? A rare sighting in the Gulf A seasoned shrimp fisherman working off the eastern tip of Anticosti Island was quite surprised when a "sea turtle the size of a kitchen table" approached his seine net full of shrimp. The animal swam quickly away when it got close to the boat. The fisherman had never seen anything of the kind in his 40-year career. He describes the animal as having a round head and a carapace with lines of bumps like a crocodile. His description corresponds to that of a leatherback turtle. The leatherback is the heaviest living reptile and the only sea turtle to visit the St. Lawrence. Sightings in the St. Lawrence are quite rare, and the leatherback turtles are considered an endangered species. Any sightings reported to the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (1-877-722-5346) will supply researchers with precious information that may prove useful for the recovery of this species. St. Félicien Zoo’s newest resident is doing well On June 11, a very young harbour seal pup was reported all alone on a beach near Rimouski. After several days, no mother seal had been seen near the little animal, which was getting progressively weaker. Well-meaning passers-by had moved the animal and even taken it to a centre for the rehabilitation of small wild animals. This intervention condemned the animal to a life in captivity: if the seal were to be released into the wild, it could possibly introduce new pathogens into the marine environment. On June 15 a decision was therefore made to send the pup to the St. Félicien Zoo, which already had three adult harbour seals in a tank. When the Zoo received the animal it weighed only 7.7 kg, refused to be bottle fed and had to be force fed a mixture of fish, cream, vitamins and minerals. The female seal pup now weighs twice as much as when it arrived and will soon be able to join the other harbour seals in a big tank. Seals often beach themselves for various reasons: either to moult, give birth, nurse or simply sun themselves. If ever you come across a live seal on a beach, the best thing to do is to leave it alone. Interacting with a wild animal often causes complications and may even compromise the animal’s survival. 7 October 2004, vol. 8 no 40 A rooster in the henhouse On October 1, a drifting minke whale carcass was reported to the Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (1-877-722-5346). The event in itself is not unusual. What is surprising is that this was, without a doubt, a male minke whale. When the ORES team arrived on the scene they found a drifting 6.8-m long whale with a protruding penis. Assisted by a member of the GREMM team and a local resident who graciously leant them his boat, they extracted baleen plates, a piece of skin and some blubber, all of which will be sent to researchers at the Maurice Lamontagne Institute (Fisheries and Oceans Canada). Underwater images of the whale’s dorsal fin were not sufficient for the researchers to identify the whale. Nearly all minke whale carcasses found along the shores of the St. Lawrence over the years have turned out to be females. All minke whales for which ORES has managed to determine gender—when the whale turns and shows its belly—have also been females. Of the 29 minke whales biopsied by the MICS research team, 24 were females. Minke whale populations often segregate according to gender, age group or reproductive state. So, what was this male minke whale doing in this no man’s land? A time of surprises With cold winds ripping the multicoloured leaves off the trees there is no denying that the end of the whale-watching season is fast approaching. Several of our observers were unable to head out to sea this past week due to high winds, fog and rain. Nonetheless, regular sightings of fin whales, minke whales, harbour porpoises, belugas and the occasional blue whale were reported both from land and sea. Whale News Network archives reveal that uncommon species of whales are often observed at this time of year. Here are a few examples: on 21October 1999 seven sperm whales at Cap-de-Bon-Désir; on 12 October 2000 approximately 100 Atlantic white-sided dolphins, again off Cap-de-Bon-Désir; on 29 September 2001 one humpback whale in the Saguenay River; on 26 September 2002 Atlantic white-sided dolphins deep in Gaspé Bay; and last but not least, on 11 October 2003 two killer whales off Les Bergeronnes. Many tour operators will continue to offer excursions up until the end of October and some even into early November. It is truly a time of surprises. Don’t blink! 14 October 2004, vol. 8 no 41 Blue and white While at sea this week, our observer from Portneuf-sur-Mer spotted two blue whales, both of which were flukers, bringing their tails out of the water as they dove. He also spotted many harbour porpoises, a couple of minke whales and a fin whale. However, the most surprising sighting was that of a blue whale and a solitary beluga whale that spent a good deal of time swimming near each other. The blue back and the white back surfacing alternately or simultaneously were not only a contrast in colour, but also in size. Were the two whales feeding on a common prey? Goings… Autumn is a season of movement for many species. Of the 13 cetacean species to visit the St. Lawrence, only the beluga whale is considered to be a year-round resident; it moves from the Estuary into the Gulf for the winter. The movements of a few other species are relatively well known; humpback whales, for example, swim south into the Caribbean Sea in winter. Yet, the migratory movements of other species such as the blue whale, fin whale and minke whale remain relatively mysterious. One common error when considering these migrations is to believe that all representatives of a given species congregate in well-defined area. Recent data concerning fin whales, for example, suggest that these animals may be widely distributed throughout the North Atlantic in winter. Many blue whales apparently hang out off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, while several sightings are reported in the Gulf and Estuary of the St. Lawrence. It is important to keep in mind two things : every species has its own unique migration pattern and there are often exceptions to these patterns. … and comings This applies to bird species as well. While many birds are also in the process of leaving the St. Lawrence–such as the parasitic jaegers, which are becoming progressively more rare as they head off into the North Atlantic–there is life after October! Oldsquaw ducks have arrived. Presently there are just a few small groups numbering between 15 and 20 individuals, but in a few weeks, thousands of these birds will be flocking into the Estuary for the winter. Another bird to winter over in the St. Lawrence is the purple sandpiper. In recent years, ornithologists have noted this species near Les Escoumins, on Rouge Island, on the Alouettes Tidal Flats and on Islet Point, in Tadoussac. As a matter of fact, two of these discreet birds were first spotted on Islet Point last week. Be on the lookout for gerfalcons as well. The purple sandpiper is an ideal prey for these large Arctic birds of prey that also winter over in our latitudes. 21 October 2004, vol. 8 no 42 Early hibernation This past weekend marked the end of the season for many whale-watching tour operators and whale researchers. From Percé to Mingan to Les Bergeronnes, owners of hard-working vessels prepared their boats for a well-earned hibernation. Many of these ships were in operation May through October from sunrise to sunset. The doors to the Tadoussac dry-dock were also opened this past weekend so that boats and pontoons could be floated in on the high tide. A good crowd of locals and visitors was on hand to watch: small, inflatable vessels were hauled up the boat ramp on trailers; mid-sized, privately owned vessels–from sailboats to cabin cruisers–were either hauled out on trailers or sent into dry-dock on cradles. The largest of the whale-watching ships–those that carry several hundred passengers at a time– along with a few inflatables will continue operating in the Tadoussac area until the end of October when, they too, will say a final goodbye to the whales and be pulled from the water on trailers where they will remain until next spring. The St. Lawrence at a glance While some tour boat operators will soon be migrating to Coudres Island, Québec City, or even as far as south as Montreal, many whales in the St. Lawrence do not appear to be in such a hurry to leave. This past week, four humpback whales and eight minke whales were spotted near Bonaventure Island. Two fin whales were seen off Portneuf-sur-Mer along with four blue whales, three of which were flukers. In all some 25 minke whales were identified in the Estuary between Tadoussac and Les Escoumins by the ORES research team. In the same area, several observers report two fin whales in different spots in the last few days. Could it be the same two whales, moving around? Finally, a large group of well over 50 beluga whales–both adult and young animals–was observed navigating the tidal rips at the mouth of the Saguenay on October 20 with thousands of gulls flying overhead. So, if you find yourself walking along the shore, take the time to glance seaward; although you will not see as many boats as last week, chances are you will see a marine mammal. 28 October 2004, vol. 8 no 43 Where the great whales roam While larger cetaceans appear to have deserted the Estuary this past week, as many as 12 fin whales and 4 blue whales were spotted eight nautical miles from shore off Gallix, near Sept-Îles. In all, six humpback whales were seen off Percé last week and as many as 15 great-whale blows were noted off Cape Espoir in the same area. There are likely more great whales in the Gulf, however whale watchers are likely now less numerous than whales. A couple of sightings... or a sighting of couples The minke whale is generally described as a solitary animal. It is often spotted on its own or, at best, with several others swimming in its immediate vicinity, each whale "minding its own business". Very occasionally minke whales are seen swimming side by side in groups of up to five at a time. Earlier in the season, several pairs and trios were seen in the Estuary. While the reason for this behaviour remains a mystery, ORES researchers have noted that certain individual minke whales are more prone to form temporary associations than others. This past week the behaviour of the minke whales spotted off Baie-Comeau, Pointe-des-Monts and Percé was typical : solitary animals doing their own thing. Off Tadoussac, however, as many as four minke whale pairs were observed near the Prince Shoal lighthouse. Although not much is known about the reproductive habits of minke whales, mating is presumed to occur in winter. Could these be couples revving up for the mating season, or was this simple coincidence? It has been noted that the majority of minke whales in the Estuary appear to be females. Harbour porpoises, on the other hand, are often seen in small groups of three to five at a time. Five pairs were observed last week in St. Pancrace Bay near Baie-Comeau. These associations likely have nothing to do with mating, which takes place in late spring or early summer. In this case, pairs are likely made up of mother harbour porpoises accompanied by their calves, which are born in the spring and nurse for a period of 8 to 12 months. 4 November 2004, vol. 8 no 44 Close encounter of a whale kind Imagine if you can, swimming near the second longest animal in the world, being able to observe the impressive grace and power of an 18-metre fin whale from below the waves. A diver watched in awe as two fin whales swam by within a few metres of where he was placing fibre optic cables just offshore near l’Étang-du-Nord in the Magdalene Islands on October 21. The whales were feeding on a school of sand lance. When fin whales feed they concentrate on their prey while doing their best to avoid physical contact with boats or other objects in the water. Such a close encounter with a diver is extremely rare. Fin whales—unlike certain other species of cetaceans such as dolphins and humpback whales—do not tend to investigate boats or divers. Therefore, this was more likely a chance encounter than an active investigation on the part of the animal. There was very little danger for the diver; despite their tremendous size, fin whales have never been known to attack anything larger than small schooling fish. The birds of the Estuary Several observers have reported the arrival of hundreds of black ducks near Les Bergeronnes and Tadoussac this week. These tough ducks will resist the cold climate and spend the winter near shore feeding on small organisms such as scuds. Presently less numerous in the area, despite their name, common goldeneyes have begun showing up in groups along the coast in recent weeks and, even more rare, the first Barrow’s goldeneyes were spotted in the Estuary just last week. Several red-breasted mergansers and common eiders have also been seen near the tidal flats off Tadoussac, along with the first snow buntings of the season. These tidal flats bear the name Lark Reef (Battures aux Alouettes in French) in reference to the many shorebirds often sighted there that, in the past, were commonly referred to as “alouettes” (larks in English) regardless of species. Although several dozen horned larks have been spotted this fall on Lark Reef, they are now greatly outnumbered by over three hundred shorebirds—including purple sandpipers, dunlins and black-bellied plovers—spotted there this past week. 11 November 2004, vol. 8 no 45 Inshore whales and blows on the horizon Although few boats now navigate its waters, shore observers with their eyes turned seaward continue to spot cetaceans all along the St. Lawrence. The cold air over the surface combined with the bright autumn sunshine increase the chance of sighting great-whale blows from a distance; a high, white plume of whale breath can hang in the air for quite a while. One observer was still able to see the first blow of a whale as the animal exhaled for the third time. What follows is a brief overview of recent sightings. While on a trip to the Gaspé Peninsula, one of our regular observers saw a fin whale and a blue whale in Gaspé Bay and two blue whales on the Matane—Baie-Comeau ferry crossing. Two unidentified blows were sighted off Pointe-des-Monts. Our observer from Franquelin reports two blows about one kilometre offshore on November 6,7 and 8. Several blows attracted the attention of another observer to eight great whales surface feeding in the distance off Pointe-au-Boisvert, near Forestville. The fact that two of these animals fluked up as they dove indicates that they were likely blue whales. He also noticed a blow off Pointe-aux-Outardes, near Baie-Comeau. A seasoned collaborator watched six great whales within 100 m of the shore off Portneuf-sur-Mer on the morning of Tuesday, November 9. High winds made species identification difficult. Finally, on the morning of Wednesday, November 10, approximately 80 beluga whales were navigating the waters at the mouth of the Saguenay. News from a beluga far from home On September 23 we told the story of a solitary beluga whale that spent the entire summer in the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, near the Musquaro River (see The whale news network archives, vol. 8, no 38). Here is some fresh news concerning this animal. The whale in question moved up the St. Lawrence a few kilometres to Kégaska around October 15, where it remained near the wharf for several days. It even approached divers working on the wharf and shoved at their backs. It has since moved back downstream between Kégaska and the Musquaro River. The beluga whale was in the habit of approaching any boat sailing in its vicinity. Most residents, with the exception of a few fishermen, have put their boats up for the winter. Why did this beluga whale seek out the company of humans? Beluga whales are social and gregarious animals. This whale is presently isolated from its peers. Hopefully it will encounter other St. Lawrence beluga whales as they move downstream into the Gulf of St. Lawrence seeking out ice-free water. 18 November 2004, vol. 8 no 46 Offshore sightings As we mentioned last week, most off-season whale sightings come from shore-bound observers, understandable, given the harsh conditions involved in navigating the St. Lawrence at this time of year. Yet, despite the cold, several observers braved the weather this past week to sail offshore. With winds of 15 knots blowing out of the East and the temperature hovering around –4°C, observers from Gallix (near Sept-Îles) headed out to sea on the 12 and 13 of November. In all they spotted four blue whales, one fin whale, which was paired up with one of the blue whales, one minke whale and three harbour porpoises. They also noted a puffin, guillemots in winter plumage and black-legged kittiwakes. While crossing the St. Lawrence, from Tadoussac to Rivière-du-Loup, another observer saw plenty of minke whales and several active groups of 25 to 30 beluga whales. …and more inshore sightings Our observer from Portneuf-sur-Mer reports seeing the blows of seven great whales from high up on a cliff on November 14. The whales in question were divided into two groups: one of three and the other of four. They were approximately eight kilometres from shore and it was impossible to identify their species. One lone fin whale was seen from the Tadoussac sand dunes on November 16, along with four minke whales and 4 or 5 beluga whales. Probably the most remarkable sighting occurred far upstream in the Saguenay. Observers there noted the presence of ten beluga whales in Ha! Ha! Bay on November 13. While beluga whales frequent the Saguenay in the summer, they rarely swim so far upstream. A leatherback turtle near Coudres Island? On October 26 a turtle "two or three feet in diameter, with a head the size of a fist" was seen surfacing every 13 minutes to breathe near the Coudres Island ferry dock. According to David Rodrigue—coordinator of the Atlas des amphibiens et des reptiles du Québec—if this sighting were to be confirmed, it would be the westernmost sighting of a marine turtle in the St. Lawrence. Coudres Island is 350 kilometres west of the previous most westerly sighting at Tourelle near Cap-Chat. Mr. Rodrigue affirms that the only marine turtle known to swim Quebec waters is the leatherback turtle. However, details are presently too sketchy for definite species identification. 25 November 2004, vol. 8 no 47 Life… There are still signs of marine mammal life near shore in several areas of the St. Lawrence. Near Percé on Tuesday, November 23, while a total of six blows rose above the surface in the distance, two humpback whales were seen swimming together within a few kilometres of shore. There was also a rather rare sighting last Saturday, November 20 off Pointe-des-Monts. Two of our regular observers were sipping their morning coffee when they noticed an odd, slanted blow within a few hundred metres of shore. Their arms grew tired of holding up their binoculars and counting blows. When the whale finally dove, there was no doubt as to its species; it was a sperm whale! It surfaced in the same place a half an hour later before disappearing. This is very late in the season to observe sperm whales in the St. Lawrence; before this sighting, the latest observation occurred on October 19. Four or five minke whales and a couple of harbour porpoises were also spotted in the same area. …and death PocoThe story of the solitary young beluga whale nicknamed Poco came to an end when its carcass was discovered on a mudflat off South Portland, Maine on Monday, November 15. Poco was first sighted in early December 2003 in the Bay of Fundy (Whale News Network vol.7 no 48), then near Dear Island, New Brunswick in February 2004, Gloucester, Massachusetts in early March and then in Boston harbour in May (Whale News Network vol. 8 no 20). In June, Poco had moved northward and was sighted all along the coast of Maine over the summer. The whale was last seen alive in Saco Bay, Maine on October 30. Poco was a very curious animal that often investigated human activity, nudging divers and pushing small boats. A necropsy was performed on November 16 at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Although not conclusive, there are signs that the whale may have died of an infectious disease. Further testing of tissue samples will be necessary to determine exact cause of death. Larger than lifeOn Monday, November 22 the carcass of a 23-metre-long female blue whale came ashore on Moisie beach, near Sept-Îles. The whale, which was lying on its back, did not present any obvious signs of a ship strike or of entanglement in fishing gear. Teams from the Maurice Lamontagne Institute (Fisheries and Oceans Canada), the Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS) and the Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals (GREMM), along with Pierre-Henry Fontaine and a member from ORES Center, have all made their way to the site to take samples and photographs of the carcass. Some of the bones from the giant carcass will be cleaned and exposed at the CIMM in Tadoussac. Samples studied will be useful in furthering understanding of the entire endangered blue whale population. Because the study of carcasses often lead to a better understanding of the biology of living animals, it is important to report any stranded marine mammals to the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network by dialling, toll-free, 1-877-722-5346. 2 December 2004, vol. 8 no 48 Home on the range Our collaborator from Ha! Ha! Bay, in the upper Saguenay Fjord, has once again spotted beluga whales. The latest sighting was of a group of seven big adults, on November 18. These sightings are out of the ordinary for, although they frequent the Saguenay in summer, beluga whales rarely swim so far upstream. These recent sightings will be included with other distribution data, thus contributing to a better understanding of the behavioural ecology and habitat use of the white whales of the St. Lawrence. Other sightings, although less surprising, bear noting; beluga whales are regularly spotted at the mouth of the Saguenay these days, either moving upstream or down with the tide. That’s not a dovekie! On November 30, at 8:00 a.m., while scanning the horizon in search of migratory seabirds, an observer from Tadoussac noted the blows of three great whales some six kilometres offshore between the Prince Shoal lighthouse and the K54 buoy. Although they did not appear to be swimming in a tight formation, they were breathing in time with each other. Through his binoculars, our seasoned observer was able to positively identify at least one of the whales as a fin whale. Preliminary analysis of the fin whales photo-identified in the St. Lawrence Estuary in 2004 reveals a total 15 different individuals; this is a relatively low number when compared to data from the mid-1990s, when fin whales were more abundant in these parts of the St. Lawrence. In this context, every identification is precious. Unfortunately, as all research boats have been stored for the winter, the identity of these most recent visitors will remain a mystery. 9 December 2004, vol. 8 no 49 The challenge of winter whale watching This past week was a quiet one for marine mammal sightings in the St. Lawrence. A few beluga whales were spotted leaving the Saguenay on the morning of December 7, while several seals were spotted last week off Baie-Comeau. Estuary observers noted no great-whale blows this past week as they scanned the horizon from the various coastal viewpoints spread out between Tadoussac and Forestville. Although it is possible that they simply missed them, the absence of great whales in these parts of the St. Lawrence is to be expected at this time of the year. Observers stationed in the Gulf of St. Lawrence fared only slightly better: a single blow was noted at L’Anse-à-Beaufils, seven kilometres west of Percé on the morning of December 6. Strong winds in the Magdalen Islands this past week made whale watching an arduous, if not impossible task. A purple invasion As many as 40 purple sandpipers were spotted on Islet Point in Tadoussac on December 7. This hardy northern shorebird migrates "south" as far as Tadoussac in winter. It can be seen in this area from October through until April. It is often seen scurrying through rockweed at low tide in search of small crustaceans. At high tide, purple sandpipers tend to huddle together on the shore. Upstream seal While observing various bird species, a birdwatcher was surprised when he saw the head of what appeared to be a grey seal break the surface of the water near the Portneuf wharf, some 50 km upstream from Québec City. Although it is sometimes difficult to identify seals by species, the description given by this observer of a horse-headed silhouette corresponds to that of a grey seal. As with most animal species, seals occasionally push the limits of their typical range. So far this year 13 incidents of seals sighted beyond their typical range have been reported to the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network, some of them as far upstream as Melocheville and Vaudreuil, west of Montreal. 16 December 2004, vol. 8 no 50 Square head While crossing the St. Lawrence Estuary on Thursday, December 9, the captain of the Matane-Godbout ferry spotted the slanted blow of a sperm whale some10 nautical miles off Godbout. In all, he counted over 20 blows in a row before the animal finally sounded, bringing first its large, square head, its back and then its tail above the surface. Unfortunately, due to the fact that the whale was not fully perpendicular to his line of sight, the captain did not get a full view of the tail. Photographs from this angle reveal details like notches in the tails of sperm whales, the main identifying marks used to differentiate them. Twenty one distinct individuals have been identified to date in the St. Lawrence by the GREMM team. The same captain also spotted a group of around 50 harbour porpoises while crossing the Estuary the following day. Tall silhouettes Driving along the North Shore, an observer from Gallix noted the blows of at least two great whales approximately two nautical miles off Port-Cartier, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence on December 12. The impressive height of the blows–an estimated five metres–and their vertical silhouettes lead her to suspect that these were the spouts of blue whales. Variety: the spice of life As he was walking along the boardwalk on the morning of December 16, one of our seasoned observers noted a wide variety of bird species present on the calm surface of Tadoussac Bay. Here is his sighting list: 5 herring gulls, 1 great black-backed gull, 2 glaucous gulls, 5 arctic gulls, 1 lesser black-backed gull (relatively rare), 2 black guillemots, 4 mallards, 30 black ducks, 15 common goldeneyes, 25 Barrow’s goldeneyes and approximately 50 greater scaups, a species of duck that is unusual on the North Shore in winter. By now, all of these birds have arrived on their wintering grounds and will likely spend the remainder of the season in the general vicinity. Tadoussac Bay is but one of several areas–protected from the north wind and so far ice-free–where birds tend to congregate. So, if you plan on walking along the shore of a sheltered bay or cove, bring a pair of binoculars with you and spice up your winter! |