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Archives – The whale news network 2008The 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 2008. You may obtain information on specific topics by using the "find" function in the "edit" menu of your browser ( Example : search for the word "dolphin" to discover where and when dolphins were spotted by the whale news network). You can consult the Whale news network archives of
other years.
10 January 2008, vol. 12 no1 The Gaspé Peninsula is a lively place! There really wasn't much debate as to the choice of the post-Holiday-Season-lull Whale News Network headline: the waters around the Gaspé Peninsula are teeming with life, news that is as exciting as it is surprising! The first reports date back to December 6 and originate from the Sainte-Thérèse-de-Gaspé area, south of Percé, where far offshore—so far the species could not be identified—the blows of what were undoubtedly large rorqual whales were observed. On December 7, no less than 10 of these large blows were noted between Anse-à-Beaufils and Percé. They were not seen again until the 15 and 16 of December. Since then, blows have been perceived rising above the water's surface off Sainte-Thérèse-de-Gaspé on a daily basis since January 1. A second observer in the area reported three groups—a total of 15 animals—swimming the waters just offshore. Also on January 1, another whale fan searching for signs of marine life from his lookout at the tip of Cape Espoir on the Gaspé Peninsula noted two very dynamic fin whales along with four other blows, one of which was that of a blue whale. Surprisingly, he also spotted four minke whales among the larger rorquals. While they are are late in the season, these sightings not unique. Last year we reported a minke whale sighting at Barque Cove and Yves Cove in the Les Escoumins area on January 6, with a minke whale sighting a week earlier in Gaspé Bay. In 2002, a minke whale was noticed in the Sept-Îles area on January 17. The absence of ice around the Gaspé Peninsula combined with an abundance of food are likely behind these fascinating observations and we sincerely hope our loyal collaborators from the region experience many more such sightings in the near future! 17 January 2008, vol. 12 no2 Ice is remarkably…absent “If conditions remain the same, these pinnipeds will not have an ice problem this year, however we are told that conditions can still change drastically.” These lines were copied from the Whale News Network bulletin dated last December 13. Well, conditions have indeed changed. Ice has been conspicuously absent in both the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence since early January, allowing whales to take advantage of the ice-free waters bordering the Gaspé Peninsula. What the specialists say On January 11, the Canadian Ice Service (CIS) stated that ice cover is limited to 10 percent of the Gulf. The average in recent years has been more in the neighbourhood of 15 percent at this time of year. Thus, despite normal winter temperatures, ice formation in the St. Lawrence is behind schedule. One CIS forecaster anticipates a 40 to 60-centimetre-thick ice pack by late February, as opposed to the average of 50 to 70 centimetres. Ice and wildlife Winter observers are unanimous; there is almost no ice on the St. Lawrence, either along the shore, further offshore or even in ports. Whale watchers from the Gaspé Peninsula are thrilled: towering, powerful whale blows abound along the southern Peninsula; over 15 blows have been reported up to five miles from the shores of Sainte-Thérèse-de-Gaspé. These are likely the blows of fin and blue whales. There may even be a humpback whale among them, possibly the one that was spotted Christmas Eve in Gaspé Bay; our observer noted a blow that was more diffuse among the tall, candle-shaped blows. Sealers are having a hard time dealing with the absence of ice: “… harp seals are ice mammals…without ice, conditions are more difficult, waves are not blocked and we must hunt the seals in open water.” This is the reality near Les Escoumins, in the St. Lawrence Estuary, as well as near the Magdalen Islands. We have been told that there has been less ice this winter than last year, catches have been few up until now and, as it was last year, the Upper-North-Shore quota of 400 animals will probably not be reached. Hunters have been tempted by a group of 3 000 to 4 000 harp seals, however the animals are swimming too far offshore. A beluga whale swam through the Les Escoumins area again on Tuesday. The most recent whale observed by a local sealer dates back to early December. An important role Specialists are categorical: ice is an important element in the St. Lawrence ecosystem. It usually covers the Gulf and Estuary by mid-January, but this phenomenon is arriving progressively later in the season. This delay in ice formation has a direct impact on climatic conditions. The absence of ice engenders the formation of more and stronger depressions over the St. Lawrence. The absence of ice also accentuates shoreline erosion. Waves can cause serious damage in winter. Ice acts as a shield for the shore. The absence of pack ice also upsets the birth and survival of whitecoats, notably in the Magdalen Islands. Fortunately, specialists from the CIS affirm that cold weather in the coming weeks should precipitate the return of the ice. 24 January 2008, vol. 12 no3 A mysterious visitor Last Sunday a resident of Sainte-Madeleine-de-la-Rivière-Madeleine on the Gaspé Peninsula made a surprising discovery on the beach. She quickly reported her find to the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (1-877-722-5346); an approximately five-metre-long whale, black in colour with a bulbous forehead, was lying dead and half covered in sea ice. The following day digital photographs were used to confirm the species' identity. It turned out to be a long-finned pilot whale. This species frequents the St. Lawrence, but only in summer, long-finned pilot whales are more abundant around Newfoundland. Gregarious animals, they are known for their mass strandings. Finding one of these animals in the dead of winter on the north shore of the Gaspé Peninsula is a first! Could this male pilot whale have arrived with a group, unseen at a time of the year when observers are rare? On the other hand, could this whale have been isolated and disoriented? The regional population of long-finned pilot whales normally winters over between the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and North Carolina. It is hard to say what happened in this particular case. A Fisheries and Oceans Canada technician collected skin, blubber and muscle samples, along with as few teeth. Several bones were recovered for the Verte Island skeleton museum. The remainder of the carcass will either be carried out to sea with the coming tides and winter storms or transported to a landfill site. This incident, which has been well documented, will be added to a central St. Lawrence marine mammal data bank. 31 January 2008, vol. 12 no4 A stranded northern visitor Grey-mauve in colour, with large black eyes and a smooth back, it is frequently associated with very cold water and is most often found at depth. Abundance varies from one year to the next in the St. Lawrence; there were as many as 16 per square metre in 2004, yet it is often nearly absent in the waters of the Estuary and the northwestern portion of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Researchers are interested in this animal because of its increasing presence in the St. Lawrence, which is associated with climate change. Several dozen of specimens have been found stranded on the beach in Tadoussac in recent days, sometimes completely frozen in the ice, sometimes in free-flowing tidal pools left by the ebbing tide. Several individuals were recovered, photographed and identified: the species has been positively identified as Themisto libellula, a crustacean member of the zooplankton community that can measure up to four and a half centimetres in length! Who is this crustacean? Themisto libellula, or T. libellula to its friends, is considered to be a new arrival, a zooplankton species that first put in an appearance in the St. Lawrence in the early 1990s. It no longer goes unnoticed: between 1994 and 2003, T. libellula represented between 2 and 45 percent of zooplankton biomass, dependent on the sample year. Its occurrence is likely linked to the cold water that flows from the Labrador Plateau into the Gulf of St. Lawrence and as far upstream as the Estuary in winter. According to recently gathered data, Themisto libellula appeared to have “disappeared” from the St. Lawrence in 2006. Then around 100 specimens were harvested in 2007, a far cry from the record numbers of 2004! Labradorean waters penetrated the St. Lawrence long before the arrival of T. libellula, but it is possible that these waters did not flow so far upstream into the Lower Estuary as they have in recent years. It is also possible that changes may have occurred in water circulation in the Labrador Sea that influenced the increased incidence of T. libellula in these waters. So, what's the story behind the “mass stranding” reported early in the week in Tadoussac? It should be known that, in the Estuary, T. libellula is predominantly found in the cold intermediate layer that, as its name suggests, is the coldest of the layers of the water column. This portion of the Lower Estuary is characterized by a deepwater upwelling influenced by the tide, which was particularly strong due to last week's full moon. Thus, the strong currents simply threw several specimens up onto the beach, as often happens with krill or other plankton species. Another clue to the mystery of the stranded northern visitor… 7 February 2008, vol. 12 no5 Winter The month of February is at the heart of winter and is also the low point of the whale-watching off-season. In spite of this, there is always something to report. In Tadoussac, with both feet firmly planted in the snow, an observer can spot hundreds of birds anywhere along the shore from the Bay to the Dunes. These include common goldeneyes, Barrow's goldeneyes, buffleheads, greater scaups, black ducks, a few mallards, red-breasted mergansers, hooded mergansers, black guillemots and the odd purple sandpiper. Occasionally the head of a harbour or harp seal breaks the water's surface between ice floes. In Les Bergeronnes, ice, ice and more ice plus a serious amount of snow. So much snow that whale watchers are too worn out from shovelling to check out the St. Lawrence! Our regular observers are quite happy though; the white snow cleans up the scenery, rendering it soothing to contemplative eyes. In Les Escoumins, harp seals break up the monotony of the scenery. Ice is omnipresent and, according to a local resident, will likely build up in the area due to the high winds that are forecast for the weekend. In the Mingan area the ice is so thick that even the harbour seals, usually present along the shore, are nowhere to be seen. What's more, there has been no sign of whales for over a month. One special sighting worth mentioning: three harlequin ducks-two young males and one female-are currently in the area. According to our observers, this is a rare observation as their main wintering grounds are along the coast of Maine. On the other side of the Gulf, near Sainte-Thérèse-de-Gaspé along the Gaspé Peninsula, “…ice covers the entire surface… negative, no sightings.” Still, ornithologists will be interested to know that a king eider, the most northerly of the eider duck species, was spotted on February 6 at Cape d'Espoir. Smaller than the common eider, it is also easily discernible by the presence of a bright orange bump above its beak and by the blue crown on the head of the male when in nuptial plumage. This species generally winters over off Newfoundland, Labrador and Greenland. According to an ancient legend, the common eider and the king eider belong to the same species, the male king eider being an elderly common eider that, having obtained this characteristic crown, is able to reign over its pairs… Winter does not exist in lower latitudes: consequently, it is a privilege! It inspires painters, photographers, nature-lovers and is even preferred by a number of animals that constantly seek it out. We often believe, erroneously, that it is the dead season. Yet, winter is rich and abundant in snow, in cold, in unique scenery and although observations are sometimes rare, they remain noteworthy! 14 February 2008, vol. 12 no6 Rare, mysterious and vulnerable by the hundreds in the St. Lawrence Those courageous souls who have been wandering the shores the Gulf and Estuary of the St. Lawrence since the beginning of the year have occasionally been rewarded by the spectacle of groups of Barrow's goldeneyes. This is a relatively rare event in this part of the world, given the fact that this endangered sea duck-with an estimated Eastern North American population of a mere 6 000 birds-is almost entirely concentrated in the province of Quebec during the nesting period as well as in the winter. The Barrow's goldeneye can be differentiated from the much more widespread common goldeneye by the white half moon pattern visible on the violet-coloured heads of the males, by the steeper forehead and the rectangular wing patches. The St. Lawrence, preferred site for the Barrow's goldeneye Quebec, or more specifically the St. Lawrence corridor, is home to 90 percent of Eastern North America's Barrow's goldeneye population in winter. The Estuary is the wintering ground for at least 50 percent of this population. In the dead of winter, Barrow's goldeneyes essentially occupy the North Shore of the Estuary, having left the South Shore, which becomes covered in ice. They are more numerous between October and late April. They winter over in large numbers in Baie-Comeau and in Baie-des-Rochers where as many as 1000 and 600 Barrow's goldeneyes respectively have already been counted from a helicopter. Several hundred Barrow's goldeneyes can also be found in other parts of the Estuary in winter, in particular in Baie-Sainte-Catherine, La Malbaie, Cap-à-l'Aigle, Godbout, Petit-Romaine, Franquelin, Mitis Bay and near the Bic provincial park. One observer reports seeing as many as 350 of these birds between Tadoussac Bay and the Dunes, east of town, in recent weeks, as well as a few dozen scattered here and there as far as the Mingan Islands. It is now a fact: the Barrow's goldeneye is at risk Several studies have been carried out on Barrow's goldeneyes in Western Canada and in Iceland, yet little was known about the Eastern population until very recently. In the late 1990s the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) began conducting surveys and research on this population. The situation of the Eastern population is now better known; COSEWIC designated it as a species of “Special Concern” in November of 2000. This population faces various threats ranging from deforestation, accidental oil spills, sediment contamination in the St. Lawrence and hunting. As of the fall of 2002, it has been unlawful to hunt Barrow's goldeneyes in specific areas of the Lower St. Lawrence, on the Gaspé Peninsula, in the Charlevoix region and on the North Shore. Researchers have noted, to the delight of bird watchers, that most of these birds gather on just a few sites. However, this also renders them especially vulnerable. One oil spill could lead to the death of a good portion of the continent's eastern Barrow's goldeneyes. As a matter of fact, on February 6, authorities became quite concerned for the survival of these birds when the Finn-Pine ran aground off the Pointe-au-Pic wharf in the Charlervoix region, near La Malbaie Bay, which is regularly patronized by this duck. Luckily, no oil spill occurred. Another very real threat is the stocking of lakes along the Saguenay and the North Shore. Barrow's goldeneyes breed on the high plateaus (in excess of 500 m) of the Saguenay, the North Shore and the Charlevoix region. They tend to visit the small head lakes and ponds where the absence of fish means an abundance of their favourite invertebrates. An increase in fish for wildlife reserves and outfitters means more competition for food, to the detriment of Barrow's goldeneyes. In honour of Cupid The mating season for this species begins as early as November. Complex nuptial parades and mating are frequent throughout the winter on the St. Lawrence. Males make rapid head movements: turning them, moving them by short bouts and flinging them backwards and then pointing their beaks skyward. Male goleneyes can also be seen swimming in rapid and aggressive circles. Quite an inspiring display on this, the 14 of February! [Special thanks to Michel Robert of NWS for his generous collaboration] 21 February 2008, vol. 12 no7 A powerful mastodon entered the Saguenay for the first time in over 30 years Under the impressed gaze of a few Tadoussac residents, rapid and powerful, she plied the waters of the Saguenay as the sun was setting over the Fjord on Tuesday, February 19. The Louis Stephen St-Laurent was visiting the area for the first time in over 30 years, and we'll be able to admire her until March 11. The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) flagship left Northern Canada and the coasts of Newfoundland to escort merchant vessels between Les Escoumins and the port of Grande-Anse in the Saguenay. It replaces the research icebreaker Amundsen, which is presently on a scientific mission in the Arctic. A page of history for the Louis S. St-Laurent Canada operates 21 of the world's 110 icebreakers. Named after a Canadian prime minister, the Louis Stephen St-Laurent is the largest and most powerful of Canada's fleet. Nearly 120 metres in length and 24 metres wide, she has a cruising speed of 16 knots, has broken eight-metre-thick ice and is operated by a crew of 46 working on 10 decks. The CCG came into being on January 26, 1962 when the then minister of Transport announced that the government had decided that its fleet, which was made up of icebreakers, navigational assistance vessels and supply ships for the far north, would henceforth be known as the “Canadian Coast Guard”. To symbolize this transformation the ships would be painted the official colours of Canada, red and white, and a maple leaf would adorn their chimneys. New vessels were constructed, including the Louis S. St-Laurent, which was completed in 1969 and then renovated in 1988 and 1993. The Louis S. St-Laurent experienced an historic moment on August 22, 1994 when it became the first North American vessel to reach the North Pole. She was also the first ship in the world to sail across the Arctic Ocean and the first to navigate around North America via the North Pole. Icebreakers of the St. Lawrence The CCG has deployed five of its vessels in the St. Lawrence this winter. Their missions are to escort merchant vessels, to maintain the smooth movement of shipping traffic and to prevent flooding. One ship is posted at Trois-Rivières, another at Québec City and the Louis S. St-Laurent will be sent into the Saguenay at the request of the Quebec bureau of the Canadian Ice Service if a merchant vessel requests assistance. A fourth icebreaker is assisting the Matane-Godbout ferry and overseeing shipping traffic between Les Escoumins and Pointe-des-Monts. Finally, the Terry Fox has been posted to the Gulf of St. Lawrence and is presently just south of Anticosti Island. [Special thanks to Steven Neatt, superintendent of de-icing services, CCG, for his precious collaboration] 28 February 2008, vol. 12 no8 A Greenland shark hauled out onto the Saguenay ice The Saguenay was the stage for a surprising catch on February 1! A gigantic fish weighing in at 225 kg and measuring 2.8 m in length was hauled out onto the ice of the Fjord. No “fisherman's tale”, this was the actual catch of two fishermen at Sainte-Rose-du-Nord who worked for nearly two hours to pull the Greenland shark-the largest fish in the Saguenay-through a hole in the ice. This is the 29th specimen of this species to be captured in the Saguenay since 1886. This story is reminiscent of a 2006 occurrence at La Baie, also in the Saguenay, when a three-metre-long, 230-kg male shark netted the fisherwoman who caught it a fine from Fisheries and Oceans Canada for “illegal fishing”. The fine was eventually rescinded, as the catch was deemed “accidental”. After having pulled it out and photographed it, fishermen returned the most recently caught shark to the water. According to specialists, this act is also prohibited by the authorities. A shark to be protected Jeffrey Gallant of the Greenland Shark and Elasmobranch Education and Research Group (GEERG) has stated that, although this species is not considered endangered, the St. Lawrence and Saguenay population is not very well understood. According to Mr. Gallant, if you accidentally snag one of these fish it is best to simply cut your line and let the fish return to the depths. This pioneer of St. Lawrence shark research asserts that the Greenland shark's body will compress under its own weight when it is removed from the water. Also, pulling such a large fish onto the ice tears up its cartilage. Thus it is unlikely that this fishing trophy returned to its habitat alive. A valuable catch Ice fishermen appear unanimous in denouncing the compulsory catch and release regulation. According to them this represents a “waste of resources”; the fish would likely have attracted curious visitors and may have been useful for research. Such was the case in June 2006 when a Greenland shark caught in January of that same year was the object of a public necropsy: a highly mediatized event that revealed some fascinating information. Researchers explained that this was the first time they had opened a specimen with such a full stomach; it contained a mass of 34 kg. Researchers identified portions of seal, crustaceans, fish and even pieces of gill netting and wood. According to analyses, this specimen was a long-term St. Lawrence resident. Its contamination profile was similar to that of several other St. Lawrence fish species. Various industrial products, such as PCBs and Mirex, were discovered in its tissues in elevated concentrations. 6 March 2008, vol. 12 no9 But if we can't see them, where are they? This was the question of a Baie-Comeau whale watcher, on the subject of St. Lawrence beluga whales. It is true that beluga whales are referred to as residents who inhabit the St. Lawrence year round. The question is, where? In summer, the population gathers in the Estuary between Coudres Island and Forestville, along the North Shore, and as far downstream as Bic Island on the South Shore, as well as in the Saguenay Fjord. Its winter range is not as well known. The most reliable clues come from occasional reported sightings and partial aerial surveys carried out by the GREMM team in 1989 and 1990. The population's winter range apparently extends from the downstream portion of the Estuary to the Gulf as far as Sept-Îles, along the North Shore where most beluga whales of the 1990 survey were observed. Small groups were also noted further upstream in the Estuary as far as Rivière-du-Loup. Major variations in this winter range should be expected from one year to the next, depending on ice conditions. Beluga whales in the St. Lawrence appear to prefer free-floating ice cover of between 70 and 90 percent. In early spring they may be spotted off the Gaspé Peninsula. Their movements appear to be linked to herring and capelin movements. “Are there beluga whales in your area, near Les Escoumins, in winter?” “That depends if there is capelin or not.” Such was the reply of a sealer who knows what he is talking about! He reported his last beluga whale sighting in mid-January this winter. Yet, as early as February 10 in 2007 he spotted several groups of a dozen or so beluga whales for 10 consecutive days. Concurrently, seal stomachs were full of capelin! This year they're bellies are full of shrimp, not capelin. The seal hunt has been closed since February 15; females have left the area to give birth. Our friendly, neighbourhood sealer is patiently awaiting the return of the thin females in a week or two, but that is another story… 13 March 2008, vol. 12 no10 The whales are coming! This week, while watching large plates of ice floating down the Saguenay, a GREMM research assistant, impatient to head back out to sea, was heard to declare, “…we should be seeing our first beluga whales of the season any day now. We have to keep an eye out!” While it may be hard to believe with all of this incessant snow, whales will soon be returning to their summer ranges. Each species will return according to its own calendar… however surprises are always a possibility. If we were to refer to previous Whale News Network bulletins, beluga whales should begin returning to their summer range in mid-March. Based on 2000 and 2002 reports, they are actually a bit late; a few of these white whales were reported in Tadoussac Bay as early as March 2, 2000 and near Les Bergeronnes on March 5, 2002. As a rule, late March appears to be the time of year when beluga whales can be regularly sighted at the mouth of the Saguenay. The minke whale is a harbinger of spring. It first shows up near the Gaspé Peninsula and at the head of the Laurentian Channel in mid-April. So, we'll have to be patient a little longer, unless they surprise us by showing up early! As for the larger rorqual whales, their arrival should coincide with the snowmelt. According to past sightings, fin whales are usually seen by the end of April, becoming increasingly abundant throughout the St. Lawrence from late May on. The largest of all-the blue whale-is observed more regularly beginning in April. However, 2006 was special in that they were sighted in every month of the year. As for humpback whales, this species is always full of surprises. Initial sightings in the Gulf occur in March or April, depending on the year. In the Tadoussac area we had to wait until late June before being able to contemplate the tail of this elegant cetacean. Say what you will, whales are unpredictable. One thing is certain, though: spring will soon be here and whales will return to their feeding grounds. Time to break out the binoculars and keep the faith! 27 March 2008, vol. 12 no11 Spring has officially arrived! “Yeah, right!” you may be saying as you read this after the major snowstorm that most recently hit Quebec. But indisputable signs abound! Spring First of all, the date: March 20. Astronomically, spring begins with the spring equinox—when day and night are of equal length—and ends at the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. The spring equinox may be the 19, 20 and 21, depending on the year. The break up of the Saguenay The Canadian Coast Guard began spring icebreaking operations in the Saguenay on Thursday, March 13 at 8 :00 a.m. The purpose of these operations is to clear the Saguenay and the entrances to several of its tributaries of ice in order to prevent potential ice-jams and flooding. The mouth of the Saguenay is presently the theatre of a vast agglomeration of drifting ice, an amazing sight! The return of migratory species What could be a surer sign of spring in the St. Lawrence than the return of whales and migratory birds! A few ring-billed gulls are now commonly seen flying over Tadoussac Bay and the shoreline of Les Bergeronnes. On Tuesday, March 18, a seasoned observer reported the arrival of around 20 brants, long-awaited and sure signs of spring! This small seaside goose does not have the white cheek patch that characterizes the Canada goose. The discreet white mark, lined with black, visible on the neck of adults of this species, sets it apart. Brants, not much larger than ducks, are returning from the U.S. east coast and migrating towards the Arctic where they nest in the summer Also, on March 16, a blue whale was reportedly seen downstream of the Sept-Îles area. “While I was out taking pictures of winter birds, I spotted a blue whale some three nautical miles off Sheldrake. It was slowly moving eastward. Seals were lying on the ice in front of the moving whale, which leads one to believe that it was swimming through an ice-free channel. A great start to the Season!” The weather report Experts are forecasting that spring will be delayed this year due to the movement of cold air masses from Western Canada. All of that accumulated snow will also contribute to maintaining temperatures lower early in the season. 3 April 2008, vol. 12 no12 Enigmatic observations Late March has been loaded with enigmatic observations for St. Lawrence marine mammal watchers. First of all, while strolling around the shore of Tadoussac Bay on Sunday, March 20, a hiker noticed some very white “pieces of ice” disappearing beneath the surface at regular intervals. The “ice” was moving against the current towards the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord among other pieces of ice that were drifting downstream towards the St. Lawrence! Upon closer scrutiny, he understood that he was witnessing four or five beluga whales returning to their summer range. This is big news that many of the Estuary's shoredwellers have been waiting for for some time now. Also on March 30, a loyal contributor reported what follows: “beautiful sunny day, a beautiful whale two miles from shore between Sheldrake and Tonnerre River. A large number of gulls were flying over the area and the whale had the profile of a shallow-diving animal, breathing only once or twice before we lost sight of it for several minutes. It appears to have been a blue whale due to its blow and very small dorsal fin, although I'm not certain. Whatever the case may be, whales are definitely back in the Mingan area.” Seals are plentiful in the Les Bergeronnes area. Herds of 200 to 300 at a time were reported over two consecutive days, although species identification and exact numbers were difficult to determine! One assiduous seal watcher reveals his estimation method: “in order to determine the exact number of seals in a herd, one must count the number of eyes… and then divide by two!”… Yeah, right. 10 April 2008, vol. 12 no13 Traffic at the mouth of the Saguenay With the onset of spring, traffic at the mouth of the Saguenay has intensified. But don't be mistaken; it's animal traffic, not boat traffic that is causing the congestion! Beluga whales daily St. Lawrence beluga whales have been observed at the mouth of the Saguenay for a week already. Up to 30 of these whales were reportedly seen swimming between Alouettes tidal flats and Islet Point on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 8. A smaller group of them was seen swimming out of the Fjord later in the evening. A whale watcher from Saint-Irénée in the Charlevoix region shared her astonishment when, on April 3, she was quite surprised to see whales so early in the year; “ I don't know if this is exceptional, but for us, this is the first time that we have seen beluga whales so early in the season. We observed three of them through a spotting scope; they remained just off our small bay before heading towards Sac Cove and, very likely, on to Coudres Island.” This is, in fact, a rare sighting. According to Whale News Network archives, beluga whales have never been reported in this sector earlier than April 7. Birds of note Impressive agglomerations have ice have given way to a remarkable avian diversity in recent weeks. Brants now pepper the rocky shores of the Saguenay, a great blue heron over flew the area at noon on April 10 and, to top it off, double-crested cormorants have returned to their summer headquarters! As they continue to arrive from their wintering grounds, along the U.S. East Coast as far south as the Gulf of Mexico, double-crested cormorants will become ever-present throughout the St. Lawrence. King of the Saguenay A rare and remarkable male king eider was spotted at the mouth of the Saguenay and charmed many an observer last Tuesday. This extravagantly coloured sea duck was swimming among a group of male and female common eiders, shamelessly courting them with complete abandon by nodding its head and cooing. This bird is quite spectacular in its nuptial phase with the large orange protrusion bordered in black on its beak, its light blue-grey head and neck and its iridescent green cheeks. Unfortunately, his stay was short lived and he is now on his way to the tundra to nest this summer. As several whale watchers were leaving Islet Point, the dark head of a grey seal appeared at the surface; the first of many that will invade the area in coming weeks. 17 April 2008, vol. 12 no14 Springtime? Snow vs. whales With the most recent snowfalls, one gets the impression that winter is laying about like a lazy cat that refuses to be shooed away. Timorous, spring is not yet hearty enough to take its rightful place. While this may be true on land, spring has definitely sprung in the cetacean world. On April 14, the beluga whales that have been seen swimming daily at the mouth of the Saguenay for the past two weeks were joined by the first minke whale of the season. A few weeks ago on these pages we predicted the arrival of the first minke whale for mid-April; and there it was, right on schedule! Yet, it nearly passed by uncelebrated. The whale in question breathed only one time before swimming out of sight around a point. Birds are also marking the progressive comeback of spring. The haunting cry of scoters can once again be heard at the base of the Tadoussac sand dunes, while the Gaspé Peninsula has it own share of newly-arrived avian fauna. An ardent birdwatcher bore witness to an impressive one-hour parade as some 1500 sea ducks flew northeastward in total silence along a migratory corridor 200 to 500 metres off Cape d'Espoir near Percé. He recognized surf scoters, black scoters, oldsquaws and red-throated loons. Hundreds of alcids and northern gannets could also be seen feeding two kilometres distant. 1 May 2008, vol. 12 no15 The traditional spring sperm whale On the afternoon of April 30, coastal whale watchers working at Cave Cove, near Les Escoumins, spotted a whale spouting at an angle. It breathed a total of 30 times before diving, its tail rising straight up above the waves. A sperm whale! Veteran whale watchers that they are, they immediately contacted the GREMM team, which has been monitoring this species' presence in the Estuary since 1991. The sperm whales that visit the area follow a very predictable pattern, therefore the GREMM research assistant knew where to wait for the animal after its 30-minute dive, hopeful that he would get a good picture to identify this whale among the 24 sperm whales that have so far been catalogued in the Estuary. All 28 whales have been given names taken from the works of the Belgian cartoon artist Hergé: Tryphon, Bianca, Rackam, Tapioca, etc. Unfortunately, research boats are still in dry dock and the whale remained far from shore making proper photo-identification impossible. The sperm whale was spotted the following day off Les Bergeronnes, but it was once again impossible to get a good picture. The mystery of who blew remains… for now! The ticking of the migration clock The waters stir with the passing of marine mammals, the sky becomes a rainbow of wings; animals that fled with the advent of winter are gradually returning to the St. Lawrence. The great voyagers This week, assiduous observers report increasingly large groups of beluga whales—as many as 12 at a time—from Tadoussac to Les Escoumins. White whales have also been noted in the Charlevoix region and along the South Shore, particularly near the Rivière-Ouelle wharf. According to a Les Escoumins sealer, although they were quite numerous up until two weeks ago, harp seals have embarked on their northward migration. Minke whales, on the other hand, are now in attendance. One of them was noted near the Les Escoumins ferry wharf, while two more were seen in the Saguenay Fjord, one of which was very active near the ferries on the evening of Monday, April 21, performing seven lunge-feeding leaps, distended ventral pouch indicating an abundance of food. As for the great whales, a blue whale was observed at Cap-des-Rosiers last week and the first reported sighting of a fin whale occurred on the last day of April off Granit Cape, near Tadoussac. …and the smaller voyagers Birds have also made their presence known. They are both numerous and varied. What follows is a register of species noted during an invasion of sea ducks in the Tadoussac area on April 20. Numbers listed are estimates, and contributing bird watchers state that they are conservative approximations! Why migrate? There are as many answers to this question as there are migratory species. Migrations are often motivated by the need to find very productive feeding grounds or by mating strategies. Most documented great whale migrations follow the pattern of the humpback whale. They feed in rich, high-latitude waters throughout the summer and gather in tropical and sub-tropical waters in winter to mate and give birth. Bird migrations are often motivated by food issues; in the temperate and Arctic areas of the Northern Hemisphere migration is a means for birds to exploit resources that are abundant in season and to go elsewhere when resources become rare and the harshness of the climate becomes dominant. 8 May 2008, vol. 12 no16 Heading out to meet the whales As these lines are being written, whale-watching boats have already begun cruising the Saguenay Fjord and the St. Lawrence Estuary. Tourists have been boarding these vessels since May 2 to live a unique moment: meeting the whales at sea. What an exceptional experience to hear the powerful blow of these mastodons—scientists clocked the blow of a young grey whale at over 700 km/h! —, to watch their backs silently carve the surface is mesmerizing, especially considering that some of them weigh over 100 tonnes! Witnessing a moment in their lives in their natural habitat is an unequalled privilege and often procures intense emotion: fascination, wonder, curiosity and sometimes even a shiver of apprehension! Whale watchers are also frequently taken by a desire to become ambassadors for their protection; we protect what we love, and an encounter is often the occasion for… love at first sight! The best time to observe whales It is tough to know when is the best time to observe whales, which may vary extensively from one year to the next. We never know what we will see as we head out to sea or as we watch from the shore. This is, in fact, the main difference between a wild encounter and seeing an animal in a zoo! Whales have only just begun to return from their migration. As a rule, as summer progresses in June and July, an increasing variety of whales can be observed. The months of August, September and October are generally good months; the strong winds of autumn have not yet begun and the summer fogs are less common. Of course, the weather is never entirely predictable, and neither are the whales. Minke whales have been recently charming visitors who, to a large extent, have come from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Fair weather, foul weather Weather conditions, such as temperature, wind and sunlight, have little effect on whale behaviour. Whales must surface to breathe whatever the weather. Yet, these same conditions can greatly affect our ability to spot them! Furthermore, other factors, such as tide and the arrival of large schools of prey, do influence how the whales behave. Whale watchers will have to wait until the end of June to experience an offshore adventure around the Gaspé Peninsula. Nonetheless there have already been reports of several blue whales off Percé. May these mystical animals be perceived by a land-based observer in search of marine magic! 15 May 2008, vol. 12 no17 Hymn to the tricolour! No, this is not a reference to the Montreal Canadiens hockey team, but to a whale whose colour is also a hot topic of conversation! The beluga whale is a special animal that goes through three colour stages over the course of its life and, depending on its age, assumes different names. At birth, the beluga whale is a café-au-lait brown with dark rings around its eyes. It is also recognized as a newly born whale by the presence of foetal folds that bear witness to months spent in a curled up position in its mother's uterus. This “infant beluga” stage lasts only a few days. Once the animal is “unfolded” and throughout its first summer it remains brown and is referred to as a “newborn”. At one year of age, it will fade to a blue-grey. At this point it is commonly referred to here as a “bleuvet”. As a juvenile, the beluga whale turns grey and becomes progressively paler as the years pass. It eventually turns pure white as an adult. Upon reaching sexual maturity, a beluga whale may still be slightly grey. Sexual maturity is between 8 and 14 years of age for females and between 16 and 18 years of age for males. Beluga whales, both white and grey, can presently be observed in the St. Lawrence Estuary. Knowing that mating takes place between April and June, that gestation lasts from 12 to 15 months, and that calving takes place from June to September, let's call a spade a spade! The whales presently in the area are either bleuvets, juveniles or adults! 22 May 2008, vol. 12 no18 Large black backs This week was marked by long-awaited sightings of great whales. Two blue whales, one fin whale and one minke whale were spotted in Gaspé Bay. One blue whale and a fin whale that could well be Capitaine Crochet—a female visitor to the Estuary well known for being one of the first to arrive—were perceived from shore two days in a row from the North Shore town of Les Escoumins. Minke whales crossed paths off Cape Bon-Désir and in the Tadoussac area, where five individuals performed simultaneous breaches. To the surprise of a seasoned, land-based whale watcher from Pointe-des-Monts, the white skin of two beluga whales several hundred metres from shore attracted her attention, an uncommon sighting in this area. As for seabird sightings, roughly 50 northern gannets showed up on Monday afternoon to the delight of a shore-dweller from Les Bergeronnes. Northward ho! Two of the Estuary's winter inhabitants are still quite plentiful. Oldsquaw ducks and harp seals are frequently encountered during whale-watching tours in the Tadoussac area. The St. Lawrence Estuary represents their “South”: the area where they spend the winter. While it may not be warm, it at least benefits from the advantage of having a well-stocked pantry! Oldsquaws are the most numerous of the sea ducks that winter over in our area; their numbers exceed 20 000. Having returned to their nesting grounds in the tundra, they will have completely abandoned our area by mid-June. Whether in flight or on the water, these birds are in constant movement and are quite noisy. Males can be distinguished by their long, pointed tails. Harp seal migration habits are quite similar: they arrive in December, leave in February to mate in the Gulf, and return in March until early summer. The great majority of them then undertake a 4 000-km migration towards Greenland. This seal species moves in groups of several dozen at a time, frequently causing the surface to boil with unremitting movement. Sperm whale carcass in the Magdalen Islands A Magdalen Islands lobster fisherman spotted a sperm whale carcass from the Pointe-aux-Loups wharf. Drifting some two nautical miles off shore, the carcass was reported to the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (1-877-722-5346). It came ashore the following day in this same area. The decomposing remains measure approximately 14 metres in length. The Aquarium des Îles in Havre-Aubert plans to recover the skeleton. Samples will be taken for GREMM and Maurice Lamontagne Institute (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) researchers. Although they have been more frequently observed in the past 20 years, visits of this toothed whale to the St. Lawrence remain occasional. Sperm whales can dive to 2 000 metres for 90 minutes to two hours at a time. 29 May 2008, vol. 12 no19 A minke whale rescued by fishermen As with all fishing stories, this one begins in the early hours of morning. On May 26, at 6:00 a.m., a Sainte-Thérèse-de-Gaspé fisherman noticed a whale caught in the lines of his lobster pots. He called another fisherman over and the two of them managed to free the whale. They also managed to recover nearly all of the fishing gear. The slightly confused whale subsequently tangled itself up in a buoy line not far away, however this time it managed to swim free on its own. The fishermen reported the incident to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, who then contacted the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (1-877-722-5346). This case will be added to the central data bank that deals with St. Lawrence whale incidents. The fishermen have been informed of the importance of rapidly contacting the Network if or when a similar situation arises. Specialized teams are on call in every region to help out whales in trouble. Two rare dolphins in the Magdalen Islands Two striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) came ashore on Fatima beach in the Magdalen Islands on May 27. This species is typically associated with warmer waters. One of these dolphins also came ashore in Tadoussac in 1992. Its skeleton is on display at the Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre (CIMM). Upon completion of a necropsy by researchers from the Maurice Lamontagne Institute (MLI-DFO), the skeletons of the Magdalen Islands dolphins will be added to the Aquarium des Îles collection. Splendid season opener around the Gaspé Peninsula Whale-watching tours have begun in Gaspé Bay and tourists are getting an eyeful. First and foremost, the largest animal in the world has been seen swimming in the area with what seems a calf at its side. This would be a rare sighting. Fewer than 20 blue whale cow/calf pairs have been reported in the St. Lawrence over the past 20 years. Whale watchers were also treated to several humpback whale sightings. Irisept, a young humpback whale, well known by local captains, was positively identified. But was this the same whale that was seen breaching on the same day? North Shore: minke whales and clouds of birds Clouds comprised of hundreds of gulls capturing prey in the tide rips off Tadoussac are a good indicator—very impressive and highly visible from a distance—of the presence and movements of minke whales; they feed on the same prey. Clouds of wings and minke whales move simultaneously! On May 23, a land-based whale watcher from Les Bergeronnes, out walking his dog, decided it would be a good day for minke whale watching! His trained eye and his patience were eventually rewarded: two minke whales crossed paths a mere hundred metres from Théophile tidal flats. 5 June 2008, vol. 12 no20 The silver fish are rolling! The small schooling fish known as capelin is a major food source for several marine species, be they other fish, birds or mammals. They spawn on the shores of the Gulf and Estuary from May through July. Taking advantage of tidal currents, capelin “roll” in the waves along the shoreline as females deposits their eggs on the beach. The eggs become buried in the sand and gravel where they will develop over a period of approximately 15 weeks before returning to the open sea. Capelin has been rolling all over the place this week, from Charlevoix, to the Upper and Lower North Shore and all around the Gaspé Peninsula. Capelin has also been rolling every day since mid-May in the Gallix and Sept-Îles areas. The Centre d'éducation et de recherche de Sept-Îles (CERSI) reports that minke whales come near the port to feed, using the wharf wall to trap and engulf their prey. In Sainte-Marguerite Bay and in the beach area, they have been seen feeding slowly from East to West at high tide. The Réseau des observateurs du capelan (ROC) was created in 2003 to identify capelin spawning sites in Quebec. So far it has discovered over one hundred. Although this small fish is essential to the equilibrium of St. Lawrence ecosystems, it remains poorly understood and fragile. To learn more or to report capelin spawning sites, dial 1-877-Ça roule (227-6853) Fin whale talk While capelin wriggle in the waves, the long communication chain of loyal Whale News Network summer observers has been in action since the end of May. Professional mariners or shore dwellers are getting together either on the water or on shore after a long, white winter to tell tales and exchange stories. Thanks to their detailed observations, we are able to tour the vast territory of the maritime portion of the St. Lawrence in just a few lines, pinpointing the rorqual whales large and small that we have been waiting and hoping for for so long! Of the cetaceans that come to feed in the St. Lawrence every summer, minke whales are traditionally the first to arrive, and the most numerous. Gaspé Peninsula tour operators encounter these whales on a daily basis off Cape Gaspé and off Percé; along the North Shore, they are sighted daily in the Tadoussac/Les Bergeronnes area. Humpback whales that spent the winter mating in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea have begun flashing their caudal fins off Cape d'Espoir and Cape Gaspé, where a blue whale was also spotted. Seal herds Harp seals, in groups of several dozen at a time, are forming herds in the hundreds near Tadoussac. Not surprising behaviour for this gregarious species, most of these animals will soon be heading off to Greenland for the summer. They will be bringing their young pups—born on the ice pack in the Gulf in February and March—with them on a three to four thousand kilometre migration! 12 June 2008, vol. 12 no21 A floating eider duck nursery seen through the fog Is a walk along the St. Lawrence in the fog a discouraging exercise in futility? Not at all, according to one of our loyal observers. While strolling atop the Tadoussac sand dunes he noted a floating eider duck nursery near the beach down below. Through a clearing in the fog and a tear in the clouds he tallied 17 brown females, 40 ducklings and one male with black and white plumage; this passionate ornithologist's bird counts are always very precise. After brooding, the mother ducks bring their ducklings onto the water to feed, accompanied by “aunties”: females without ducklings of their own. Such gatherings make it easier for adult females to protect their offspring from predators. These seabirds usually hang out further offshore and males are not present in the nursery. Did the protective fog push them to adventure closer to shore? Ducklings are able to dive and feed near the surface while adults search the deeper water for molluscs and crustaceans. In the Gulf of St. Lawrence, hundreds of northern gannets can be seen nose-diving into the waters around Gaspé to hunt small fish such as capelin and sand lance. Meanwhile, puffins and razorbills have been spotted near Gallix, on the North Shore. Minke whales, the stars of spring Minke whales are present in all regions. A cow/calf pair of minke whales was observed at Grand-Étang on Sunday morning. Calves born over the winter remain near their mothers to nurse for a period of only four to six months. The pair splits up when the calf is weaned, which corresponds to their arrival in the cold waters of the St. Lawrence. This explains why it is so uncommon to see cows and calves together here. Minke whales have the shortest nursing period of all rorqual type whales; nursing varies between five and 12 months for the other species. For humpback whales, this bond may even continue up to a full year after the calf has been weaned. Several blue and humpback whales have been noted near Gaspé and Percé. One blue whale was also noted off Tadoussac on Tuesday afternoon. 19 June 2008, vol. 12 no22 The Gaspé Peninsula: world class gannets The Bonaventure Island northern gannet colony, near Percé, has just been classified as the world's largest with a total of 121 000 birds, outnumbering the St. Kilda colony in Scotland, with a stable population estimated at 119 000 birds. The Bonaventure Island colony, which is growing at a rate of three percent per year, is the most accessible for tourists. A total of 203 bird species, including the Atlantic puffin, can also be observed on the Island. The great profusion of herring, mackerel, capelin and sand lance around the Island supplies seabirds with a seasonal feast, making this a privileged habitat. Moreover, together with the Percé region, this locale is a great place for whales that come in to feed on fish and krill. This week, three humpback whales were noted in the area, including an adult/calf pair, three blue whales and a dozen minke whales. These three whale species have also thrilled whale watchers near Gaspé, where a fourth species, the first fin whale of the season, has put in an appearance. Great whales along the North Shore MICS researchers and one of their loyal collaborators have reported minke whales around the Mingan Island Archipelago after their first outings of the season. Further offshore, around a dozen fin whales—including a cow/calf pair—, a humpback whale and minke whales crossed paths off the northern tip of Anticosti Island. An unusual visitor with a 275 cm wingspan showed up on the beach near Perroquets Island: an American white pelican, which winters over in Florida and Mexico and usually nests in central and western Canada. Further upstream, land-based whale watchers noted around one hundred beluga whales and one hundred grey seals swimming together. They were feeding at the mouth of the Portneuf River with a cloud of seabirds circling overhead and dive-bombing the waves created by the intense activity. Two fin whales were seen swimming in tandem near shore for two days off Pointe-des-Monts. Hence, this week, from the lower Estuary to the Gaspé Peninsula, large rorqual whales, which tend to be solitary and nomadic, have begun to spread through the St. Lawrence. With the help of photo-identification, monitoring by research teams and observations from whale watchers, we now known that these whales can cover several hundred kilometres in a day as they travel from one region to the next. Beluga whale death near Les Escoumins The carcass of a female beluga whale was discovered on a North Shore beach, 10 km East of Les Escoumins, on June 16. This fresh carcass, promptly reported to the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (1-877-722-5346), was recovered by a specialized team and transferred to the University of Montreal's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Saint-Hyacinthe where it will undergo a complete post-mortem examination to determine cause of death. This is the fifth beluga whale carcass discovered on the shores of the St. Lawrence since the beginning of the year. The beluga whale carcass recovery programme, which has been in place since 1982, recovers an average of 15 carcasses per year. 26 June 2008, vol. 12 no23 Motionless sea fog… Spring and early summer are conducive to the creation of sea fog. As air heats up faster than water, the arrival of hot and humid air masses creates fog or mist as they comes into contact with the waters of the St. Lawrence that, at between 4°C and 17°C depending on region and time of the season, are markedly colder. This week, not one region along the St. Lawrence was fog free! The cloudy mass touched the surface of the water and rose to an altitude of 200 to 300 metres limiting excursions and observations in the Gulf and Estuary, including the Magdalen Islands and around the Gaspé Peninsula. While western Quebec was under a low pressure system, a vast, stable field of high pressure covered the east. The absence of wind and atmospheric circulation imprisoned humidity, favouring the persistence of generalized sea fog. Eventually, winds out of the north and west swept it all aside, well almost. Oof! According to the weatherman, the term fog is used when horizontal visibility is limited to one kilometre or less; mist is the term used when visibility exceeds this distance. … but the whales are still around! Despite the fact that whales were either hard to find or downright invisible, patient whale watchers managed to take advantage of every little rent in the fog. Minke whales and several seabird species were observed near the Gallix shoreline. Residents of the Gaspé Peninsula, who were fogged in for a mere four days, report the presence of large rorqual whales in their area. While waiting for the horizon to reappear, our observer from Pointe-des-Monts counted and admired eider ducks grouped in floating nurseries near the rocks. Tryphon the sperm whale has returned On the morning of Wednesday, June 25, a loyal observer from the seakayak base camp situated at Cave Cove, near Les Escoumins, called the Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammal (GREMM) special sighting hotline (418-235-1999) in Tadoussac to report a sperm whale. The slanted blow and dark mass with a low-profile dorsal ridge left little room for doubt, especially considering that it had already been spotted the day before. Regrettably, high winds had kept the research team from finding it. This time, however, the BpJAM was able to rapidly make its way to the area and precisely locate the sperm whale thanks to the clear indications of naturalists from the Marine Environment Discovery Centre and Cape Bon-Désir who had been tracking the animal's westward trajectory. Researchers made a quick, but positive field identification of this well-known summer sperm whale! It's Tryphon! This is his 10th visit since 1991. Tryphon dove for periods of 25 to 40 minutes at a time, with 12 and 25 blows per breathing sequence. He remained in the Les Bergeronnes area until late afternoon. Be on the alert, Tryphon or possibly another sperm whale may soon return! An unidentified sperm whale was reported in this same area on May 1. 3 July 2008, vol. 12 no24 Harp seal migration Through the winter and into spring, groups numbering in the dozens and sometimes in the hundreds were visible in the Estuary. Yet, this week only a few scattered individuals poked their moustaches and little black heads above the surface. Where have they gone? They're on their way to Greenland! Harp seals are particularly abundant off the Mingan Archipelago; there have been reports of 500 to 1000, and maybe even more of them in this region. Harp seals are estimated at 5.5 million individuals, by far the most numerous of all pinniped species in Atlantic Canada. The St. Lawrence population mates and gives birth on the icepack in the Gulf from late February to mid-March. Early in the summer, they return to their feeding grounds further north as far as the icepack near Greenland, living up to their Latin name Pagophilus groenlandicus, which means, “who love the ice”. These seals feed essentially on small, 10 to 20-cm-long fish known as capelin, as well as krill, shrimp and squid. Blue whales and krill around the Gaspé Whale watchers have noted blue whales among the large rorqual whales frequenting the Gaspé area. The mobile Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS) team, presently stationed in Gaspé, is specialized in the study and identification of the largest animal in the sea. So far they have identified at least a dozen individuals blue whales in the area. There is also a lot of krill at the surface. The term krill includes several dozen crustacean species measuring a few centimetres in length. This is the blue whale's main food source. One blue whale can ingest from two to four tonnes of krill per day. The great whales of the Estuary Research teams are hard at work in the Estuary, specifically at the head of the Laurentian Channel. GREMM has counted a total of seven fin whales, including a cow/calf pair. The well-known female humpback whale, Tic Tac Toe, has also arrived in the Tadoussac area. With the large “X” marking the underside of its tail, this whale is quite easy to identify. Aramis, her calf that was at her side last year, is nowhere to be seen. It is now an independent animal. 10 July 2008, vol. 12 no25 Blue whales on the move Ten blue whales are presently swimming between L'Anse-à-Valleau and Bonaventure Island on the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula. The MICS (Mingan Island Cetacean Study) mobile research team has been working daily to photo-identify individual animals, providing us with up-to-date information as to their whereabouts. Specialized in the study of the largest mammal in the world—blue whales measure 20 to 25 metres in length—the Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan based MICS research station sends a mobile team of research assistants into this region for a portion of every summer. A blue whale cow/calf pair was also spotted in the Estuary a few weeks ago. However, photos are presently being analyzed; researchers are not yet able to confirm whether this is a new calf or the 17th to be photographed in the St. Lawrence since 1979. This information is crucial for the endangered blue whale; this species has been fighting an uphill battle for recovery since the era of commercial whaling when stocks were seriously depleted. Effervescent fin whales After 90 minutes observing ten fin whales off the western tip of Anticosti Island, one of our loyal observers sent us the following report: they are gathered in groups, swim rapidly and energetically, and there appears to be a lot of interaction between them. During their breathing sequences, they submerge in a powerful motion, heads surrounded by splashes and foam. One of them breached near the boat. This type of behaviour is typical for this, the second largest whale, especially when gathered in tight formation. Its long, thin body is partially responsible for the nickname “greyhound of the seas”. Fin whales are also swift like a greyhound, reaching speeds of up to 45 km/h when hunting. The numerous northern gannets circling overhead and dive-bombing the surface near the whales are indicative of a large quantity of food in the area. A surprise pelican in the Estuary On July 8, whale watchers at the Marine Environment Discovery Centre in Les Escoumins were caught off guard when an enormous white bird with black wings and a large orange beak glided in for a landing on the water's surface. An American white pelican had just arrived on the scene! An unusual sighting for the East Coast, these birds nest on lakes and rivers in western North America. A raised bump appears on the top of the beak during the breeding period. Said bump was clearly visible on the specimen observed this week. Other recent white pelican sightings in Quebec have been reported near the Mingan Islands and in the Saint-Jean Lake region. 17 July 2008, vol. 12 no26 A successful rescue, a sperm whale and capelin on the North Shore With the assistance of a fishing vessel, Fisheries (DFO) officers freed a humpback whale caught in a fishing net off Blanc-Sablon on July 12. The small, eight-metre-long whale managed to regain its ability to swim freely. However, it was so exhausted that rescuers had to approach it a second time to remove and cut the cord that was holding it back. The rescue was coordinated by the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (1-877-722-5346), which had previously trained Fisheries officers and other members of the network and had provided the necessary equipment for this type of operation. That same day, a sperm whale was reported in Anglais Bay, near Baie-Comeau. Could it have been Tryphon—the well-known solitary sperm whale that had visited the area between Les Escoumins and Les Bergeronnes for three days in late June—on his way back out to the Atlantic Ocean via the Gulf? After an initial spawning episode from mid-May to mid-June, capelin, a small schooling fish that spawns on beaches, was once again rolling in the waves along the shore between Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan and Mingan. According to a Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS) observer, “There was a lot of food available!” Approximately 50 northern gannets took advantage of the feast, as did several minke whales that approached within one nautical mile of shore. A lighthouse counts whale blows from the height of its 150 years Minke whales and humpback whales crossing paths off the Cap-des-Rosiers lighthouse attracted a lot of attention by breaching. The lighthouse, erected in 1858, is the highest in Canada at 34.1 m; it will be celebrating 150 years of existence this coming weekend. Classified as an historic monument in 1977, the light from the white marble Gulf of St. Lawrence sentinel shines from a height of 41.5 m above sea level as it pursues its mission as a navigational aid. MICS researchers managed to identify six of the humpback whales in the area, including Irisept, Saint-Laurent, as well as the two females known as Quill and Fleuret, each accompanied by a calf. The Mingan research group has built up a photographic catalogue of 710 individual St. Lawrence humpback whales. Photo-identification of these baleen whales is based on the colouration pattern visible on the underside of their tail flukes; humpback whales almost always fluke up as they dive. With relatively high worldwide abundance and an ease of identification, this species was the first to be studied in the wild. Our understanding of humpback whales has progressed rapidly in recent years. They will leave the St. Lawrence in late autumn for a 5500 km migration to their mating grounds in the Caribbean Sea. 24 July 2008, vol. 12 no27 Variations in cetacean habitat and food stores From the Lower Estuary to the Gulf, the St. Lawrence is a vast territory in which several species of marine mammals obtain their summer food supply. However, prey gather in areas where several factors, such as currents, thermal fronts, bathymetry and cold-water upwellings, favour their accumulation. Although a number of areas represent privileged seasonal habitat year after year, there are variations. Cetaceans go where the food is and reposition along with it. This week, a dozen fin whales, numerous minke whales and a humpback whale were present seven nautical miles off Les Bergeronnes where an undersea cliff borders the southern portion of the Laurentian Channel. Curiously, in a shallow area east of Pointe-des-Monts, five fin whales, several minke whales and a number of northern gannets were feeding on schools of sand lance. Meanwhile, two fin whales and six minke whales were also seen swimming near Sainte-Anne-des-Monts on the South Shore. Approximately 50 fin whales, including a dozen cow/calf pairs, were assembled north of Anticosti Island in the Mingan area. The number of great whales has declined slightly along Gaspé Peninsula compared to what has been observed since late June. Whales are gathered off Cape Rosiers, near Gaspé, where tour boats have noted swarms of krill and fish on their sonar screens. Small and large toothed whales Harbour porpoises, white-sided dolphins and sperm whales all belong to the toothed whale group, otherwise known as the odontocetes. They use their teeth to grip their prey without chewing it; their stomachs take care of digestion. The smallest of these, the 1.5 m harbour porpoise, has spatula-shaped teeth. It can be found all along the North Shore in groups of four to five adults, often with at least one young animal, as was reported this week by an observer from Portneuf-sur-Mer. Not surprising for this surprisingly productive little cetacean that is capable of calving on a yearly basis. Females are able to nurse one calf while carrying a foetus in their bellies. White-sided dolphins have been flying their colours (grey, white and yellow) over the waves in the Mingan Archipelago. The powerful, oblique blow of a sperm whale, identified as Tryphon half the time, was spotted off Baie-Comeau, Les Escoumins, Les Bergeronnes and Verte Island, on the South Shore. The mythical Moby Dick, from Herman Melville's novel of the same name, is the largest of all toothed whales, measuring on average between 11 and 15 m in length. Its teeth are approximately 10 cm high. To get an idea what this whale is like, come see the sperm whale skeleton on display outside the Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre (CIMM) in Tadoussac. 31 July 2008, vol. 12 no28 The St. Lawrence blues This mythical animal, the largest on the planet, was spotted in the St. Lawrence Estuary and off the Gaspé Peninsula this week. Fewer than 250 blue whales swim the waters of Atlantic Canada. Less than 20 calves have been documented in the 30 years existence of MICS, the research group dedicated to the study of this species in the St. Lawrence. There is some encouraging news, however: researchers have noted that male blue whales around the world now vocalize at lower frequencies and volumes than before. They attribute this change to a population increase. Could this be a sign of the times? Collaborators from the Gaspé Peninsula mention having seen the mother and calf pair that MICS researchers identified in early July. Still, it will be a long time before this species recovers from the slaughter of the commercial whaling era. There may be less than 5000 of these giants left on the planet. Through the looking glass A whale is even more discreet than an iceberg; not only do we see but a small fraction of its body at the surface, it also spends approximately 90 percent of its time out of sight below the waves. Despite this, patient observers are able to pick up on clues to guess what the animal is up to. A few breaths, the whale dives, then reappears a long way off: this likely means that it is moving towards a better feeding site. The whale dives for several minutes and then surfaces nearby, its behaviour is regular like clock work for a long period of time: it has likely found an interesting food source down below, either a swarm of krill or a school of fish. Lively manoeuvres, a rolling body, a head that breaks the surface with water flowing out between the animal's lips: the food is not far below the surface and we are witnessing hunting strategies. Be they around the Gaspé or along the North Shore, our collaborators have delved into their past experiences to describe the behaviour of fin, blue and minke whales observed this past week. It is their way of going through the looking glass. A young visitor to Québec City Could it have been the 400th anniversary celebrations that attracted this young visitor? A juvenile bearded seal was marauding through the Québec City Yacht Club on July 30. It even attempted to board several vessels and its long claws damaged an inflatable boat. The Parc Aquarium du Québec team captured the lost animal, evaluated its state of health, took several samples for the scientific teams and proceeded, in collaboration with the Saguenay—St. Lawrence Marine Park, to relocate it to a cold, salt water environment, a habitat more suitable for this Arctic animal. We wish him a safe journey home! The two latter organizations mentioned are members of the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network. The network can be reached by dialling 1-877-722-5436. |