A few days ago the other three interns and I were lucky enough to find a pod of Killer Whales. They swam past the lighthouse, prompting us to abandon our duties and follow the pod in our skiff. It is a common sight to see the Killer Whales tossing a Sea Lion in the air as they hunt and play with their food. The Sea Lions do not stand a chance against the Killer Whales, but that does not stop them from trying to board a passing vessel.
As we tracked the Killer Whales through Frederick Sound we sighted several breaching Humpback Whales and were able to get as close to a few diving whales as our research permit allows us (which is as close as we need to in order to get a fluke I.D.). The fluke of a Humpback whale is the underside of its tail and acts as a fingerprint. No two whales have the same fluke pattern, and each whale’s fluke pattern remains consistent throughout their entire lives.
This was a very eventful week. In addition to seeing the Killer Whales and breaching Humpbacks, we were able to board a small cruise ship: “The Wilderness Explorer” and intermingle with the passengers. Michelle (Project Leader) gave a lecture to the passengers on the cruise ship and I was able to spend time with the passengers whale watching. I was able to educate the passengers and answer their questions about Humpbacks. This was one of the most rewarding experiences of the trip. It put the science into perspective, as it is one thing to be able to do research and publish results, but another thing entirely to educate the public and increase awareness. Increasing awareness about the oceans is just as if not more important than the actual research and data. We plan on going back on board “The Wilderness Explorer” next time it passes the lighthouse and educating another set of guests. The best way to learn is to teach.
Michelle once said, “The Alaska sun doesn’t burn, it blushes.” There is no better way to put it. We have had a few sunsets so far, and they have been getting better and better. I have seen my share of spectacular sunsets, but none are comparable to the beauty of the Alaskan mountains and shimmering seas. I would also like to further explain some of the equipment we have been using.
The Theodolite: The theodolite sits on top of the lighthouse all summer and can never come downstairs (once it has gone up the first time) as the temperature difference will cause condensation and sabotage the electronics. We use the theodolite to pinpoint the location of the whales both in the immediate vicinity of the lighthouse and along the horizon. The theodolite gives us a horizontal and vertical degree reading, which can then be converted into a latitude and longitude. It is almost like a telescope, but much more expensive and precise.
The Hydrophone: The hydrophone is a small microphone like cylinder that we lower 25m into the sea. With two hydrophones, one on each side of our skiff, we are able to record Humpback whales from miles away. The hydrophones range fluctuates depending on the frequency that the whales are vocalizing on, the temperature of the water, and the bathymetry under the water.
A Humpback Whale’s Trumpet: A Trumpet is a loud noise that we can hear from above the surface. A trumpet is a low frequency aerial vocalization that is typically associated with an exhalation. You can hear the trumpets from the top of the tower, inside the lighthouse, the top of the helicopter pad and everywhere in between. We are studying their role in Humpback whale communication and if there is a correlation between dispersion and Trumpeting.
The Intertidal Zone: The intertidal zone is the area of the island that at high tide is completely covered, but at low tide is completely exposed. The intertidal zone has a 27-foot range on the island, which offers numerous opportunities to go tide pooling. One can observe the starfish, brightly colored anemones and Sculpin that inhabit the pools. Sculpin are small fish that fight each other over territory in the intertidal zone.
We will be going camping for a few days in the near future, during which we will kayak into a Sea Lion hollow that houses over one thousand Sea Lions. It will be nice to get off the island for a few days, but I am sure we will all be longing to get back to the tower before too long. It’s something about living in a lighthouse that will always give a unique and comforting feeling. Vista the resident lighthouse dog and whale chaser always seems to help too.
-Ryan Meeder
RSMAS Undergraduate Student
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