More than 600 volunteers gathered data from the shores of Oahu, Kauai and Hawaii islands March 28 during the final event of the 20th Anniversary Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count.
The count is conducted three times per year during peak whale season and is a shore-based census that provides snapshot data on humpback whales.
Participants tally humpback whale sightings and document the animals’ surface behavior during the survey.
Volunteers collected data from 57 sites statewide. A total of 160 whales were seen during the 9:30 to 9:45 a.m. time period, the most of any time period throughout today’s count. Interestingly enough, the sites that reported the highest average number of humpback whales were predominantly located within sanctuary boundaries.
Varying weather conditions made for a unique experience at each of the project sites. Many Kauai volunteers enjoyed calm weather and clear visibility.
Several Oahu and Hawaii islands sites were faced with rough seas, white caps and passing squalls. Rain or shine, the project’s trained volunteers exhibited admirable commitment and diligence in carrying out their data collection duties, while enjoying humpback whales
“For 20 years, the Sanctuary Ocean Count has proven to be a fun volunteer activity for residents and visitors,” said Malia Chow, sanctuary superintendent. “It also provides important population and distribution information on humpback whales around the Hawaiian Islands that we use to better understand and protect this important species.”
Preliminary data detailing whale sightings by site location is available at www.sanctuaryoceancount.org/resources/
The Sanctuary Ocean Count is held each year on the last Saturday of January, February and March. Interested volunteers can register online at sanctuaryoceancount.org. Additional information is available on the sanctuary’s website at hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov or volunteers can call 808-725-5917 (Oahu, and Hawaii) and 808-246-2860 for Kauai.
Volunteers are required to register before participating. Registration closes one week before the event date.
The sanctuary is administered by a partnership of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the state of Hawaii through the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The sanctuary’s mission is to protect humpback whales and their habitat in Hawaiian waters where they migrate each winter to mate, calve and nurse their young.