Humpback Whales Spotted From Hawaii Nearly Reaches 1000

The 2023 Sanctuary Ocean Counts and Great Whale Counts reached nearly 1000 humpback whales, which was tallied by a total of 345 volunteers stationed at 42 locations throughout Hawaii.

997 Humpback Whales Spotted

Within designated time intervals, 997 humpback whales were observed across the Big Island, Kaua'i, Maui, and O'ahu; nonetheless, this figure may include instances where multiple observers sighted the same whale, or sightings occurred at different times or locations during the day.

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count had volunteers from Kaua'i, O'ahu, and the Big Island, while the Pacific Whale Foundation organized the Great Whale Count for Maui.

This is the fifth year that both counts are carried out simultaneously, ensuring that data from all major Hawaiian Islands are collected together. On February 25, the volunteers collected data, and the most active sighting period was between 8:30 and 8:45 AM, where 147 whales were observed

Whales and Other Species

Combining data from these counts with other research efforts can reveal patterns in humpback whale activity across and within whale seasons. While weather conditions across the main Hawaiian Islands varied, most sites were affected by strong winds and moderate swells, making it challenging to spot whales from the shoreline.

During the count, various other species were observed. This includes:

ʻIlioholoikauaua or the Hawaiian monk seal
Honu or the green sea turtles
Naiʻa or spinner dolphins
Multiple seabird species

Seabird species include the following:

ʻiwa or the great frigatebird
mōlī or Laysan albatross, kōlea
Pacific golden plover, manu o Kū or the white tern,
ʻĀ or the red-footed booby, and
koaʻe ula or red-tailed tropicbird

Whale Watching Data

The Ocean Count initiative aims to increase public awareness about humpback whales, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, and opportunities for shore-based whale watching.

Volunteers participating in the survey tally the sightings of humpback whales and record their surface behavior from the shorelines of Kaua'i, Oʻahu, and the Big Island, providing a snapshot of the whales' activities. The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation supports the Ocean Count project, Big Island Now reports.

Similarly, the Pacific Whale Foundation's Great Whale Count involves site leaders counting whales from 12 survey sites along the shoreline of Maui during peak whale season on the last Saturday in January, February, and March.

As per the Pacific Whale Foundation, the Great Whale Count is an annual event held in conjunction with the Maui Whale Festival, which mobilizes volunteers to observe whales from the shore as part of an ongoing survey of humpback whales in Hawaii.

This initiative offers a glimpse into the trends regarding the relative abundance of whales and ranks among the world's most prolonged citizen science projects.

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Whale Watching Essentials

Volunteers participating in the Sanctuary Ocean Count for whale watching are advised to come prepared with essential items such as appropriate clothing and footwear, hats, sunscreen, watches, water, umbrellas, clipboards, writing materials, binoculars, beach chairs or mats, and snacks.

While the specific needs may differ depending on the site, having these items on hand can help ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience for volunteers. Data sheets will typically be provided at each site.