They get the name humpback from the shape above the surface when they arch their back prior to diving.Average length is about 50 feet! Most all of the females we saw had a baby calf (average 11 feet at birth) along side them. 
Oscar has been recording the Humpback Whale Songs for several years now and has produced a CD of them. He uses a hydrophone that he lowers into the water about 15 feet deep. Only the males sing and it is unknown exactly why they sing, but the sounds are eerie and beautiful at the same time and so diverse. Supposedly the lowest and highest sounds the human ear can hear.
Here is Flor de Maria in the water with the underwater camera filming the process. We all have to congratulate her on getting into those cold Pacific waters.....I am supposed to be her assistant for this film, but I really dislike cold water!
Each whale can be identified by thier tails called flukes. Photographing the underside of the flukes provides the information needed to catalog the individuals, as each one has unique marks and colors, much like a human fingerprint. This locally published catalog has over 900 individuals listed.
We had planned to do some nice aerial photography of the whales using a special camera mount that is attached to the kite string once it is flying. We flew the kite but there was not enough wind to launch the camera so we will have to return to get those shots. You can see Oscar's shots on his website.
1 comment:
As always, your blog is amazingly delightful! Many times I have enjoyed the antics of the humpies when they go up to Alaska for the summer. Never had the opportunity to see them in their southern pastures though.
Hope you're well.
gvr
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