High Hopes For Whales Ahoy, This Long Weekend
Whale lovers are hoping for fine weather and lots of marine activity for this weekend's Countrywide Whale and Dolphin Count.
This is New Zealand's sixth annual citizen science cetacean census, held at the same time every year during 'peak whale' when giant humpback and southern right whales are forging along the country's coasts on an epic migration from the Antarctic to the tropics.
The Countrywide Whale and Dolphin Count extends across Matariki weekend, from Friday to Sunday 20-22 June. People around the country are taking to high points to survey the sea and record efforts and sightings. Previous events have seen people in over 100 locations, with sightings including orca, humpbacks, rare beaked whales and Hector's dolphins.
The pod poll is run through the Facebook group Whale and Dolphin Watch - Cetacean Spotting NZ, which celebrates New Zealand's whale and dolphin diversity, among the richest in the world.
The whale and dolphin count contributes both a snapshot of the same time every year and information about the marine mammals close to shore across time.
Last year, 19 humpback whale and seven southern right whale reports were submitted over the course of the weekend. Hector's dolphins were sighted in many places on the South Island's east coast, and there were orca, bottlenose, dusky and common dolphins elsewhere.
Anyone can take part. Cetacean spotters are encouraged to choose a survey site ideally at a high location to see as far out to sea as possible. Bundle up warm, and a pair of binoculars helps but aren't essential.
Organiser Christine Rose, says 'we cannot guarantee that people will see whales and dolphins. But whales and dolphins can be detected by water disturbance or splashes, blows or spouts, bodies or fins at the surface, the sudden emergence of dark fins sticking out of the water. Sometimes a whale will leap out of the water (breach) or slap its tail.'
'This event is a good reason to get out into the fresh air and be present in nature, with a keen anticipation of the majestic animals we share the earth's oceans with.'
People can report sightings to Whale and Dolphin Watch - Cetacean Spotting NZ: https://www.facebook.com/groups/554312507954499
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