#WhaleSong

[reasonsforhope]

"Eavesdropping on whale songs over the last six years is providing new information vital to answering questions about these giants of the ocean.

The number of whale songs detected is associated with shifting food sources, according to the California scientists—and the number of days humpbacks have been singing has nearly doubled.

When monitoring baleen whale songs in the Pacific Ocean, researchers found year-to-year variations correlated with changes in the availability of the species they forage on.

In vast oceans, monitoring populations of large marine animals can be a “major challenge” for ecologists, explained Dr. John Ryan, a biological oceanographer at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in California (MBARI).

Their team deployed underwater microphones called hydrophones to study and track baleen whales, which communicate over long distances through sound.

“Surprisingly, the acoustic behavior of baleen whales provides insights about which species can better adapt to changing ocean conditions,” said Dr. Ryan, a lead author of the study.

They also monitored songs from blue, fin, and humpback whales off the West Coast of the U.S. to see what the song data could reveal about the health of their ecosystem.

The findings, published in the journal PLOS One, showed “large” year-to-year variations in whale song detection.

“The amount of humpback whale song continually increased, with their songs being detected on 34% of days at the beginning of the study and rising to 76% of days after six years,” said Dr. Ryan.

“These increases consistently tracked improved foraging conditions for humpback whales across all study years—large increases in krill abundance, followed by large increases in anchovy abundance.

“In contrast, blue and fin whale song rose primarily during the years of increasing krill abundance.

“This distinction of humpback whales is consistent with their ability to switch between dominant prey. An analysis of skin biopsy samples confirmed that changes had occurred in the whales’ diets.”

He explained that other factors, including the local abundance of whales, may have contributed to patterns in song detections observed in some years, but changes in foraging conditions were the most consistent factor.

“Overall, the study indicates that seasonal and annual changes in the amount of baleen whale song detected may mirror shifts in the local food web.”

WHALES ON THE COMEBACK TRAIL: • Gray Whale, Extinct for Centuries in Atlantic, Is Spotted in Cape Cod • Sighting of Many Blue Whales Around Seychelles is First in Decades – ‘Phenomenal’ • Majestic Sei Whales Reappear in Argentine Waters After Nearly a Century

“The results suggest that an understanding of the relationship between whale song detection and food availability may help researchers to interpret future hydrophone data, both for scientific research and whale management efforts”, which could better protect endangered species."

-via Good News Network, March 1, 2025

[lobotomy-maybe-bestie]

hi can you please reblog this with a song you like to imagine a blorbo to? like a song you have a mind amv to

(also if you want to talk about the mind amv you could do that too👀)

[pensivebathtub]

THIS IS MY OC MASON !!!! and his ex-bf jayson (who is no longer with us unfortunately 😿). my inbox is open if you want to ask any questions about him :)

[cartoonghosts]

Everything always comes back to whalesong. Planes turn in the sky like echoing, multiphonic foghorns, trains sing and scream against tracks in the most angelic way possible, there is a warmth in my chest that is keening and crying. It all comes back to whalesong

[victusinveritas]

[mleighsquickspot]

[unearthedmirrors]

PÅGÅ, Lukas Häger and WHALESONG

4-date European tour coming up next month!

Details, tickets and events at THIS LINK

[culturevulturette]

WHALESONG

I am  ocean voyager,  sky-leaper, maker of waves;  I harm no man. 

I know only the slow tune of turning tide,  the heave and sigh of full seas meeting land at dusk and dawn,  the sad whale song,  I harm no man. 

Judith Nicholls

[cucumber-and-peach-ice-tea]

illustrated children's book for uni

[mercuryismygenius]

In case not everyone scrolls down to the end, here's the note from the poet, JeFF Stumpo:

“I’m actually responding to three news items for the week. One, the Pentagon has begun removing any ‘DEI’-related images from websites under its purview, which led to the absolutely idiotic removal of photos of the Enola Gay, the bomber that carried the first atomic bomb to Hiroshima. Presumably, the algorithm they’re using understands nothing of context. Two, humpback whales have been photographed having sex for the first time ever, and it turns out both the whales involved were males. Three, brave state legislators in Montana, Zooey Zephyr and SJ Howell, spoke against an anti-drag bill and managed to convince enough representatives on the other side of the aisle that the bill was defeated."

[yankee-sama]

Whale song Mala, Hawaii, US. Experience the ethereal allure of whale song in Mala, Hawaii, US where nature's melodies harmonize with the gentle waves.

[lobotomy-maybe-bestie]

boring take from real 21st century idiots: bdsm is bad because it's basically torture

interesting take from a fictional 14th century monk: torture is bad because it's basically sex

[faymcwrath]

Whale song Mala, Hawaii, US.

Discover the enchanting whispers of the ocean as the majestic whales serenade the shores of Mala, Hawaii, US.

[io49]

🌊🐋 'Whale Song' 🌑✨ Amid the fathomless depths of the ocean, a mesmerizing dance unfolds. Two majestic whales, their bellies aglow with ethereal light, traverse the mysterious waters, painting an enchanting tale of the deep.

[loveofdetail]

the other night i realized Melville lived too early to ever learn that whales sing and i haven't been okay since