April

8 April 2013 The PCCS right whale aerial team had a late start Monday morning and took off from Chatham airport at around 11:30. The survey was conducted in a north to south direction and the weather was a bit hazy, but beautiful conditions on the water for spotting whales. The first few track lines did not have much activity but that was soon to change when the team spotted about 20 right whales sub surface feeding in a 3 to 5 square mile radius off of Provincetown. Among the 20 whales spotted was a mother/calf pair. There were six more right whales spotted throughout the bay and 2 of those turned out to also be mother/calf pairs.

Besides the right whales spotted there were several fin whales, humpback whales, minke whales and dolphins throughout the bay. The team had a very successful day and had possibly the best survey so far this season. ns on the water for spotting whales. The first few track lines did not have much activity but that was soon to change when the team spotted about 20 right whales sub surface feeding in a 3 to 5 square mile radius off of Provincetown. Among the 20 whales spotted was a mother/calf pair. There were six more right whales spotted throughout the bay and 2 of those turned out to also be mother/calf pairs. Besides the right whales spotted there were several fin whales, humpback whales, minke whales and dolphins throughout the bay. The team had a very successful day and had possibly the best survey so far this season.

17 April 2013: The aerial survey team completed thirteen track lines in Cape Cod Bay,
working from a north to south direction. Approximately eighty-one right whales were sighted; photoidentification and behavioral data were collected for these sightings. All of the whales were observed subsurface and skim feeding, except for three which were in a SAG. Four minke whales, ten fin whales, and four humpback whales were also sighted.

18 April 2013: The aerial survey team completed all track lines along the eastern outer shore of Cape Cod, working from a north to south direction. Sixteen right whales were sighted; photoidentification and behavioral data were collected for these sightings. All right whales were observed subsurface feeding except for one whale which was breaching repeatedly. Four minke whales, eleven fin whales, one sei whale, one unidentified large whale, fourteen humpback whales, and approximately fifty dolphins were also sighted.

21 April 2013: The aerial survey team completed track lines 16, 1-6 and part of line 7 in Cape Cod Bay, working from a north to south direction. At least sixty-four right whales were sighted; photoidentification and behavioral data were collected for these sightings. Most of the whales were observed subsurface or skim feeding. Entangled right whale #3821 was also sighted, the PCCS disentanglement team was notified; the plane stood by until the disentanglement team decided the sea state was not workable. At this point the plane resumed surveying. Two mother/calf pairs were sighted. There were a significant number of right whales further south in Cape Cod Bay. We were not able to document these animals due to lack of daylight. One minke whale, five fin whales, one humpback whale, one unidentified large whale, and three dolphins were also sighted.

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Entanglement Hotline: (800) 900-3622
[email protected]
(508) 487-3622
5 Holway Avenue
Provincetown, MA 02657
(508) 487-3623

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