Abundance, distribution patterns and habitat use of humpback whales in inshore waters of the islands of Oahu, Kauai, Hawaii and Kahoolawe (2003)
Maldini D. 2003. Abundance, distribution patterns and habitat use of humpback whales in inshore waters of the islands of Oahu, Kauai, Hawaii and Kahoolawe (2003). Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Honolulu, HI
For the eighth consecutive year (since 1996), the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary (HIHWNMS) sponsored the Sanctuary Ocean Count, an educational event involving volunteers throughout the Hawaiian Islands in the census of humpback whales from shore sites on Oahu, Hawaii, Kauai and Kahoolawe. This was only the second year that the island of Kahoolawe was included in the census thanks to volunteers from the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission. In addition to learning about humpback whales and getting hands on experience in observing them in their natural habitat, volunteers that participate in the Sanctuary Ocean Count contribute important information about humpback whale abundance, distribution, and activity patterns near-shore. The format of the Sanctuary Ocean Count has been evolving significantly from its inception in 1996 and the data collection procedures have been formatted to both be easily understandable by non-scientists and useful to the HIHWNMS staff in providing reasonable estimates of whale abundance and distribution at the selected count sites. The humpback whale population in the Hawaiian wintering grounds is estimated at 5,000 whales. During their stay in Hawaiian waters (Nov-May), female humpback whales give birth to their calves, and, subsequently, mate. Recent estimates suggest a steady recovery of the Hawaiian humpback whale stock, which is increasing at a rate of approximately 7% per year (Mobley et al., 1999; Mobley et al., 2001).
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Maldini, Daniela
- Date of Issue
- 2003-08
- Publisher
- Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary
- Units
- ALKA , HAVO , KAHO , PACN , PUHE , PUHO
- Keywords
- Abundance, Abundance (Biodiversity), Census, Distribution, Distribution (Biodiversity), frequency of occurrence, Habitat Use, Hawaii, Humpback Whale, Kahoolawe, Kauai, Marine Mammals, Oahu, Observations, Population Size, Presence (Biodiversity), Sanctuary Ocean Count