More than 650 volunteers gathered data from the shores of Oahu, Kauai and Hawaii islands during the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count and, from Maui during the Great Whale Count by Pacific Whale Foundation, the second of three coordinated whale counts between the two organizations in 2020.
This is the second year that both counts are coordinated on the same days, ensuring the data from all the main Hawaiian Islands are collected simultaneously.
Volunteers collected data from 51 sites across all the main Hawaiian Islands. A total of 191 whale sightings were seen during the 8:30-8:45 a.m. time period, the most of any time period throughout the day’s count.
On the islands of Hawaii, Oahu, and Kauai, Ocean Count volunteers collected data from 39 sites; a total of 138 whale sightings were seen during the 8:30-8:45 a.m. time period, the most of any time period throughout the day’s count. Volunteers were also able to educate 647 members of the public who stopped by for more information during the count. On Maui, Great Whale Count volunteers collected data from 12 sites during 15-minute intervals between 8:30 a.m. and 11:50 a.m. A total of 70 whale sightings were seen during the 9:30-9:45 a.m. time period, the most of any time period throughout the day’s count.
Although, weather conditions were not ideal for viewing whales at the majority of sites, folks were still able to spot some whales in addition to other species.
Sea turtles, spinner dolphins, Hawaiian monk seals and several sea birds such as frigate birds, shearwaters, albatross and more were seen at multiple sites across the islands.
Ocean Count promotes public awareness about humpback whales, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, and shore-based whale watching opportunities.
The annual Great Whale Count by Pacific Whale Foundation brings volunteers together to count whales from shore as part of a long-term survey of humpback whales, with 12 survey sites along the shoreline of Maui.
Both counts will take place three times during peak whale season: the last Saturdays in January, February, and March of 2020.
Pacific Whale Foundation’s Great Whale Count data and volunteer sign-up may be found at mauiwhalefestival.org/greatwhalecount/ with additional information at pacificwhale.org.