Dolphins Have Names For Each Other

Bottlenose Dolphin

     We know that dolphins are smart, but we did not know that some dolphins have names for each other. 

     That’s right.  Bottlenose dolphins “call out the…names of loved ones when they become separated.”  This news comes from scientists that study dolphins. 

      The dolphins don’t squeak out, “Hey, George!”  But what they do is make a “signature whistle” that identifies a single dolphin.  They are the only animals known to do this, says the study that took place in Florida.

     This special sound can also identify the whistling dolphin.  That helps other dolphins identify each other.  Another special thing about this dolphin “name whistling” is that it is used only for loved ones, like a buddy or a mother.

     To learn more about this visit Discovery News.

Gray Whale Migration: South & North

Baby Gray Whale Near Boat in San Ignacio

     It is late February and thousands of gray whales have found their way to the warm waters of Baja California.  New baby whales are counted everyday.
     Latecomers are still spotted southbound. Last Thursday we saw a pod of about 4 whales swimming south from our Central California lookout.  And then the next day we saw at least 2 whale swimming back north.  They were probably juvenile gray whales.  
      The Pacific west coast is like a whale highway right now.  Blue whales are visiting Monterey Bay, along with a few Humpback whales.  Off the coast of Los Angeles, a whale watch boat found a pod of Sperm whales!  That was a surprise.  


     

Student Devoted to Cleaning Beach

By Abigail Burrus — Student at Teach Elementary Morro Bay

One day, my teacher told us to choose a community action project. I immediately knew what I wanted to do: a beach cleanup. I chose a beach cleanup because I knew trash can hurt many animals in the ocean. A floating plastic bag looks like a jellyfish to a dolphin. It might eat it, then choke and die. I planned to pick up trash from Morro Bay to Cayucos.

I found out, when researching, about a large pile of trash floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that is the size of Texas! I wanted to stop this junk pile from getting bigger.

So every weekend, I went to the beach to pick up trash. I picked up more than 20 pounds! I was proud, but I knew people, not caring about the consequences of their actions, would still litter and add to the trash heap in the Pacific.

I want more people to pick up trash than people who litter it. If every person picked up one piece of trash, imagine how clean the beaches would be! The animals of the ocean would be safe, and the Pacific trash heap wouldn’t expand. What a great day at the beach! 

Source:  San Luis Obispo Tribune

Read more here: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2013/02/15/2395147/pick-up-the-beach.html#storylink=cpy

Thank You, Oceans, For the Air

If there was no ocean, then what would happen to every other breath we take?

That's right, every other breath we take comes from the ocean.  It is why Neptune 911 wants to help people around the world better understand why it is important to keep our oceans healthy. 

Making Fluke Prints

Photo of gray whale migrating south to Baja California. Photo take Jan. 31.

Thank you Blue Ocean Whale Watch for this recent photo.

If people leave footprints, then what do whales make?  They don't have big feet, but they do have big flukes (their rear tail).  When that fluke hits the water it leaves a fluke print.  The white arrow show the fluke print this whale left behind.

Gray whale fluke.  www.examiner.com