When naturalists from @ParksCanada interpret beluga behaviour for the public while streaming our drone footage and sounds in real time, hundreds of people per day are educated about belugas and the challenges they face. #Adayonthebelugatower #OceanWise #VanAqua #Baleinesendirect
And this extraordinary season, succesful beyond our wildest dreams, is coming to an end. I will miss this incredible team! #Adayonthebelugatower #OceanWise #VanAqua #Baleinesendirect #belugaresearch
We had to abandon the tower due to high winds at peak low tide today, dragging the boat and all our gear...a little easier when there is water! #Adayonthebelugatower #OceanWise #VanAqua #Baleinesendirect #belugaresearch
Today we reached > 100 research flights! Great data from a group of chatty males to compare their calls to those of females and calves. Listen! soundcloud.com/user-621252267/beluga-re...
#Adayonthebelugatower #OceanWise #Baleinesendirect...
Transmission system testing day! We can now relay the audio from our hydrophone and the drone videos to the lookout in real time, giving visitors the opportunity to see and hear these beautiful animals as we do! #Adayonthebelugatower #OceanWise #Belugaresearch #Baleinesendirect
Today, research magic happened. The whales (4 calves!) and the hydrophones and Neo (our drone) and the weather were in absolutely beautiful synch. I am sure the tower itself vibrated with excitement. #Adayonthebelugatower #OceanWise #VanAqua #Baleinesendirect #Belugaresearch
A research project is as good as its team, and this team is just the best!!! #Adayonthebelugatower #OceanWise #Vanaqua #Baleinesendirect
Weather-bound and playing with data: 68 flights, 3 weeks of continuous recordings, and hundreds of photo ID pictures - And the season is not over yet! #Adayonthebelugatower #OceanWise #Vanaqua #Baleinesendirect #belugaresearch
A gang of loquacious males today and a group of females and young staying away from the boys. Seven good flights! #Adayonthebelugatower #Vanaqua #OceanWise #Baleinesendirect #belugaresearch
A little exercise: Mute the audio and watch this idyllic scene. Now turn the audio on. This is what it was really like! Noise source: a small speedboat one full km away. Sound transmits very efficiently through water! #Adayonthebelugatower #OceanWise #VanAqua #Baleinesendirect
The whales continue to visit Baie Sainte Marguerite day after day, and on the research tower, we are the eyes and ears of this special place. Epic day today! #Adayonthebelugatower #OceanWise #Vanaqua #baleinesendirect
Vocal compensation strategy, just like humans: wait until the noise ceases to keep chatting. Imagine having to do this constantly... #Adayonthebelugatower #VanAqua #OceanWise #Baleinesendirect #belugawhale
The belugas were like ghosts breaking the stillness of this foggy morning. Even when we could not see them, their sounds enveloped us. As biologists, these are the moments we live for. #Adayonthebelugatower #OceanWise #VanAqua #Baleinesendirect #belugawhale
Busy day at the research tower with nine flights and some good recordings! Amazing how much more we can learn about this species when observing from the air while eavesdropping. #Adayonthebelugatower #OceanWise #VanAqua #baleinesendirect
So thrilled to see these new regulations so thoroughly enforced today. I am sure it made a difference to the 24 beluga that visited Bay St. Marguerite today! Acoustic sanctuaries are vital to sound-centered species. #Adayonthebelugatower #OceanWise #VanAqua #baleinesendirect
Only 2 whaleless hours at the research tower today. The wind seemed manageable when we arrived, but we had to leave in a hurry when it suddenly picked up! #Adayonthebelugatower #OceanWise #VanAqua #baleinesendirect
Patience always pays off during field research. A long 8 hr wait at the research tower today before a small group of 5 adults and a juvie arrived in the late PM. #Adayonthebelugatower #OceanWise #VanAqua #baleinesendirect
