Drone video captures humpback whale ‘sailing’ off Maui
COURTESY NOAA
This image taken from a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration drone video, shows a whale floating vertically in the water in the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary apparently using its tail like a sail to catch the wind last month.
Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary today released rare video, taken with a drone camera, showing a humpback whale with its tail out of the water, seemingly catching the wind like a sail.
In the video, a humpback mother and calf are observed swimming and diving in the sanctuary off Maui’s leeward coast last month. At one point, the mother appears to be doing a headstand and drifting with her tail out of the water.
Scientists said tail-sailing is fairly common among southern right whales but has rarely been observed or documented among humpbacks.
“We’re not entirely sure why the whales do this,” said Ed Lyman, resource protection specialist for Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary in a news release. “But we think this could be another way for them to rest, nurse, or just try to stay cool. More observations will be needed to confirm this theory.”
The video was captured by a team of whale scientists and marine mammal response managers organized by the Collaborative Center for Unmanned Technologies. The scientists were trying to determine if small, remotely piloted aircraft can be used for whale research and disentanglement efforts in the sanctuary.
During the two-week study, the research team observed more than 15 humpback whales, including mothers and calves and competitive groups of males chasing after individual females.
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There are strict regulations for the approach of whales and untrained public use of unmanned aerial equipment near wildlife. The drones in the Hawaii test were operated by trained professionals under approved NOAA and FAA permits, and the staging vessel was kept 100 yards away from the whales at all times.
12 responses to “Drone video captures humpback whale ‘sailing’ off Maui”
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At what altitude was the drone filming as there is an altitude restriction too? Does NOAA get to grant exceptions to Federal law? Under what authority?
I wonder also. Recently, near the Cabanas on the Marine Corps base in Kaneohe Bay, a person was using a drone which was much louder than the noisiest lawn mower I’ve ever heard. It makes me wonder if the drone in the video was loud, scaring the young whale in the video, causing it to dive under the water so quickly. Yes, it’s a nice video to watch, but was the drone itself intrusive on the whales’ protective space?
There are strict regulations for the approach of whales and untrained public use of unmanned aerial equipment near wildlife. The UAS equipment in the Hawaii test was operated by trained professionals under approved NOAA and FAA permits. For more information on guidelines and regulations for the use of UAS around marine mammals go to the following web page – NOAA Fisheries Responsible UAS Use and Best Practices for Viewing Marine Mammals: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/uas.html
The vertical posture of a humpback whale was seen in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Let me see: William Shatner, Nichelle Nichols, Majel Barrett, George Takei and Walter Koenig are still alive. Gone are Gene Roddenberry, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan and Mark Lenard.
Wow! Very cool images.
Love drone videos. That scene of the wipeout wave chasing the jet ski lifeguards was seen around the world. Hollywood is using them for spectacular landscape scenes that are breathtaking. They can do faster and better jobs locating lost hikers better than HPD. Do not over-regulate drones! Do not punish everybody just for a few irresponsible violators.
There are some good uses for drones but there are unfortunately some people using them in unsafe in inappropriate ways.
Does the do not disturb zone for whales apply vertically as well?
The very clear not quite glassy water would seem to indicate that if there were any wind it would be a very very light breeze.
Several of us in Rescue 2 witnessed this in 1984 off Waianae. We were training in Air 1 and saw several humpbacks doing this same thing. We hovered above them for a short time – didn’t seem to be bothered at all by the rotor noise.
This is whale speak for “kiss my butt”. Leave mom & calf alone!
Mother Whale is…..Sleeping?