Episode 1104: Mystery of the Humpback Whale Song

Each year, approximately half of the North Pacific humpback whale population migrates roughly three thousand miles from its feeding grounds in Southeastern Alaska to its breeding grounds in Hawaiʻi. While there, the male humpbacks perform their elaborate and haunting song. But what does it mean? And what is the purpose of this beautiful display?

To find out, scientists are conducting research on the leeward side of Maui, inside the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. They collect data on the amplitude of an individual's song, as well as his size and testosterone levels, to determine if there is a correlation between the quality of the song and the fitness of an individual whale. The scientists are also deploying acoustic suction cup tags on humpback whales to learn how the animals spend their time throughout the day.

Experts

Meet the experts featured in this episode.

Episode Photos

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A humpback whale breaches sideways in waters off Maui, Hawaiʻi.

Image taken under the authority of NMFS MMPA/ESA Permit No. 19655.

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Changing Seas cameraman David Diez films Marc Lammers, Ph.D. (left) and Adam A. Pack, Ph.D., as they use a hydrophone to locate a humpback whale singer.

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Adam A. Pack, Ph.D. waits patiently for this juvenile female humpback whale to dive so that he can measure her body size using underwater videogrammetry.

Image taken under the authority of NMFS MMPA/ESA Permit No. 19655.

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While in the water the researchers record video and sound of humpback whale singers to measure their size and the amplitude of their song.

Image taken under the authority of NMFS MMPA/ESA Permit No. 19655.

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David Diez films Adam A. Pack, Ph.D. as he prepares to collect a small blubber and tissue sample to measure the testosterone levels of a male whale.

Image taken under the authority of NMFS MMPA/ESA Permit No. 19655.

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The experts analyze an animal's testosterone levels to determine if the amplitude of the song might say something about a singer's fitness.

Image taken under the authority of NMFS MMPA/ESA Permit No. 19655.

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The biopsy dart quickly bounces off an animal and only removes a small layer of blubber and skin, without having a negative impact on the whale.

Changing Seas

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Once back in the lab, Marc Lammers, Ph.D. can analyze the whale song he's recorded.

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Curious female humpback whale head rising out of the water.

Image taken under the authority of NMFS MMPA/ESA Permit No. 19655.

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Another important aspect of the research is collecting images for photo ID purposes. This catalog dates back to 1976 and includes more than 23,000 images of over 7,000 whales.

Image taken under the authority of NMFS MMPA/ESA Permit No. 19655.

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Experts can tell different whales apart by the patterns on their tail flukes.

Image taken under the authority of NMFS MMPA/ESA Permit No. 19655.

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Scientists can also identify whales by the shape of their dorsal fins.

Changing Seas

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The cameras are rolling while Adam A. Pack, Ph.D. compares an image of a tail fluke with others in the photo ID catalog to determine if an animal has been sighted before.

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Physical strike between two male humpback whales aggressively competing for access to a female in waters off Maui, Hawaiʻi.

Image taken under the authority of NMFS MMPA/ESA Permit No. 19655.

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One of the behaviors experts document in competitive groups is pec-slapping. In a competitive group multiple males try to gain exclusive access to a female whale.

Image taken under the authority of NMFS MMPA/ESA Permit No. 19655.

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Sometimes male whales will blow bubble trails in a contest competition for a female.

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Inverted tail slap from a humpback whale in waters off Maui, Hawaiʻi.

Image taken under the authority of NMFS MMPA/ESA Permit No. 19655.

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A humpback whale that is part of a competitive group in the waters off Maui, Hawai'i.

Image taken under the authority of NMFS MMPA/ESA Permit No. 19655.

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Close-up of a humpback whale's tail fluke off Maui, Hawaiʻi.

Image taken under the authority of NMFS MMPA/ESA Permit No. 19655.

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A competitive group off Maui, Hawaiʻi. The whales' displays are impressive to observe, and many tourists come to Hawaiʻi to whale watch.

Image taken under the authority of NMFS MMPA/ESA Permit No. 19655.

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A humpback whale head off Maui, Hawaiʻi.

Image taken under the authority of NMFS MMPA/ESA Permit No. 19655.

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Humpback whales in a competitive group off Maui, Hawaiʻi.

Image taken under the authority of NMFS MMPA/ESA Permit No. 19655.

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Changing Seas Director of Photography Sean Hickey films an acoustic suction cup tag before it is attached to a humpback whale.

Image taken under the authority of NMFS MMPA/ESA Permit No. 19655.

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Cameraman Sean Hickey captures the shot as Marc Lammers, Ph.D. attaches an acoustic tag to a whale. The tag has specialized sensors that measure the whale's movements.

Image taken under the authority of NMFS MMPA/ESA Permit No. 19655.

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Marc Lammers, Ph.D. uses a VHF antenna that picks up sound signals from a tag when the whale is at the surface.

Image taken under the authority of NMFS MMPA/ESA Permit No. 19655.

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A humpback whale off Maui, Hawaiʻi.

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Vertical breach against a blue sky from a humpback whale in waters off Maui, Hawaiʻi.

Changing Seas

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The science team at the end of a successful day of research and filming.

Image Credits

Changing Seas would like to thank the following individuals and institutions who kindly allowed their footage, images and other media to be used in this production:

Adam A. Pack, Ph.D.
The Dolphin Institute

Marc Lammers, Ph.D.
Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

Ed Lyman
Jason Moore
Jeff Pantukhoff
Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary
NOAA Permit Numbers:
774-1714
14097
14682
15240
20311
NOAA MMHSRP Permit Numbers:
18786-01
18786-02
18786-03

Robin W. Baird
Cascadia Research
MMPA/ESA Permit No. 15330

NOAA Fisheries/Tim Cole

All other footage of humpback whales & whale research taken under the authority of NMFS MMPA/ESA Permit No. 19655.

Special Thanks:

D. Ka’au Abraham

Captains and Crew
R/V Koholā

Sheri Rahman

Episode 1104: Mystery of the Humpback Whale Song

Experts

Adam A. Pack, Ph.D.

Marc Lammers, Ph.D.

Kimokeo Kapahulehua

Image Credits

Special Thanks:

Funding for this episode of Changing Seas was provided by: