With the first whale count on Jan. 26 fast approaching, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is still looking for volunteers. The Sanctuary Ocean Count 2008 is a shore-based census and monitoring of
With the first whale count on Jan. 26 fast approaching, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is still looking for volunteers.
The Sanctuary Ocean Count 2008 is a shore-based census and monitoring of humpback whale behavior at 15 designated sites around Kaua‘i.
Jean Souza, Kaua‘i coordinator for the sanctuary, said advance registration is required for all who plan on volunteering. Training is required of all new volunteers and optional for those returning.
“Those who are new to the whale count are required to go to a two-hour training session,” Souza said. “I think it will result in a better experience for volunteers and better data for us.”
Souza explained the count is happening at 60 sites on four islands — Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Big Island and Kaho‘olawe — on the same days, at the same time and in the same way.
“It’s a more substantial effort,” Souza said. “It supplements the data researchers collect by providing information on whales at specific locations over the years.”
The 15 Kaua‘i sites vary in terms of accessibility, and safety is the No. 1 priority.
“We try to match people up with a comfortable fit,” Souza said. “It is an outdoor activity — some sites might be intimidating for some and exciting for others.”
But you don’t have to be a volunteer to learn about whales, Souza said. Naturalists will be present at the Prince-ville Hotel grounds, the Kapa‘a Overlook area and Po‘ipu Beach Park to help educate and answer questions. Passersby can stop to learn about the whales, and at the last ocean count, about 1,000 people did just that.
“There are lots of people and few whales,” said Bruce Parsil, a volunteer with the sanctuary since 2002 and the naturalist for Po‘ipu Beach Park. “It’s more like whale waiting than whale watching. But it’s a good opportunity to talk about whales.”
Additional counts will be held on Feb. 23 and March 29.
For more information about volunteering for the whale count, call 246-2860.
• Rachel Gehrlein, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or rgehrlein@kauaipubco.com
