Two New Moms … and More – Georgia Wildlife Blog

Ready for the latest on the North Atlantic right whales calving season?

Buckle up: There’s a lot of ground — or ocean — to cover.

Let’s start with two new calves.

Earlier this week, the survey flight contracted by Georgia DNR with Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute spotted the season’s ninth mom-and-calf pair off Nassau Sound, Fla. The Feb. 5 sighting marks the third documented calf for 23-year-old Cashew, officially No. 3292 in the right whale catalog curated by the New England Aquarium.

Accordion and calf off New York Feb. 2 (NOAA Fisheries/NOAA permit 27066)

And if you’re wondering how the calf count jumped to nine from seven — the total previously reported — don’t blame bad math: The season’s eighth calf and mom were just seen Feb. 3 off New York and New Jersey.

Yep, you heard right. New York and New Jersey, a long way from this endangered species’ traditional calving grounds off the coast of Georgia, north Florida and the Carolinas.

Right whale No. 4150 and her first known calf popped up near shipping lanes at the entrance of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, according to the aerial survey team for NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center. The new mom is distinct in looks — she’s named Accordion for the vessel propeller scars on her back — and history.

Although at least 14 years old, Accordion has never been documented off the Southeast. It’s not known where or when her calf was born. While right whales are common to the area where the pair was seen, NOAA says it’s unusual to find such a young calf so far north and at this time of year.

In other updates, right whale No. 4540 and calf were seen this week about 16 nautical miles east of Cumberland Island. You may remember this is 4540’s first calf and that the pair were initially reported Dec. 18 off southern Virginia, which made them the third mom/calf pair this winter.

The calf of whale 4540 spouts, or exhales, off Cumberland Feb. 5 (Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute/NOAA permit 26919)

Meanwhile, in the right whale version of hanging out with the guys, three youngish males — Nos. 4501,  4457 and 4353 — were cruising less than 2 miles from Sea Breeze, N.C., on Feb. 4. No. 4501 is 10 years old, 4457 (nicknamed Seamount) is 11 and 4353 is 12.

The boys are back in town: Whales 4501, 4457 and 4353 off Sea Breeze, N.C., Feb 4 (Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute/NOAA permit 26919)

A 17-year-old male dubbed Zigzag (No. 3821) either didn’t get the memo or was too cool to join the youngsters. The survey team photographed him the same day about 44 miles east of Kure Beach, N.C.

(Video or images of right whales used by media or other outlets must include the following: Taken by Georgia DNR under NOAA permit 26919. It is illegal to approach right whales in U.S. waters without a research permit. Other vessels, aircraft and drones must maintain a distance of at least 500 yards from these endangered whales. Researchers shown have the training and permits required to approach right whales safely and legally.)

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