[CINC] Blue whale skeleton

[Shauna.Bingham at noaa.gov]

FYI -- Enchanted Learning averages on blue whale dives are a bit lower than what research suggests for this region - blue whales tagged near the Channel Islands have been documented foraging for krill in depths greater than 600 feet (WHAP 1996 http://bio.research.ucsc.edu/people/croll/pdf/Fiedler_1998.pdf) and according to Croll (http://channelislands.noaa.gov/res/pdf/RorqlDiving1.pdf) blue whales in the NE Pacific average dive time and depths:

459'/ 140.0 (± 46.01) m and 7.8 (± 1.89) min when foraging, 
and
67.6 (±51.46) m and 4.9 (±2.53) min when not foraging

In the WHAP 96 study link above take a look at the section on seasonal patterns of krill and species of krill targeted by blue whales. it is helpful in understanding blue whale foraging behaviors and distribution patterns around the Channel Islands. 

--Shauna 


----- Original Message -----
From: Catherine French <cfrench1366 at aol.com>
Date: Thursday, September 22, 2011 9:51 am
Subject: [CINC] Blue whale skeleton
To: channel_islands_naturalist_corps at rain.org


> I have received many thanks for sending out the Paul Collins info, 
> nice to have a consice look at the basic facts about blues. So nice of 
> Paul to share.
> 
> There is a cool web site I use (one among many) that seems to be on 
> top of their facts. Hal Altman had done a calucalation based on the 
> fact sheet from Paul as to the speed a blue whale can swim. It is most 
> likely a reflection of an average day of swimming for feeding or maybe 
> even migrating to conserve energy as he MPH was less than 4 miles an hour.
> 
> Here is what EnchantedLearning.com has to say. Go to their web page 
> for additional fun facts.
> 
> 
> EnchantedLearning.com
>  
> SPEED
> Blue whales are very fast swimmers; they normally swim 3-20 mph 
> (4.8-32 kph), but can go up to 24-30 mph (38-48 kph) in bursts when in 
> danger. Feeding speeds are slower, about 1-4 mph (1.6-6.2 kph).
>  
> DIVING
> Blue whales can dive for up to an hour, going to a depth of 350 feet 
> (105 m).
> 
> 
> 
> Calm Seas,
>  
> Catherine French
> Writer, mentor, naturalist
> 805.570.0432
> To own is to have; to share with friends, is to enjoy.
> 
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