Sightings Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Photo-ID Project Newsletter Winter 2017

Sightings
Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Photo-ID Project Newsletter
Winter 2017 

Photos taken under General Authorization, Letter of Confirmation No. 481-1759, MMPA/ESA Research Permit #14210 and #18016 .  Do not reproduce without permission.

Season's Greetings from the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale (CIBW) Photo-ID Project!
       Here at the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Photo-ID Project, we have wrapped up our 13th field season!  With another successful field season completed and the New Year quickly approaching, we thought the second edition of Sightings would be the perfect time to recap all the happenings around CIBWs in 2017.  In this edition you will find highlights from the 2017 field season, upcoming CIBW research, and of course cute beluga whale photographs.
      We also wanted to take the time to thank everyone who has contributed sighting reports and photographs to the photo-id project.  The data you have contributed are   extremely valuable in the conservation efforts of these whales.  Keep up the good work! 
     Although winter is here and beluga viewing is much more difficult, the whales are still around.  If you do see live or stranded whales please submit your sightings to the photo-id website (www.cookinletbelugas.com).  Also, check out our website in early January for our latest report.  Keep safe this winter and we will see you in the spring.
        
 
Happy Holidays!
The CIBW Photo-ID Project Team
 
 

And the winner is.....
 The CIBW Photo-ID Project had an ongoing contest this season for anyone that signed up for our newsletter and/or contributed a sighting or photos to our project, with the prize being getting to name a beluga whale in the photo-id catalog. 
  Congratulations Kelly Miller! You are the randomly selected winner. We will be contacting you to introduce you to the whale you get to name.  Thank you everyone that participated in this contest.

2017 Highlights
 
2017 was a busy and productive CIBW field season.  The CIBW Photo-ID team photographed the CIBWs May-October from land and water in Upper Cook Inlet.  Some locations included the Kenai River, Susitna River Delta, Turnagain Arm, and Knik Arm.  In addition to our surveys, the photo-ID team participated in the following projects this summer:
 
Hexacopter photogrammetry of Cook Inlet beluga whales- For the first time NOAA Fisheries used an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), a hexacopter, to collect photographs of the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales to estimate the length of individual whales and to learn more about the population.  To learn more about the hexacopter project you can visit the project website:  https://www.afsc.noaa.gov/Science_blog/Cook_Inlet_beluga_whales_main.htm.
 
Belugas Count!
Belugas Count! was a huge success this year, with 1,237 people attending and 260 beluga sightings.  The photo-id team had a great time at Bird Point alongside the Audubon Team.  Thanks to everyone that came out and participated in this event!
 
Population model to explore factors likely limiting CIBW recovery-
The CIBW Photo-ID Project is teaming up with Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the University of Washington, Montana State University and NOAA Fisheries to build a population model to explore factors likely limiting recovery of the CIBWs.  This project started this Fall and is designed to take three years to complete.  For more information visit: adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=pressreleases.pr09132017
 
Cook Inlet Beluga Biopsy Program-
In 2016 the National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Region (NMFS AKR) conducted a Cook Inlet Beluga Whale (CIBW) Biopsy Feasibility Study to collect biopsy samples of skin and blubber that would allow researchers to conduct genetic studies and monitor body condition of individual Cook Inlet belugas.  After a successful feasibility study, a first year 2017 biopsy program was launched. The CIBW Photo-ID Project team partnered with NOAA Fisheries, NMFS AKR, the Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals (GREMM), and the Conservation Department from Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson.  Follow the links below to learn more about the Cook Inlet Biopsy Program. 
 

Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Biopsy: Field Report for 2016 Feasibility Study (McGuire et al. 2017)

Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Biopsy: Photo-Identification of Biopsied Whales during the 2016 Feasibility Study (McGuire and Stephens 2017)

GREMM's Biopsy blog

Beluga in the Spotlight
We thought we would end the year with a cute beluga calf photo.  Most of you have probably heard of Tyonek, the CIBW calf that stranded and was rescued September 30th from Trading Bay.  He  is being cared for at the Alaska SeaLife Center by a team of committed staff from the Alaska SeaLife Center, Georgia Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium, SeaWorld, Shedd Aquarium, and the Vancouver Aquarium.  Decisions are currently being made as to whether Tyonek can be released back in the wild.  
 
For more information on Tyonek follow the Alaska SeaLife Center on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AlaskaSeaLifeCenter/)
 
(Photo courtesy of the Alaska SeaLife Center)

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