Happy Whale Humpback Happenings
June 22, 2026
A few interesting matches have come out of our Mid-Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalog efforts and partnership with Happy Whale!
2024-2025 Large Whale Season Summary
March 24, 2025
We have two separate efforts focusing on cetaceans off the coast of Virginia. The first is our Offshore (Outer Continental Shelf) Cetacean Study, which focuses primarily on deep diving odontocetes like sperm whales. The second effort is our Nearshore and Mid-Shelf Baleen Whale Monitoring Project.
Aerial Surveys to Confirm Seal Haul-out Sites in Virginia
January 14, 2025
Each fall/winter, some portion of the Northwest Atlantic harbor seal population that summers in New England make their way south to Virginia.
Right whale calf sighted off Virginia!
December 20, 2024
On December 18, 2024, during a survey off Virginia Beach, researchers from HDR Inc. and NAVFAC LANT observed North Atlantic right whale #4540 with her first known calf. This sighting is notable as it's the earliest recorded instance of a newborn right whale calf in Virginia waters, suggesting a possible shift in calving locations northward from the typical areas off Florida and Georgia.
It’s Whale Season in the Mid-Atlantic!
November 20, 2023
Baleen whale season has started in the mid-Atlantic and we have several projects in the region studying their occurrence and behavior.
Humpbacks - New visitors and familiar friends in the Mid-Atlantic
November 20, 2023
On 16 November 2023, the weather lined up perfectly for HDR Inc. to go out in their small boat for some large whale survey work under the Mid-Atlantic Nearshore and Mid-shelf Baleen Whale Monitoring Project.
Coming full circle – right whale mom returns with calf
March 15, 2023
Previously CATS tagged Right whale "Smoke" is sighted again in VA with a calf.
Right Whale Party in the Mid-Atlantic
February 4, 2023
A Surface Active Group of North Atlantic right whales off the coast of Virginia.
An Urban Whale
February 3, 2023
A juvenile North Atlantic right whale finds itself in a busy area.
Right whales are on the move!
November 23, 2022
Two female right whales were sighted off Virginia during their southbound migration.
Cuvier's from Cape to Canyon
September 16, 2022
Photo ID match of a Goose-beaked whale between Cape Hatteras and Virginia Beach after two years.
NARW tagged off VA Beach!
March 2, 2022
A yearling right whale was tagged off Virginia.
Blue whale tagged off the coast of Virginia
April 26, 2021
Details on the first blue whale tagged in the region.
Tracking an endangered North Atlantic right whale
March 15, 2021
A yearling right whale was tagged off the coast of VA and tracked for 12 days.
Drone footage of a blue whale off the coast of Virginia!
March 14, 2021
Blue whale footage from Virginia
Drone footage of humpback whale bubble-net feeding off the coast of Virginia
February 18, 2021
Humpback whale "Tobin" bubblenet feeding off VA.
Fantastic video of an encounter with North Atlantic right whales off the coast of Virginia Beach
January 27, 2021
Footage of three right whales off Virginia.
Entangled humpback whale
January 8, 2021
Our team assisted with the disentanglement efforts of a young humpback whale.
Fin and blue whale feeding aggregation observed in Norfolk Canyon study area
March 26, 2019
Baleen whale feeding assemblage offshore of Virginia.
One whale tagged twice.
March 8, 2019
D-tag and limpet tag on a humpback whale.
Sowerby's beaked whales encountered at Norfolk Canyon
January 7, 2019
Excellent drone footage of a group of rarely seen beaked whales.
Sowerby's beaked whale tagged offshore of Virginia
September 12, 2018
A rarely seen beaked whale was tracked offshore.
Blue whales and sei whales and right whales - OH MY!!!
April 18, 2018
A spring aggregation of endangered whales offshore.
Seal Tagging Team Win!
February 6, 2018
Successful seal tag deployment on the Eastern Shore of VA.
Repeat tagging customers to humpback monitoring project
January 30, 2018
Some interesting notes on site fidelity in Humpack whales.
Sperm whales tagged off Virginia Beach
August 25, 2017
Several groups of sperm whales were sighted offshore of VA.
Bonus tagging in JAX
June 15, 2016
Odontocete tagging in Florida.
Tagging Atlantic Humpbacks
January 8, 2016
Year two of our Chesapeake Bay humpback whale project has begun!
Great Day for a Mid-Atlantic Offshore Survey
April 20, 2015
Pelagic cetaceans and sea turtle sightings.
Humpbacks Have Arrived!
December 30, 2014
It's winter in Virginia and that means whales!
White “Leucistic” Bottlenose Dolphin Seen on Marine Mammal Survey
October 30, 2014
Leucism, like albinism, is a genetic condition that results in a lack of pigmentation in the skin.
Spinnaker sighted off Virginia Beach
September 25, 2013
A well known whale makes a visit.
Complete
Guam Shore Based Visual Surveys
Project Objectives
Shore-based marine mammal surveys
Complete
Behavioral Response Research Evaluation Workshop II (BRREW II)
Project Objectives
Response
Current
Passive Acoustic Monitoring for Mid-Atlantic Baleen Whales
Project Objectives
Monitor large whale occurrence in the Mid-Atlantic
Complete
Mariana Islands Sea Turtle and Cetacean Survey (MISTICS)
Project Objectives
Determine what species of marine mammals and sea turtles are present and estimate abundance.
Complete
Passive Acoustic Monitoring of Marine Mammals Using Gliders in Marianas
Project Objectives
Identify acoustically distinct species of beaked whales, odontocetes, and baleen whales that occur in the Mariana Islands; develop a better understanding of marine mammal distribution, habitat use, and abundance
Complete
Pilot survey for humpback whales at Farallon de Medinilla
Project Objectives
The goal of the visual surveys is to collect individually-identifying information from humpback whales present near and around Farallon de Medinilla (FDM)
Complete
Aerial Surveys of Marine Mammals Conducted in the Inland Puget Sound Waters of Washington, summer 2013 – winter 2016
Project Objectives
1) Conduct aerial surveys during four seasonal periods within the inland Puget Sound Survey Area to assess potential differences in seasonal distribution, numbers, and behavioral state patterns of marine mammals; 2) Collect data to estimate densities of marine mammals in the inland Puget Sound waters for species with sufficient sightings; 3) Estimate abundance for each marine mammal species seen an adequate number of times; 4) Document the distribution and habitat use of each species observed; 5) Document and describe behaviors seen without performing focal follows.
Current
Estimation of Received Levels of MFAS and Behavioral Response of Marine Mammals at PMRF
Project Objectives
Further our understanding of the Monitoring Questions: 1) What is the occurrence and estimated received levels of MFAS on 'blackfish', humpback, minke, sperm and Blainville's beaked whales within the PMRF instrumented range? and 2) What, if any, are the short term behavioral responses of 'blackfish,' humpback, minke, sperm and Blainville's beaked whales when exposed to MFAS/explosions at different levels/conditions at PMRF?
Current
Southern California Beaked Whale Occurrence (formerly "Passive Acoustic Monitoring of Marine Mammals in Southern California Range Complex (SOCAL)")
Project Objectives
Determine the distribution and temporal patterns of beaked whale occurrence in the waters within and outside the Southern California Range Complex (SOCAL). Use passive acoustic monitoring to determine what species are present in SOCAL and examine spatial and temporal patterns.
Complete
Sound source measurements from pile driving
Project Objectives
Determine the source levels produced by impact and vibratory driving of different size and material piles during construction projects
Complete
NAS Patuxent River Marine Species Surveys
Project Objectives
Assess occurrence, seasonality, and abundance of Tursiops in the waters near NAS PAX River
Complete
Baseline Monitoring for Marine Mammals in the East Coast Range Complexes (aerial surveys)
Project Objectives
Assess occurrence, habitat associations, and density of marine mammals and sea turtles in key areas of Navy range complexes
Complete
Occurrence, Distribution, and Density of Marine Mammals Near Naval Station Norfolk and Virginia Beach
Project Objectives
Assess occurrence, seasonality, and abundance of Tursiops in the coastal waters of Hampton Roads military installations
Complete
Mid-Atlantic Humpback Whale Monitoring
Project Objectives
Assess occurrence, habitat use, and baseline behavior of humpback whales in the mid-Atlantic region
Complete
Behavioral Response of Humpback Whales to Vessel Traffic
Project Objectives
Understand the behavioral response of humpback whales to approaching vessels in the shipping channels at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.
Complete
Effectiveness of Navy Lookout Teams in Detecting Cetaceans
Project Objectives
Obtain data to characterize the potential exposure of marine mammals and ESA-listed marine species to Navy training and testing activities, evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures
Current
Jacksonville Shallow Water Training Range Vessel Surveys and M3R Species Verifications
Project Objectives
Monitor species composition and distribution on JSWTR, support M3R species verifications
Current
Mid-Atlantic Offshore Cetacean Study
Project Objectives
Assess occurrence, habitat use, and baseline behavior of cetaceans in the offshore and continental shelf break region of the VACAPES OPAREA
Current
North Atlantic Right Whale Monitoring, Conservation, and Protection
Project Objectives
Assess occurrence, habitat use, and behavior of North Atlantic right whales in the mid-Atlantic region
Current
Mid-Atlantic Nearshore & Mid-shelf Baleen Whale Monitoring
Project Objectives
Assess occurrence, habitat use, and baseline behavior of baleen whales in the mid-Atlantic region
Current
Atlantic Behavioral Response Study
Project Objectives
Assess behavioral response of beaked and pilot whales to mid-frequency tactical sonar
Current
Haul-Out Counts and Photo-Identification of Pinnipeds in Virginia
Project Objectives
Document seasonal occurrence, habitat use, and haul-out patterns of seals
Complete
Pinniped Tagging and Tracking in Southeast Virginia
Project Objectives
Document habitat use, movement and haul-out patterns of seals in the Hampton Roads region of Chesapeake Bay and coastal Atlantic OceanNo related documents to display
