Magazine
The Excitement of White Whales
Increasing numbers of groups of belugas are being spotted in the estuary, swimming amongst the quietly returning minke whales. Harbour seals and grey seals have been present from one end of the estuary to the other, as have the large blasts of one humpback and two fin whales.
Field Notes
Container Ship in Distress in the Estuary: QMMERN on Alert
7 Short Blasts and 1 Long Blast “I was woken up by seven short blasts followed by one long one.…
Whales in the Flesh!
Friday morning, September 22, 2023. Warning: Not for the faint of heart! I wake up shortly after dawn. The golden…
In Search of Large Rorquals
It's 5:45 a.m., and I'm already awake and excitedly waiting for news from the research team of the Group for…
Hot Topics
ROUND-UP OF 2024 NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE NEWS
After being hunted for centuries, today’s North Atlantic right whales face many challenges, including entanglements with fishing gear, ship strikes…
Round-up of 2023 North Atlantic Right Whale News
After being hunted for centuries, today’s North Atlantic right whales face many challenges, including entanglements with fishing gear, ship strikes…
All the news on North Atlantic right whales in 2022
The North Atlantic right whale is a particularly vulnerable cetacean species, currently numbering fewer than 350 individuals. The survival of…
Marine Mammal Emergencies
2023 Beluga Mortality Assessment: The Trend Continues
According to data from the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (QMMERN), last year saw the recovery of 17 beluga…
Satellite Teams: Strengthening QMMERN’s Response Capacity across Quebec’s Vast Territory
With fewer phone calls coming into Marine Mammal Emergencies (UMM) in winter than during the high season, it’s the perfect…
Humpback Observed Earlier This Summer Washes Up in the Gaspé
On Wednesday, October 25, a humpback whale carcass washed up in Saint-Maxime-du-Mont-Louis in the Gaspé Peninsula. It was a male…
News
The Winter Migration of the Fin Whale Ti-Croche
The migrations of large rorquals still hold many mysteries. Where do they go in winter? How long do they stay…
Cetacean Sex Lives: Beyond Reproduction
An article published a few weeks ago relates an unexpected interaction between two male humpback whales. Indeed, the two bulls…
Unravelling the Mysteries of Hybridization in Blue Whales
Hunted, threatened, decimated. The largest of giants suffered greatly at the hands of humans throughout the 20th century and is…
Observation of the Week
The Excitement of White Whales
Increasing numbers of groups of belugas are being spotted in the estuary, swimming amongst the quietly returning minke whales. Harbour…
Belugas and Migrating Birds
This past week, belugas have been seen from both shores of the estuary. Humpbacks, minke whales and seals were also…
Whales Return to the Estuary
Two fin whales, good numbers of belugas, several minke whales, a humpback… The tally of cetaceans observed in the waters…
Whale Q&A
Interpreting the Extraordinary Surface Behaviour of Humpback Whales
Humpback whales are also particularly entertaining, lifting their tails when diving, performing successive breaches, striking their pectorals or tail on…
Why do humpback whales sometimes interact with algae?
In an immense expanse of blue, a long and slender silhouette gently rises above the water surface. A string of…
Why do humpback whales get in the way of hungry killer whales?
A rare behaviour that remains unexplained Bertie Gregory, explorer for National Geographic, recently witnessed an extremely rare episode of intimidation.…