COVID-19: Whales in Your Living Room
Whether you’re on the North Shore or in the Gaspé Peninsula, when you live near the St. Lawrence, it’s easy to enjoy outdoor activities and observe whales and seals. But if you reside in Montréal, Québec City, Rouyn-Noranda or you are required to self-isolate, it is much more complicated. Whales Online has therefore identified a few initiatives to read, listen to, and watch, in an effort to make believe that whales, nature or science are directly in your living room. Every week, we’ll be adding new activities and resources! Don’t hesitate to share some of your favourites with us.
(Re)discover Whales Online
Have you taken a look at the encyclopedia part of the website? The “Discover”, “Observe” and “Act” sections are full of information on whales, research, observation and conservation. You can also travel through our magazine archives, where you can find articles published as far back as 2005!
Additionally, a number of films and documentaries on whales have been uploaded here: Whales on the Big Screen.
And you can travel along the 138 road, nicknamed «Route des baleines» or Whale’s route, in 21 videos and stories in the Observe section.
Watch whales in Oregon from your own living room
For “slow TV” enthusiasts, Oregon State Parks offers a daily live stream from a land-based observation site. Migrating North Pacific grey whales pass near the coast. Killer whales are also observed on occasion. A naturalist offers continuous interpretation. Watch it on YouTube, whether you opt for the live stream or you tune in at a later time, fast forwarding directly to the observations based on the time codes indicated in the comments!
Following killer whale research in British Columbia
The Orca Lab team produces video clips for participants of the killer whale adoption program created by Whale and Dolphin Conservation. The capsules can be viewed on Vimeo.
Marine environment educational activities for kids
An initiative of the NFB and Dalhousie University, the Ocean School offers interactive classes – in English and French – to discover marine ecosystems. Normally, the program is offered to Canadian professors, with tools adapted to the academic curriculum. The Ocean School is now offering a simplified version, without the need to create an account, so that parents can enjoy it together with their children. Set sail in search of whales, invite a shark into your living room or build a submarine.
The New England Aquarium is releasing some of its signature activities for elementary school children in the “At-Home Projects and Activities” section. Together with your kids, discover how whales eat, how to help a turtle, and the difference between weather and climate.
For all children (and children at heart), Ocean Wise and the Vancouver Aquarium are offering colouring activities, live-streamed classes, experiments and even recipes!
Marie-Ève Muller
Marie-Ève Muller is responsible for GREMM's communications and spokeperson for the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergencies Response Network (QMMERN). As Editor-in-Chief for Whales Online, she devours research and has an insatiable thirst for the stories of scientists and observers. Drawing from her background in literature and journalism, Marie-Ève strives to put the fragile reality of cetaceans into words and images.
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