9. A Wonderful Whale Tale: Drone's Eye View of Blue, Gray, & Humpback Giants w/ Daina Buchner

Planet People

Hey everyone, and welcome back! In this episode of Planet People, we dive into the world of whales with conservation photographer and videographer Daina Buchner. Join us on this exciting and ocean-filled episode as Daina shares her inspiring journey from childhood memories by the ocean, to becoming a leading figure in the field of marine conservation photography and videography. In our effort to bring nature to you in this episode, we encourage you to welcome in all the sounds of the natural recording studio we’re in by the beach in La Jolla, California!

Daina’s Story:

In this episode, we also discover how Daina's ethos transformed, shifting away from travel photography to a more ocean-centric focus. Through the power of social media, she found a platform to educate people about the ocean and express her dedication to protecting whales and other marine species. Learn how this pivotal shift in perspective laid the foundation for becoming a conservation photographer.

Daina has photographed all kinds of marine life, focusing primarily on gray whales, humpback whales, and sea turtles. She shared her personal, up-close encounters with these aquatic animals as she came face to face with all three species in different ways! She takes us down memory lane and on a tour of the Pacific as she dives deep with whales, photographing them in the sea and from land with her drone as a certified FAA pilot.

Learn how her high-quality photographs contribute valuable information to scientific studies and conservation efforts. Explore the intersection of art and science as Daina shares how her work contributes to a deeper understanding of marine ecosystems and supports conservation initiatives.

Gray Whales:

After years of intensive whaling, gray whales bounced back when strict controls were introduced to protect them. One such strict law was the enforcement of the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972, which ended whaling.

Gray whales are famous for their migration, which is one of the longest of any mammal. This well-studied migration is a 12,000-mile round trip from their feeding grounds in the cold Arctic waters to the warmer climes of Baja, California, where they breed and calve.

In the summer months, the whales spend their time in the icy, nutrient-rich waters of the Arctic, feeding on the small amphipods abundant in the ocean floor sediments. In September, they leave these feeding grounds and head south along the coastline to the breeding grounds in the far warmer waters of Baja, California, covering as much as 75 miles a day. In December, adult males and females arrive in California, and the females give birth in the sheltered warm waters.

Blue Whales:

The most significant historical threat to blue whales was the whaling industry, which reached unsustainable levels thanks to the industrialization of whaling fleets with gas-powered harpoons. They began to be hunted in significant numbers in 1868 in the North Atlantic, and their numbers were thought to have depleted to the low hundreds in 1966 when the International Whaling Commission banned their hunting.

Ship strikes are one of the most significant mortality factors, with most deaths occurring in the waters off the US West Coast and Sri Lanka, where their preferred routes cross some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

Blue whales are migratory, moving to feeding grounds at the Poles in the summer and then to their breeding grounds in the Tropics during the winter. Ten years of satellite tracking have revealed that blue whales exhibit long-term memory, with their movements following the spring phytoplankton blooms to feed off the krill that eat them.

Humpback Whales:

The humpback whale is one of the most iconic whale species alive today. Famed for its mournful underwater songs and incredible acrobatics, it is at the top of the bucket list for many whale-watching expeditions. Growing anywhere from 14 to 17 meters in length and weighing up to 40 metric tonnes, these giants can be found in all major ocean basins and migrate long distances between mating and calving grounds in warm tropical waters.

North Pacific Migration:

Humpback whales migrate from Alaska to Hawaii, traveling up to 3,000 miles in as little as 28 days. In the summer, they feed on krill and small fish in Alaska, and then in the winter, they travel to Hawaii's warm, shallow waters to give birth, mate, and raise their calves.

Sea Turtles:

There are 7 species of sea turtles. The largest is the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and the only species with a softer, or leathery shell. The leatherback is the largest of all sea turtles at almost 6 feet long and up to 1100 lbs. Conversely, the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) is the smallest at almost 2 feet long and only 100 lbs.

Sea turtles can be found almost everywhere, branching out from the equator. They do not inhabit the polar or subpolar regions. These animals have evolved over the last 200 million years and survived mass extinction events, but they are in trouble and may not survive this sixth Mass Extinction.

Conservation Tips:

Avoid using plastic straws. Use the hashtag #saveaseaturtle!

Episode Resources:

Daina Buchner:

Website - https://headedanywhere.com/

Instagram - https://headedanywhere.com/

YouTube-https://youtube.com/@headedanywhere?si=3OnFLkWW7wtsLlsv

Happy Whale:

Have you identified a whale and want to contribute to citizen science research? Look no further and add your contribution to this website here: https://happywhale.com/hom

CSU Shark Lab:

The California State University Long Beach Shark Lab has had a long and rich history in elasmobranch research.

Dr. Christopher Lowe, a former Master's student, was hired as Don's replacement in 1998. Chris took over the CSULB Shark Lab and continues to maintain the legacy.

https://www.csulb.edu/shark-lab/about-the-shark-lab

FAA Website:

Are you curious about flying drones with a certification? Check this out: https://www.faa.gov/uas

Kingdom of Tonga

Learn about this Pacific island country by checking out their website: https://thekingdomoftonga.com/about/

References:

Abrahms, B. Hazen, E.L. Aikens, E.O. Savoca, M.S. Goldbogen, J.A. Bograd, S.J. Jacox, M.G. Irvine, L.M. Palacios, D.M. and Mate, B.R. (2019) ‘Memory and resource tracking drive blue whale migrations.’ Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Iiangakoon, A.D. (2012) ‘Exploring anthropogenic activities that threaten endangered blue whales off Sri Lanka.’ Journal of Marine Animals and Their Ecology