Guided Focus on Whales/Photography w / Dr. Dan R. Salden
The Hawaii-Alaska Connection of Humpback Whales
Trip A118: 8 days / 7 nights on boat, June 24th - July 1st, 2008
Have you ever dreamed of spending time with humpback whales up-close-and-personal? Don't miss this exclusive opportunity!
Alaska Sea Adventures is proud to present TWO special whale research trips* featuring Dr. Dan Salden, Founder and Research Director of the Hawaii Whale Research Foundation.
On these exciting trips, you'll learn about the behavioral comparisons and contrasts between Alaskan and Hawaiian activities of the humpback whales. Alaskan waters, which are rich in food, are too cold for the survival of the virtually blubberless newborn calves. On the other hand, warm tropical waters, which are ideal for calving, lack adequate food resources for the humpback.
North Pacific humpbacks migrate thousands of miles to meet their basic needs. During May and June, the humpbacks are returning from Hawaii to Alaskan waters, which are rich in food. As the whales feed, you'll witness their ingenious strategy of creating bubblenets to trap their food just below the surface. And as they lunge for food, you'll learn to identify each whale by its fluke markings.
You'll witness extraordinary whale behavior. You'll learn to identify individual whales. You'll hear their haunting song. Day by day you'll have learning experiences that include:
Fluke identification activities and photo comparison
Courtship behavior
Feeding behavior
Hawaiian behavior contrasts – from birth to girth
The song of the humpback whales
Plus, during your personalized whale watching journey, there will be discussions, presentations, and interactive Q&A sessions. Don't miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the mysterious lives of humpback whales!
*These trips are conducted under special permit – commercial photography prohibited.
Dan R. Salden, Ph.D.
Dr. Salden is Emeritus Professor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. For sixteen years, he served as Chair of his academic department. In 1997, he returned to full-time teaching in order to allow more time for his research activities with the Hawaii Whale Research Foundation, and in 2000, he retired from the university in order to give the foundation his full attention. His study of humpback whales and other marine mammals began in 1978. After several years of independent work, Dr. Salden co-founded with Clancy Greff of Captain Zodiac Expeditions the Hawaii Whale Research Foundation in 1987. In 1988 he applied for and received a National Marine Fisheries Service Research Permit. Subsequent permits were issued in 1993 and 1998. The principal focus of his humpback research in Hawaii and Alaska has been on long-term social affiliation patterns. Most of his work has concentrated on an attempt to discover such relationships on the winter breeding/calving grounds in Hawaii.
Dr. Salden has directly participated in field work for 25 years. Over this period he has amassed over 6000 hours of research time on the water. Results of his studies have been reported to peer reviewed scientific conferences (such as the Society for the Study of Marine Mammals and the Animal Behavior Society) and/or published in scientific journals (such as Marine Mammal Science, the Canadian Journal of Zoology, Journal of Wildlife Management, etc.). As a result of his speaking engagements, Dr. Salden has distinguished himself before numerous national and international organizations, such as the Whales Alive programs sponsored by Earth Island and the International Dolphin and Whale Conferences. Similar presentations and seminars have also been given at universities throughout the United States and before many non-academic civic and environmental groups.
He has also assumed an active role in promoting cooperative research ventures among colleagues in the North Pacific Working Group, which is an assembly of active humpback whale researchers from Japan, Mexico, Canada, and the United States. This cooperation in field data collection and the resulting mutual publication efforts has enabled significant progress in promoting knowledge of the humpback whale and its needs for survival.
Copyright 1996-2007 Island Voyages, Inc. and Natures-Spirit Photography, reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is strictly prohibited and a violation of law. Alaska Sea Adventures operates under Special Use Permit from the USDA Forest Service, Tongass National Forest.
Have you ever dreamed of spending time with humpback whales up-close-and-personal? Don't miss this exclusive opportunity!
North Pacific humpbacks migrate thousands of miles to meet their basic needs. During May and June, the humpbacks are returning from Hawaii to Alaskan waters, which are rich in food. As the whales feed, you'll witness their ingenious strategy of creating bubblenets to trap their food just below the surface. And as they lunge for food, you'll learn to identify each whale by its fluke markings.
Dan R. Salden, Ph.D.
