PBS - The Voyage of the Odyssey - Track the Voyage - ATLANTIC OCEAN
),
the calm conditions and digital photographs ensured a positive identification.
This was a fantastic sighting and only the third time in over five years the crew saw this species.
We noticed that the melon-headed whales would lazily ride the bow if we decreased the speed of Odyssey to 1 or 2 knots. If we traveled any faster,
they quickly departed. They rarely fully porpoised out of the water. instead preferring to break the surface of the sea in a comparatively flat
trajectory pushing crescents of water ahead of them. This behavior was in stark contrast to the acrobatic Fraser's dolphins that were clearly
displeased with the Odyssey traveling at any speed less than 6 knots.
These two species were rather like slow tortoises traveling with speedy hares and we wondered what mutual benefits each species gained by
associating with the other. Ironically, these two species readily occur together and are sighted in strong, consistent associations around
the equatorial waters of the globe. After a couple of hours, we reluctantly moved on after gathering extraordinary acoustic recordings of
their vocalizations and photographs of their behaviors.
The following morning at 3am, while continuing north and almost parallel with Norfolk, Virginia, the crew detected sperm whales once again.
The ocean was perfectly still and the endless stream of 'codas' heard and recorded through the acoustic array indicated a socializing group
of whales at the surface. Codas are short patterns of vocalization clicks that scientists believe are used for communication.
A fin whale (
Balaenoptera physalus
) escorted Odyssey for a short time off the coast of New Jersey.
Photo -
Chris Johnson
At 6am, the crew rose with the sun and quickly spotted the source of the codas. Twenty-five sperm whales lazed at the surface. With the engine turned off,
we drifted toward them and watched them roll and twist at the surface - a mass of noses and tails rising and falling in unison. The whales gently rubbed
each other with paddle shaped flippers and flexible tail flukes. Several animals turned and approached us, surrounding Odyssey in moments. Their
exhalation blows were clearly audible and the vapor dispersed in the glow of the dawn. Arching their backs, several whales lifted their heads in
an effort to see past their massive click producing noses, while others focused their echolocation clicks at Odyssey. The metronomic sounds carried
toward those of us as we perched on the bow documenting their behavior.
This experience with sperm whales was our last on the Voyage and seemed a wonderful and fitting end - the Odyssey crew alone, with sperm whales, far out to sea.
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