Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Behavioral Observations: Video Monitoring in 2011
January 01, 2012
Poster on Alaska SeaLife Center's Cook Inlet Beluga Remote Monitoring pilot study in the summer of 2011.
The objectives of the Cook Inlet Beluga Remote Monitoring pilot study with 2 cameras located 1.5 miles up the Little Susitna River were to:
- Evaluate the capabilities of remote video monitoring.
- Monitor the frequency of occurrence, relative abundance, and surface behavior of beluga whales.
Results:
- Primary behaviors of beluga whales: milling, traveling, and unknown
- Secondary behaviors: milling, traveling, feeding suspected, diving, spyhopping, and other
- Tertiary behaviors: traveling, feeding suspected, diving, spyhopping, tail slapping, and other
- Secondary or tertiary activities recorded as “other” were described as headstands, bobbing, listing while showing pectoral fins, and excessive splashing
- The remotely captured behavioral information in this secluded location added finer detailed information to the existing body of knowledge about this species.