Submitted by The Whale Museum

The Whale Museum is pleased to welcome John Durban as part of the 2016 Summer Lecture Series on Thursday, Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. John Durban and Holly Fearnbach will give an overview of their research and collaborations using photogrammetry to fill key data gaps that currently constrain the conservation of Northern and Southern Resident killer whales in the US and Canada: specifically measuring whale growth and body condition to assess whether the abundance of their chinook salmon prey is low enough to cause nutritional stress and impair reproduction. Currently this work involves the use of a small unmanned hexacopter to non-invasively collect images from 100 ft. above the whales to assess the health of individuals. Durban and Fearnbach will also discuss their use of this technique to study blue whales, gray whales and humpback whales, but will focus mainly on their current research on Southern Resident killer whales around the San Juan Islands and Northern Resident killer whales in Johnstone Strait. Authorized by permits and airspace clearances in both the US and Canada, this work addresses key elements of conservation plans in both countries that are aimed at maintaining adequate food supplies for these protected populations.

The Sept. 8 lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, call (360) 378-4710 ext. 30.