Unpublished masters thesis, University of Hawaii, Honolulu. Site Fidelity and Reproductive Histories of Humpback Whales in the Hawaiian Islands and Southeast Alaska. - Craig, A. S.
University of Hawaii, Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Lboratory, 1129 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, HI, USA, 96814 -
- (C) 1995 University of Hawaii
Aerial surveys of the population of humpback whales assembled in Hawaiian waters during the 1977, 1978, 1979 winter seasons were carried out on a weekly to biweekly basis during the major period of residency, from mid-January through mid-April. A progressively later date for peak numbers was found over the 3 years. These annual changes in migratory timing were consistent with earlier data for humpback whales in the western North Pacific but differed from the constant migratory timing reported for South Pacific humpback whales. Regional data showed that each year the earliest peak influx was at the island of Hawaii (Big Island), with regions to the northwest showing progressively later dates for peak residnecy. Kauai-Niihau, the island group furthest to the northwest, but separated from the other islands by extensive deep water channels, seemed to follow an independent trend. Photographic reidentification of seven whales that moved from the Big Island or from the Maui area to regions to the northwest provided supporting evidence for the southeast to northeast movement pattern indicated by the aircraft data. This pattern suggested that some whales use the prevailing clockwise surface currents in the upper North Pacific to aid their migration between Alaskan feeding grounds and Hawaii.
- Craig, A. S. (1995). Site Fidelity and Reproductive Histories of Humpback Whales in the Hawaiian Islands and Southeast Alaska. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Hawaii, Honolulu
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