Clicks On The Bridge (Nov 24, 2015)
“Click, Click, Click” continuously in multiple lines across the screen means we are recording sperm whales hunting! The Midnight edition of the Deep Sea News has news! What great news!
Click Trains. Sperm whale clicks dominate the soundscape they are hunting in the night.
The deck is cold underfoot and the air coolish, but a sea without white caps (the first time since leaving the lagoon at Cocos and departing Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour) and the chance to see in the moonlight, the whales we are hearing – well, this keeps me enthralled. Back in the wheelhouse to monitor the signals, the calls get more intense as the pulse rate increases. I carefully count the number of clicks on the screen, which doubles and then goes six -times more and then suddenly silence reigns for a minute or two. Was that a successful catch? Then the slow pulses begin again and afresh the fast and very fast pulses ramp up. This whale and several more have found squid!
Far from Land. Over one thousand miles from the Australian continent, a Wedge-tailed Shearwater glides above the waves.
It is wonderful to see and hear this scenario over and over, unfolding on the screen in the wheelhouse beneath a half moon on a calm sea…
Clicks Heard on The Bridge
Clicks heard on the bridge
It’s sperm whales on the ridge!
Hunting, hunting through the night
Sound is their effective sight
Through the blackness find a meal
On great box head, squid suckers feel
A tentacle that needs to be tamed
Chomp – down the hatch, the whale claimed
Click trains going” click, click, click”
Patterns get faster and movement slick
Honing in on their prey
Squid is stunned with the sound they spray!
Sperm whales inhabit deep, deep sea
Unusual famed complex society
In bachelor herds the males’ roam
All oceans they call home
Caring female nursery pods
Giving calves better odds
Clans of sperm whale community
Bound strongly with cultural identity
Female sperm whales are communal beings
Suckling other’s calves in new surroundings
Travelling widely, nervous, defending
Tight bonds, socialising messages sending
Clicks and clicks they come so fast
Those squid will ne’er get past
Constant train of deathly sound
Intent on squid being found.
(Written by Micheline Jenner)
Wow, wow! The wheelhouse is again clicking with sperm whale hunting sounds. Last night was busy and tonight, whales are again on the prowl! It’s Broken Ridge, the desired locale, yahoo!
Cloud Appreciation. Stratocumulus with some altocumulus colour our sky.
We are in sperm whale country. I am very happy to know they are here and we are nearby.
Sperm Whales at Sunset.
As we herald the end of another day, the sperm whales come out to play with continuos click trains. Just beautiful.
Take stock and smell the roses.
I will be busy tonight – I will take stock and count the sperm whale calls!
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