Syncing drone observations of orca behavior with localized hydrophone recordings of orca vocalizations

Syncing drone observations of orca behavior with localized hydrophone recordings of orca vocalizations sounds relatively straightforward in theory, but in practice it requires a lot of moving parts to all align in order to be successful. The whales need to be present and vocalizing, the weather needs to be feasible for flying the drone, the water conditions favorable for seeing them from above, there needs to be minimal to moderate background noise, and all the equipment needs to be functioning properly at the same time!

Thus far during our first week in Puget Sound with the Center for Whale Research we have had some of everything: great drone observations but no vocals, great vocals but sub-optimal conditions for drone flying, and a few magical moments where everything DOES align and we can all cheer, "It's working!"

Perhaps the greatest variable is the whales themselves, but we are beyond grateful that we're here in the middle of quite a consecutive streak of Southern Resident presence in Puget Sound, unlike any we can recall in recent memory We can't wait to see what our second week here will bring.

Top photo: The OBI and CWR teams at work aboard KCB3 with L-Pod in Penn Cove (Jill Hein photo).

Bottom right: Sara, Monika, and Jason from OBI on the water.

Bottom left: J19 Shachi from April 2024.