Humpback Whale Research Foundation, Bermuda

heart_149_compressedThe Humpback Whale Research Project was started in 2007 by Andrew Stevenson (pictured left with Somers-4 and Elsa-9). We research and collect visual and acoustics data on the pelagic social behaviour of humpbacks as they migrate past Bermuda. Andrew's initial research was conducted between Feb 2007 and Feb 2010 while making the film "Where the Whales Sing".

On December 3rd 2012 Andrew set up a Foundation to continue his research work. Marine scientists know a lot about the humpbacks in their feeding and breeding grounds closer to shore, but there is little information on the humpbacks' mid-ocean migratory behaviour. As a mid-ocean platform, Bermuda provides a unique window into the lives of the humpbacks. There are almost no other similar studies and the few that are out there are from coastal sites near to the breeding grounds and may not be typical of pelagic migration.

Please contact us at 777 7688 if you have any sightings of whales during the winter months up to March.

Got photos of the underside of whales' flukes? ...email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Andrew filming

Our mission is, through exploration of Bermuda’s waters, research, data analysis and educational outreach-- to promote awareness and understanding of the humpback whales to protect their rights and by extension other cetaceans as a step towards conserving our marine environment.

Our intermediate goal is to obtain over 1,000 fluke IDs here in Bermuda by the end of the 2016 season. By the end of 2012 we had obtained 673 fluke IDs which compares to 145 Bermuda fluke IDs over the 40 years before this project began.

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Andrew's Latest Whale Diary Entry

Total Fluke IDs this 2013 season: After 35 days on the water, 150+ new whale IDs plus 44 re-sightings to previous years for a total of around 200 whales identified this year

Total individual fluke IDs 2007-2013: 824     Total re-sightings: 88

Where the Whales Sing wins the "Best Emerging Underwater Filmmaker" award at the BLUE Ocean Film Festival in Monterey, California.  - read more....

Where the Whales Sing wins the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art Charman Prize for 2011- read more...

 
2013-05-14 Photos from the 2013 whaling season Print E-mail
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Kevin Horsfield with two friendly whales, photos taken by Michael Smith. Photos like these can only be taken when the whales come to a stationary boat, not when a boat chases after the whales
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One of six sperm whales we found early in the year not far from shore and two humpbacks demonstrating 'rowdy' bahavior as one blows a bubble trail to fend off a challenger
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