An Introduction to Beluga Bits

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After trying to decide on the best fit I could provide for my citizen science project, a little bug in my ear was reminding me about the fun I had and knowledge I gained from my summer internship with the Whale Center of New England. Most of my days would be spent on whale watching or research trips conducting marine mammal surveys and collecting data through photo identification and studying behaviors. We focused our efforts on humpback whales, fin whales, minke whales, white sided dolphins and right whales. I really enjoyed determining individual whales and taking note of others they were with along with the behaviors we were seeing in a group. 

Image: Myself on a whale watching trip heading out to Stellwagen Bank in 2010 with the Whale Center of New England to take photos of individuals and record their behavior.

Therefore, when I saw on Zooniverse a citizen science project using photo identification on beluga whales, called Beluga Bits, I jumped on it! Beluga Bits uses pictures of videos taken to identify age, sex, and group size as well as any distinguishing marks or scars on the individuals to determine the social structure and natural history of the population off the coast of Manitoba, Canada. Beluga season in the Hudson Bay begins in July after the sea ice melts and the whales can actually navigate in the water. This year the start of the beluga whale season is July 15th!

With so many whales that come into the bay each summer, and even into the Churchill River estuary of the bay, there are thousands of pictures and videos taken underwater of those that visit the area. It would be a massive undertaking to rely on the scientists conducting the research to then spend the rest of the year sorting through and categorizing the whales. This is why the project exists! They find excited people (like myself) to help them so they can focus their attention on the results and come to conclusions about the belugas. The Hudson Bay is home to major river estuaries where these mass congregations of beluga whales gather. It is in the Churchill River estuary they come close enough to an underwater camera for scientists to take ‘snapshots’ of them to learn more about them. The reasoning for these gatherings is unknown, so the work goes on to learn more! 

Click here to go to the Beluga Bits homepage!

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