Lecture: Satellite Tracking of Pilot Whales, Bottlenose Dolphins

Maui fishpond located outside of the Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary offices in Kihei. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary hosts a free lecture on a satellite tagging study being conducted off of Maui that focuses on the movements of pilot whales, bottlenose dolphins and other species.

The lecture takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014, at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Kīhei Conference Room, located at 726 South Kīhei Road.

The lecture will be led by Robin Baird, a research biologist with the non-profit Cascadia Research Collective based in Olympia, Washington.

According to a Sanctuary announcement, Baird will share results from the first satellite tagging study of toothed whales around the waters of Maui Nui.

Baird’s work reportedly dates back to 1999 when she began research in Hawaiʻi including long-term photo-identification studies.

Her work has since expanded to include satellite tagging, with more than 180 tags deployed on 10 different species, according to the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

The event is part of the sanctuary’s ongoing lecture series that provides educational opportunities for the public to engage in learning opportunities.