Big-City Whales

Last November, people spotted a huge humpback whale in an unlikely place—swimming near the Statue of Liberty! In fact, the number of these whales in the waters near New York City has been on the rise for the first time in a century. What’s attracting whales to the urban area? Scientists suspect improved water quality has led to more fish and plankton for whales to eat.

With more whales in the New York harbor, it’s more important than ever to track and identify them. Last year, scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Wildlife Conservation Society installed a buoy equipped with hydrophones near the harbor. The underwater microphones detect whales in real time so ships won’t hit them. Citizen scientists can get involved too. The Gotham Whale Project asks New York whale watchers to send pictures of the animals to help monitor them.