spans of two-to-five decades and in many different years, with and without calves. A HALF CENTURY OF DATA
Early on, the researchers used a light plane which would circle low over groups of whales while a photographer snapped frames on 35mm-black-and-white and later, color film. Today, quadcopter drones are primarily used to photograph the whales. With a drone, researchers can hover over the water and wait for a whale to surface directly below, as opposed to flying in slow, tight circles over the water, hoping to be above a whale when it finally surfaces to breathe. The wide range of data forms posed a challenge for ongoing work. When Rowntree moved to Utah, she found herself managing five filing cabinets with tens of thousands of 35mm film photos covering the first 34 years of the project. At risk of fire or other
Library Information Resources, the
tourists going out on a boat,” Seger
disasters, the collection had limited
U’s Marriott Library has digitized
says. “There’s a naturalist [on board]
access, especially for her Argentine
the irreplaceable foundation of the
who knows all this stuff.”
colleagues. Now, with the help of a
project’s ever-growing database for
grant from the
scientists worldwide, (see sidebar).
Committee on
At its core, the project is a labor of love for local students. “Vicky saw early
TOURIST WHALE WATCHING
on,” says Seger, “that these wonderful
Before the right whale project,
young college-age volunteers who
there was only one whale watching
would show up to work for a few
company at Valdes Peninsula. Now
weeks should be raising their sights
there are five. The project has drawn
and thinking about getting PhDs and
increasing numbers of tourists
starting their own research projects.
worldwide to the area, as there is no
Now,” continues Seger, “… five or six
other place to predictably see whales
have come to the States for graduate
up close in their natural habitat. “This
study with Vicky's encouragement
study contributes hugely to tourism
and help in finding labs.”
because of the added value for the
COVER STORY | 2023
