Kylie Owen observes feeding humpback behaviour
Kylie Owen, the PhD student studying humpback whales in the area has had a very successful start to her research project. Since starting work on Monday with her colleagues Dave Donnelly and Scott Sheahan, Kylie has managed to secure 8 biopsy samples from feeding humpbacks. She said the whales were being ‘very co-operative’ with one spy-hopping so close this morning that she could see down its throat.
The team are working off the research vessel aptly named “Krillseeker” and were also able to collect a sample of krill — so thick you can’t see through it. They also have land-based volunteers situated at Ben Boyd Tower, north of Eden, to look for the humpbacks and then alert Kylie on board the boat.
Land based observation deck
Kylie is using the Eden Marine Laboratory in the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre to process her samples and store her gear. Later this week she will start using the special ‘Dtag’ to secure to whales for up to 2 hours and collect even more data.
To follow Kylie’s research on Facebook click on this link
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Surfah
Well known Australian philanthropist Dick Smith has made a generous donation to The Woodbridge Marine Discovery Centre.
Dick Smith heard about the Centre whilst at the Hobart Wooden Boat Festival in February. Our skipper Tim Nossiter was at the Festival with the Centre’s RV Penghana. Peter Van Der Woude, the owner of the Clean Lift Marine Complex in Hobart (where Tim slips the Penghana) ‘put in a good word’ about the Centre to Mr Smith.
Read more on the Woodbridge Marine Discovery Centre’s web site.
A special visitor to the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre this week — patron Ian Kiernan AO.
Ian is world renowned for his amazing work with Clean Up Australia Day www.cleanup.org.au and Clean Up the World www.cleanuptheworld.org. Whilst in Eden, Ian met with SCMDC staff to discuss establishing a display that focuses on the major issue of plastics in the ocean.
The Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre has some fun activities for kids of all ages during the January school holidays.
Join Rockpool Discovery, Snorkelling Adventure at the Haven, Avoca Lagoon Canoe Tour, Lagoon Detective, Funky Bugs, Underwater Mysteries, Fishing Clinic or Reefwatch Training.
Get more information on the Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre web site.
The Queenscliff Marine Discovery Centre is running a number of events in January, suitable for a range of age groups.
Try your hand at one (or more!) of nine craft classes, or join Rockpool Ramble, Seagrass Safari, Into the Blue, Canoe Explorers, Canoe Secret Lagoon, Family Fishing, one of a number of snorkelling activities, or the Marine Biology Cruise.
More information is available on the Queenscliff Marine Discovery Centre web site.
There’s a number of interesting things happening at the Naturaliste Marine Discovery Centre in Perth.
An underwater photographic exhibition by award-winning photographer Shannon Conway will be presented in the foyer at NMDC from November until the end of January 2011.
When you delve into the marine world, things can take on a different perspective depending on how you look at them. This interactive exhibition will ‘zoom in’ on marine life…sometimes leaving you wondering what you are looking at?
There’s also a competition running — identify the marine creatures that don’t have a label, and enter to win a canvas print from the exhibition, valued at $295.
Read more on the Naturaliste Marine Discovery Centre web site.
The centre has a new Fish Tails activity for kids.
Fish have adapted to live in a wide range of aquatic habitats, and the shape of their tail or ‘caudal’ fin tells us a lot about the fish – for example, forked tails are for speed while rounded tails (with more surface area) provide more manoeuvrability.
Read more on the Naturaliste Marine Discovery Centre web site.
NMDC have come up with some special summer activities, designed to get you outdoors and exploring.
Join Beach Flotsam and Jetsam, Reef Explorer, A Year with the Ocean, or Fabulous Flying Fish, all on during January.
More details available on the Naturaliste Marine Discovery Centre web site.
Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre will be hosting the third annual Marine Science Forum on 26th and 27th March 2011.
The theme will be “Food for Thought” and topics covered will include oysters, sea urchins, sardines and salmon.
Presenters have been lined up and those interested are encourage to keep an eye on the Sapphire Coast MDC web site for more details.
The Naturaliste Marine Discovery Centre in Western Australia will be hosting the 2011 Seaweek Educators’ Expo on Friday 25 February 2011.
Seaweek is the Marine Education Society of Australasia’s major annual education campaign to increase understanding and appreciation of the sea and its living organisms.
Seaweek is from 6th to 12th March 2011 and the theme is ‘Spotlight on Marine Science’. This theme profiles marine science endeavours exploring the earth’s least understood habitat, the marine environments of the world.
Find more details on the Naturaliste Marine Discovery Centre web site.
The WA Department of Fisheries state-wide education program, operating out of the Naturaliste Marine Discovery Centre in Perth as well as locations around regional WA, has won the Science Outreach Initiative prize at the the 2010 Western Australian Science Awards.
Over the past year, 40,000 students and community members took part in 900 activities and programs developed and produced by Department staff.
Read more on the Naturaliste Marine Discovery Centre web site
MDCA is proudly supported by:
