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San Diego Natural History Museum Whalers Museum Whalers Handbook Jmorris

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San Diego Natural History Museum Whalers Museum Whalers Handbook Jmorris San Diego Natural History Museum Whalers Museum Whalers Handbook jmorris Revised 2016 by Uli Burgin This page intentionally blank SECTION 1: VOLUNTEER BASICS 1 SECTION 2: MARINE MAMMALS AND THEIR ADAPTATIONS 5 SECTION 3: INTRODUCTION TO CETACEANS 10 INTRODUCTION TO THE GRAY WHALE 15 SECTION 5: RORQUALS 23 SECTION 6: ODONTOCETES (TOOTHED WHALES) 31 SECTION 7: PINNIPEDS—SEA LIONS AND SEALS 41 SECTION 8: OTHER MARINE LIFE YOU MAY SEE 45 SECTION 9: BIRDING ON THE HORNBLOWER 49 SECTION 10: SAN DIEGO BAY 55 SECTION 11: DOING THE PRESENTATION 63 SECTION 12: FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW 69 SECTION 13: VOLGISTICS AND SIGHTINGS LOG 75 SECTION 14: ON BOARD THE HORNBLOWER, CRUISE INFO AND MORE 79 SECTION 15: REFERENCES 83 This page intentionally blank Section 1: Volunteer Basics Welcome! We are pleased to have you as a volunteer Museum Whaler for the San Diego Natural History Museum. As a Museum Whaler you are carrying on a long tradition of whale watching here in southern California. Our first trips were offered to the public in 1957. These trips were led by pioneer whale watching naturalist Ray Gilmore, an employee of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and a research associate of the San Diego Natural History Museum. Ray’s whale-watching trips became well known over the years and integrated science and education with a lot of fun. We are sure that Ray would be very pleased with the San Diego Natural History Museum’s continued involvement in offering fun and educational whale watching experiences to the public through our connection with Hornblower Cruises and Events. This is also a great opportunity to connect the public with the San Diego Natural History Museum. The Whaler training program consists of course readings from this manual, guest lectures, sample presentations and a lot of in-class practice delivering presentations. Our most experienced Whalers teach several course sections, while local experts that do research on or work closely with marine mammals and birds, present other sections. There will be a short mid-term and final examination to assess your understanding of the information contained within these pages. This manual provides much of the information on the marine life you will see. It also provides information on your responsibilities as a naturalist on the Hornblower Whale and Dolphin Watching adventure cruises. We hope you will enjoy your experience and help impart enthusiasm and knowledge about California’s marine life. Your Role and Responsibilities as a Museum Whaler The primary responsibility of a Museum Whaler is to provide natural history information about the marine life sighted during the trip, especially the Eastern Pacific gray whale. The crew is responsible for all aspects of the vessel’s operation, including passenger safety. Please follow the instructions of the captain and the first mate at all times. In addition to providing information to visitors, remember that you will be working with other volunteers, so it is important to be a responsible and supportive co-worker. Arriving on time and taking equal responsibility for working the line, engaging visitors, setting up materials and giving presentations at the end of the cruise will ensure that you and your fellow volunteers have an enjoyable time. We will go into more detail as the course proceeds, but while on duty you should remember to: 1 Arrive early and get your boarding pass (booth opens at 8:30 am) Work the line Get on board as soon as possible Meet in the A/V room to get organized as a group Mingle with the passengers Waiting in Line to Board A large part of being a Whaler involves connecting with the passengers and providing information on gray whale migration as they wait in line. We call this “working the line.” Arrive at least 30 minutes before the cruise leaves. While passengers are waiting in line to board, use your whale information cards and gray whale migration map to educate. Once on board Once you board, head to the designated A/V room where you will find the museum supplies that include: Blue box Photos, books, etc. Logbook – please sign in Whale models and other supplies While the passengers are boarding and the boat is cruising through the harbor and San Diego Bay, mingle with the passengers and introduce yourselves. Please DO NOT talk while the captain or first mate is talking. This is especially important during the talk on boat safety. Instead, follow their lead and point out sites or show pictures or visual aids that support their narration. At the beginning of the cruise, one of the Whalers should provide the names of the Whalers on board to the captain so that he can introduce you by name. During the Cruise During the cruise the Whaler’s role is to assist the crew in locating the whales and engaging the passengers in conversation about what they are seeing. Point out birds, fish, dolphins, jellies, sea lions, and any other marine life you see. You will be learning about these animals so that you can help identify and have a couple of interesting stories to share. Keep in mind that you are sharing interpretive duties, so you do not need to say everything yourself. Don’t worry about repeating information that the captain or first mate has already covered. Just add something new. Please refer to the materials you received during your training session for specific details. In the Wheelhouse The wheelhouse is the captain’s territory and new federal regulations do not allow uncertified personnel access without the captain’s explicit permission. You are allowed in the wheelhouse to retrieve or return the museum specimens (biofacts) found in the black box. 2 Generally speaking, the captain and/or first mate will provide the narration during the cruise through the San Diego Bay, indicating points of interest along the way. Some captains are open to having a Whaler provide some narration so if you feel comfortable on the PA, please ask the captain if you can talk. On the Way Back The museum provides several teaching specimens (biofacts) to assist in interpretation. These specimens are used during the cruise as we return to port. In general, please retrieve the biofacts when the boat reaches buoy #1 and return them when the boat reaches the bait dock. The timing may change based on sea conditions, so please be flexible. Participating in Giving Presentations All Whalers are expected to participate in giving presentations. Generally, presentations are given on the lower level towards the bow. At times, seas are rough and passengers may be sick where presentations are normally given. It is important to be flexible. Please keep control of the biofacts at all times. It is okay to let passengers carefully touch the baleen and the vertebrae, but remind them to be gentle and use only a 2 finger touch. And please use the microphone. If you are soft spoken, passengers cannot necessarily hear you. The Whalers are responsible for giving presentations on: Gray whale migration (mostly while working the line) Barnacles and whale lice Baleen and gray whale feeding behavior Lumbar vertebrae and their role in muscle attachment San Diego Natural History Museum exhibits of interest If no Whales are seen, the dolphin skull model can be used to talk about dolphins The following biofacts are available for your use during the formal presentation: Gray whale skin with an adult barnacle (preserved in resin) Gray whale lice (preserved in resin) Gray whale lumbar vertebrae (juvenile and calf) 3 Cast of human lumbar vertebra for comparison Section of gray whale baleen (approximately 15 individual plates) Amphipods (preserved in resin) are an example of the family, not the specific species that are the main food source for the Eastern Pacific Gray whale Common dolphin skull model Being a Responsible Volunteer There are four things you absolutely must do to participate as a Museum Whaler: Always sign up for the cruise well in advance by adding your name to the Volgistics calendar. If you are unable to make the cruise, please remove your name from the calendar as soon as possible, but no less than 5 days in advance. This gives other Whalers an opportunity to sign up for that cruise. Notify the director of volunteer/intern services ([email protected]) of the changes to your contact information. Always log your hours in Volgistics. If You Can’t Meet Your Commitment First check the calendar and see how many other volunteers are signed up; if you are the only one, find a substitute. If there are others, please notify at least one of the other volunteers that you will not be on board. Remember, you work as a team. Be considerate of your teammates! Last minute changes sometimes happen, we understand, but we encourage you to solve scheduling problems ahead of time. We send a schedule to the Hornblower every Thursday night so if you are signed up, they are expecting you. If you have an emergency the day you are scheduled to work, please notify one of the other Whalers signed up for the cruise; unfortunately, the ticket booth does not pass along messages. Notifying the director of volunteer/intern services does not meet your obligation of notification; emails are missed, phone calls are better. Passenger Safety is the Hornblower Crew’s Responsibility The San Diego Natural History Museum is not liable for passengers. The Hornblower crew is responsible for onboard safety. If a passenger comes to you with injury, seasickness or any other safety concern, please direct them to the captain or a crewmember. The captain will make announcements at the beginning of the cruise about safety, first aid, and the location of all life jackets.
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