They heard him singing. 70 miles off the coast of Long Island and New York City, he sang …. a blue whale. This magnificent creature, nearly hunted to extinction in the mid-20th century, when nations created an accord to protect them, once swam these waters and sang.
Blue whales, at up to 108 feet in length and 190 tons in weight, are the largest animals to ever have existed on our planet. One can only imagine the excitement of the research experts of Cornell’s Bioacoustics Research Program when they heard a male singing only 70 miles offshore. Watch the video and read about this exciting discovery.
Among the most intelligent of all the animals on the planet, whales have been hunted and killed far beyond any need of subsistence; blue whales are an endangered species. Despite most of the world’s countries agreeing that these leviathans, especially those nearing extinction, need to be protected rather than killed, some nations continue the slaughter. It’s a wonder that whales come near us at all.
Yet they do. There are increasing numbers of true accounts of whales, (and dolphins as well), approaching man in every kind of friendly gesture. From choosing to swim with us to nudging our boats ever so gently and allowing us to pet them, they continue to approach us. Do they want us to know them? to save them? to save their ocean? These gentle creatures have no need of human contact, and yet they offer themselves to us – a gift.
Note: Photo is from free screensaver download from National Geographic.
Still A Dreamer 
Since they’re singers themselves, I wonder which of our singers/groups and their songs whales would like. (For blue whales, I’m putting my money on ABBA’s “Fernando.”)
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There has actually been research done in the ocean as to what kind of music whales and dolphins are attracted to, but it was something I read a long time ago – I’d have to find it again. I know studies show that cows produce more milk when listening to Mozart, and less when listening to rock`n roll, so that may be a clue. I’ll see what I can find on whales …
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