Researchers have uncovered the oldest known recording of a humpback whale song, captured in March 1949 near Bermuda. The discovery by scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution offers valuable insights into both historical ocean soundscapes and how whales communicate.
Key Takeaways
Scientists have discovered the oldest known recording of a humpback whale song from March 1949 near Bermuda. This recording, captured during sonar tests by researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, provides valuable insights into historical ocean soundscapes and whale communication.
- Oldest-known humpback whale song recorded in 1949
- Discovery made while digitizing old audio recordings from a Gray Audograph disc
- Recording offers insights into quieter pre-industrial ocean soundscape
- Helps scientists understand how human-made noise affects whale communication
- Sparks public curiosity and inspiration for ocean life conservation
The haunting whale song was recorded during sonar system tests conducted by researchers with the U.S. Office of Naval Research. At the time, they were testing equipment on a research vessel using a Gray Audograph disc—a type of dictation machine from that era—according to Ashley Jester, director of research data and library services at Woods Hole.
The recording predates scientist Roger Payne's discovery of whale song by nearly two decades. The scientists preserved these recordings out of curiosity, according to Jester. 'They were curious,' she said. 'And so they kept this recorder running, and they even made time to make recordings where they weren't making any noise from their ships on purpose just to hear as much as they could.'
The ocean in the late 1940s was significantly quieter than today's noisy seas, providing a unique backdrop for whale communication. Peter Tyack, a marine bioacoustician at Woods Hole, noted that this recording offers an unprecedented look at what whale communication sounded like before increased human activity altered underwater acoustics. The preserved sounds can help researchers better understand how whales adapt their calling behaviors to changing environments.
The recovered recordings 'not only allow us to follow whale sounds, but they also tell us what the ocean soundscape was like in the late 1940s,' Tyack said. This information is crucial for understanding how new human-made sounds, such as increased shipping noise, affect the way whales communicate.
According to Hansen Johnson, a research scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, this discovery serves as both a scientific resource and an inspiration. 'It's just beautiful to listen to,' said Johnson, who was not involved in the research. The recording has sparked curiosity about ocean life among researchers and the public alike.
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