The sounds of the bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus, during the spring migrations of 1979 and 1980

Abstract

Bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus, were recorded during their spring migration past Point Barrow, Alaska, in 1979 and 1980 using a pair of hydrophones linked to an underwater sound direction finding device. A great variety of sounds were recorded, including types that have been reported previously for bowheads during their spring migration, fall migration, and summer feeding. Most of the sounds were below 300 Hz with simple frequency-modulated structures. A variety of pulsive sounds were also recorded; these contained complex energy up to 3500 Hz. Sound levels of approximately 156 dB (re 1 μPa) were recorded for one whale 100–150 m from the hydrophones. We did not observe any particular behaviors which correlated with any of these sounds.