Whale Songs as Feeding Proxy

Passive acoustic recordings show pygmy blue whales sing less while actively filter‑feeding in daytime, so changes in local song rates can be used as a remote, non‑invasive indicator of feeding activity without tagging or visual observation. Researchers analyzed three months of unattended recordings off southwest Australia and found consistent daytime song suppression across foraging areas. — A cheap, scalable acoustic proxy for feeding lets managers monitor endangered whale foraging, direct protection efforts, and assess human impacts (shipping, fisheries) without costly tagging.