Leviathan title & journaling
By jhbren
- 357 views
- View jhbren's images
More whales! I have page protectors with attached narrow slots for these panels. The flap folds over, so the left panel shows when the page is first opened, covering part of the left page; the right panel shows only when the flap is opened.
The lyrics are from "Leviathan"; words and music by Steve Romanoff of Schooner Fare - I think they are available through Amazon. Journaling on inner panel:
Icy Strait is the northern-most entrance to Southeast Alaska from the Gulf of Alaska. The region attracts large numbers & many varieties of sea life. Where there are plankton, kelp beds, invertebrates such as krill, & fish, there will be larger fish, birds, sea lions & whales to reap the bounty. It’s estimated that about 1,000 humpbacks feed in Southeast Alaska during the summer. They often use cooperative feeding strategies, working together with vocalizations, fin slapping, tail lobbing, & bubble netting to scare their prey into dense concentrations near the surface of the water. Then the whales lunge up with their mouths wide open, engulfing their dinner.
People are attracted to the region for some of the same reasons. Cruise ships bring people eager to view the magnificent activities & antics of whales. Full breaches & the waving flukes of these intelligent giants are a welcome occurrence. In addition to humpbacks, minkes & orcas are often seen in the area.
On June 22, 2007, we were drawn to the deck of the Spirit of Discovery by sounds like shotguns, resounding across the water of Icy Strait. As humpbacks came into view, we identified the source of the loud cracks: they were slapping their flippers down onto the water’s surface. At least one mother & calf seemed to synchronize their slaps. Some whales lifted their tails & slammed them back down. Others used their massive tail muscle to thrust their whole body out of the water & then arced back with a great splash. No one is sure why humpbacks breach; could it be for communication? To remove barnacles? Perhaps just for fun? Amazingly, on the same morning, we were visited on the other side of the ship by a pair of orcas, cruising for a fish breakfast.
Recommended Comments
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.