Abstract:
The IFAW research vessel Song of the Whale (SOTW) visited the Azores in April and May 2012 whilst
en route from the UK to the USA. The aim of the visit was to build upon recent research effort on the
vocalisations of both baleen and beaked whales as part of on-going work to develop acoustic
detection systems. The Song of the Whale team conducted 34 days of survey effort in the Azores
between 5th April and 8th May during which 10 cetacean species were encountered; bottlenose
dolphin Tursiops truncatus, blue whale Balaenoptera musculus, short-beaked common dolphin
Delphinus delphis, fin whale Balaenoptera physalus, Risso’s dolphin Grampus griseus, sei whale
Balaenoptera borealis, short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus, Sowerby’s beaked
whale Mesoplodon bidens, sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus and striped dolphin Stenella
coeruleoalba. Common dolphins were encountered most often and their distribution appeared to be
relatively uniform. Other species were encountered less regularly, with numerous cetacean sightings
being made to the south of the island of Pico; it should be noted, however, effort levels here were
higher. A more detailed analysis of the acoustic data is currently underway
