deep voices deep down

If you’re old enough to be reading this then you can probably forget about hearing twenty hertz anymore. The fact is that Fin Whales vocalise at the very bottom of the range of sounds that we humans can hear, or in truth could once hear when we were very young. Disappointing isn’t it. Well, disappointing yet at the same time thrilling because it makes the minds of these mighty creatures all the more mysterious, the world they inhabit more unfathomable, and their biology feel more remote from our own, even though we share the same planet. For example can you imagine yourself producing a sound that is louder than the loudest rock band (think Motorhead, Metallica, Gallows or Spinal Tap depending on your age/memory), and one that can probably be heard - and responded to - by your mates over 4000 miles away?

Leaving aside that you’ve probably entertained yourself by thinking of the name of near relative or neighbour that fits the bill, let’s focus on the fact that many scientists, using sophisticated underwater listening arrays, credit Fin Whales with just such abilities; in effect making Fin Whales our mammal cousins that can communicate across oceans, across the planet.

This month we bring you an underwater photo of a Fin Whale, taken by Dylan in the Bay of Biscay. Just over a week ago, in late summer sun, Dylan and I were able to share 25+ Fin Whale sightings with our enthusiastic group on our Brittany Ferries Big Whale Watch (highlights will be on our blog very soon). However, exhilarating as our Bay of Biscay encounters were, every time one surfaced I was struck by two thoughts: first just how brief a period it is that our cousins share the same air as us; and second, deep down there just what are they ‘saying’ to each other?!