June 17, 2004

Tim Arienti

While checking our hydrophones we had a very unusual visitor approach our boat, a young beluga whale.  Jared Carter and I first spotted him from a distance on June 15, but Jon Kyne and I got a much better look on June 16.  Beluga's are very rare in these waters but this one decided to make his home in the Saco River for a few days.  They prefer much cooler waters, more north than Maine.   Many fishermen in boats and from shore had seen the beluga for a couple of days previous.  While pulling up one of our hydrophones to move it, Jon and I noticed a large white shape coming up from the depths, of course this turned out to be the beluga I had seen the day before.  He seemed to be quite attracted to our equipment.  He circled the boat a few times before disappearing.  Hopefully he will continue his way north to more habitable waters.  We were able to get one picture of him before he left us which I will post as soon as possible.