2023-2024 Right Whale Calving Season

Calving season is vital for the research and conservation efforts for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. Spanning from mid-November to mid-April, teams take to the sky to survey the waters for mother and calf pairs. Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute has collected more than 20 years of aerial survey data and monitors the waters from North Carolina to Florida. This data is crucial for learning more about the current right whale population, which is estimated to be approximately 360 remaining.

According to NOAA, 20 newborns in a calving season would be considered a relatively productive year based on the current number of females. However, 50 or more calves are needed per year for multiple years to stop the decline and allow for recovery. Only 11 right whale calves were spotted during the 2022-2023 season.

Mom-Calf Pair Sightings Season: 20

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Right whale Catalog #3590 Dog-ear sighted approximately 10NM off Cumberland Island, GA on January 1, 2024. Dog-ear was later sighted with a calf by a fisherman on February 16,2024, off Cape Canaveral, FL.

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Right whale Skittle and calf were sighted approximately 24.4nm east of Kure Beach, NC on February 16, 2024. Her name comes from the shape of her callosity that resembles a bowling pin, or skittle, from the British sport similar to 9-pin bowling.

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Right whale Catalog #3725 and calf were sighted approximately 14NM off Ponte Vedra Beach, FL on January 30, 2024. Catalog #3725 is 17 years old and this is her first calf.

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Right whale Butterfly and calf were sighted approximately 14NM off Ponte Vedra Beach, FL on January 27, 2024. Named for her callosity pattern, where there appears to be paired wings in the center. 

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Right whale Catalog #3820 and calf were sighted approximately 19NM off Nassau Sound in Florida on January 24, 2024.

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Marilyn Monroe and calf were sighted approximately 23NM off Jekyll Island, GA. She was named in 2023 for a scar on her rostrum which is reminiscent of the actress’ beauty mark.

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Fenway and calf were sighted approximately 17NM off Cumberland Island, GA. She was named for her overall callosity pattern looking like a baseball bat. Fenway Park is the baseball field that is home to the Boston Red Sox.

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Right whale Catalog #1950 and calf sighted approximately 10.4nm off St. Simons Sound, GA.

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Half Note and calf were sighted approximately five nautical miles off Cumberland Island, GA. Half Note’s name follows the musical name of her mother, Fermata.

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Limulus and calf sighted approximately 7nm east of Ossabaw Island, GA. Limulus is 25 years old and this is her 3rd documented calf. Named for the callosity pattern and head shape which is shaped like a Horseshoe crab (Genus Limulus).

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Swerve and calf were sighted approximately 4.5nm off Altamaha Sound, GA. Swerve was named for the appearance of her callosity pattern, where features are swerving away from each other.

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Legato and her newborn calf were sighted approximately 16NM off Amelia Island, FL. Legato’s name is a musical term that fits into her family’s musical lineage (Staccato, ¼ Note, preceding her, and Portato & Arpeggio following her). The name also relates to her callosity pattern and how her islands are sort of fused which relates to the definition of legato which is smooth and flowing notes.

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Right whale and her newborn calf sighted approximately 25NM east of the St. Marys River Entrance.

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Halo and calf were sighted approximately 6.3nm east of Cumberland Island,GA. Halo was named for the arched shape of the callosities behind her blow holes, like she’s wearing a halo.

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Braces and calf were sighted approximately 12.8nm east of Nassau Sound, FL. Named for the scars along her lip looking like she’s wearing braces.

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Wolf and calf were sighted approximately 13nm of Atlantic Beach, FL. Wolf was named after a group of islands in the Bay of Fundy called The Wolves, because of her regular sightings in the bay and her callosity resembling a chain of islands.

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Palmetto and calf were sighted approximately 5.6nm off Trenchards Inlet, SC. Named for her callosity resembling a palm tree (long coming with peninsulas), specifically a Palmetto palm, which is the tree on the SC state flag, for her sightings off SC.

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Horton and calf, sighted December 07, 2023 approximately 22.2 east of St. Catherines Island, GA by our Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI). Named for the title elephant character in Horton Hears a Who!

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Juno and calf were sighted approximately 6nm off Cane Island, SC by our Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI) on November 28, 2023. She was first seen in 1986 as a mom, with her first documented calf. She was named after the Roman goddess in honor of her “roman nose” (convex shaped rostrum).