Listening to Whales: What the Orcas Have Taught Us

Book Description

In Listening to Whales, Alexandra Morton shares spellbinding stories about her career in whale and dolphin research and what she has learned from and about these magnificent mammals. In the late 1970s, while working at Marineland in California, Alexandra pioneered the recording of orca sounds by dropping a hydrophone into the tank of two killer whales. She recorded the varied language of mating, childbirth, and even grief after the birth of a stillborn calf. At the same time she made the startling observation that the whales were inventing wonderful synchronized movements, a behavior that was soon recognized as a defining characteristic of orca society.

In 1984, Alexandra moved to a remote bay in British Columbia to continue her research with wild orcas. Her recordings of the whales have led her to a deeper understanding of the mystery of whale echolocation, the vocal communication that enables the mammals to find their way in the dark sea. A fascinating study of the profound communion between humans and whales, this book will open your eyes anew to the wonders of the natural world.

Customer Reviews:

Listening to Whales By: Alexandra Morton.......2005-12-01

'Listening to Whales' was a touching story of how a women's life was enchanted through her passion for marine life. We follow the author, Alexandra Morton, through her life and career- which often go hand in hand- as she evolved as a marine scientist and a woman devoted to her love: the orcas. We are taken from her first job as an acoustics expert in Marineland to her more profound passion which is to examine the killer whales in their natural habitat; the open ocean. This book was not only captivating, but as I read through it I learned so many fun facts about orcas and dolphins and the life of a marine enthusiast.
My favorite aspect of the book was the way she explained how her extreme passion for orcas came to be. I loved learning about how her love for marine life evolved from her love of frogs and grew from there. I find it so fascinating that as a small child something like loving frogs has evolved for decades and turned into her fulltime career. It proved how dedicated she has been to her work for so long and how there is constantly so much more to learn. I loved how she dedicated her young life to follow her dream, and this story showed how far you can come if you are persistent and dedicated.
There wasn't any specific part of the book I didn't like. It was a story of this brilliant woman's dreams and stories, I don't think anyone is to say there was something wrong with it; it's an unedited, unchangeable story of her life. I think she had a good balance of her life-stories and experiences and her knowledge and history of her life with the whales. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in marine life or anyone who has a passion that they want to persue. It's a very inspiring story, which makes the book good for almost anyone.

Listening to Whales.......2005-11-30

The novel "Listening to Whales: What the Orcas Have Taught Us" tells Alexandra Morton's story of how she dedicated her life to studying marine mammals, in particular killer whales, in captivity and in the wild. In addition, it describes the struggles she encountered along the way, such as caring for her young son on her own. After finishing this novel, the reader feels like she is an expert on killer whales, due to the clear descriptions Morton gives on the lifestyle, habits, and traits of the species. I felt that for the parts of the novel when Morton described her life aside from the whales, though, that she skipped over details, making it seem like events occurring over a long period of time were instead occurring over a matter of a few days. I would definitely recommend this book, especially to anyone interested in learning about killer whales and how important it is for people to protect their species.

learning about whales.......2005-11-30

Alexandra Morton's book, "Listening to Whales" is a fantastic story of how she came to study and love dolphins and killer whales. Morton grabs the reader's attention from the beginning by telling of her childhood and how she came to love animals and research. She was first intrerested in frogs, then snakes, then moved onto dolphins and eventually to killer whales. Morton's story of how she started her career was fascinating, and all about meeting the right people at the right times. She started slow but her passion willingness to learn kept her going. After years of tedious work, Morton finally landed a job at Marineland where her first job was to study the sounds that dolphins make. By using a hydrophone, Morton was able to listen to the dolphins, but there were many problems in her studies. One problem was that the dolphins were too fast for her to write cooresponding notes, and also, she wasn't able to figure out which dolphin was making which noise. Two killer whales that also happened to be in Marineland started Morton's true interest on killer whales.
Morton's career has let her listen to these killer whales, witness a birth, and uncover habits of these creatures that no one at first believed. Morton then goes into the wild to listen to and observe these beauties in their natural habitats. Morton continues to study killer whales in the wild and learns a lot from listening to these whales communicate.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I thought it was interesting that Morton gave a lot of information on her personal life and background and told the readers of how she started her career. I thought the way she opened the book got the reader's attention from the start and built up her ethos. The only weakness to the book I'd say is that it is a little slow at the beginning. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about killer whales, or anyone who wants to hear the story of how a young, animal loving girl, grew up to be a wonderful scientist. This is story is one of "following your dreams". Morton did what she loved and knew she wanted to do, even when discouraged by others. Aspiring scientists and whale lovers would love this book.

amazing.......2005-11-29

Listening to Whales is a wonderful story of a woman's life in the wild and the beautiful creatures she has devoted her life to. This auto-biography of the life of Alex Morten follows her journey through studying dolphin noises to captive dolphins to captive orcas and finally spending 25 years in the wilderness off the western coast of Canada studying killer whales in the wild. This story is so powerful and definitely shows us how important and intelligent these creatures are. Aside from retelling the moving story of how the whales thrived in those empty waters to completely leaving the same land with the coming of fish farms, this novel teaches the reader so much about this whale species, their culture and their environment. This is a must read for anyone interested in the preservation of the once pristine waters that are home to the killer whales and other marine animals--such as dolphins, porpoises, salmon, seals and otters--and for anyone who finds these beautiful and smart animals at all intriguing. Morton will make any reader fall in love with orcas as she takes the readers out on the waters in her boat, watching the whales live, play, love, and die. The end of the novel becomes more of a commentary on the industries--fish farming in particular--that destroy natural ecosystems. Morton leaves the touching story of her whales as they leave the once peaceful waters near her home, and throws a lot of political jargon at the reader. Though what she has to say is quite shocking, and definitely will leave the reader understanding the terrible effects of such an industry, the constant barrage of numbers and statistics that Morton uses to get her point across can become quite tiresome. However, it makes the final beautiful pages of this novel all the more emotionally touching. This book is amazing, and will definitely leave any reader feeling the same love that Morton does towards killer whales.

A researcher's life study of the complex marine mammal, the killer whale.......2005-11-29

The book, Listening to Whales: What the Orcas Have Taught Us, is a spellbinding story of a woman's stuggle through life as she relentlessly studies killer whales. She brings us with her through her life's work of note taking and photo identification of the whales as she raises children, survives as a single mom in the wilderness, and falls in love. Alexandra Morton also teaches us of our human errors and our insensitive treatment of nature, as we do whatever is needed to fill our own pockets with more money, acting naive to how it is affecting the world around us. I especially enjoyed the peace and serenity of the novel. The setting and the whales themselves calms the nerves. I think it makes us all somewhat jealous of life outside of busy streets and many people. However, like with all autobiographies, the author can not control what has already happened, which makes the story move slow at the times when not a lot happened in the author's life. I would definitely recommend this novel, especially to anyone wishing to learn about whales and to anyone who loves reading about the serene and complexity of nature.

The Hunter's Breath: On Expedition with the Weddell Seals of the Antartic

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Engaging book on Antarctic research and on the Weddell seal
Hot read for cold subject

The Hunter's Breath: On Expedition with the Weddell Seals of the Antartic
Terrie Williams
Manufacturer: M. Evans and Company, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1590770285

Book Description

This is the story of a dedicated group that goes to Antarctica to study the Weddell seal, the only mammal on earth able to survive year-round in the most extreme Antarctic temperatures.

Customer Reviews:

Engaging book on Antarctic research and on the Weddell seal .......2007-01-14

_The Hunter's Breath_ by Terrie M. Williams is an engaging account of six field seasons the author and seven colleague spent studying the Weddell seal of the Antarctic, where they spent 10 weeks at a time in a camp on the sea ice of McMurdo Sound, off the western coast of Ross Island, situated near openings in the ice where seals could haul out and sun themselves (and in particular pregnant seals could give birth, and raise their pups).

For years scientists had been frustrated in studying the Weddell seal, in particular observing how they feed and behave beneath the ice. The seals operated under many meters of ice, in very deep and very cold waters that were inaccessible to human divers and even submersible robotic probes. In 1997 miniaturized video technology finally caught up with the dreams of Dr. Williams and other researchers. Williams and her colleagues invented a device called a VDAP or Video Data Acquisition Platform, a waterproof device able to withstand tremendous pressure that could house a Sony 8mm video camera connected to a microcomputer. Also connected to the computer were an array of sensors, including devices to measure dive depth, swimming speed, compass bearings, heart rate, water temperature, a hydrophone to record sounds heard and emitted by the seal (seals are very vocal underwater), and a tiny acceleratometer mounted near the seal's tail to record the swing of every flipper stroke. Attached to the seal on a neoprene pad, the devices performed brilliantly.

The device invented, the team selected with great care a suitable study area and camp site. They wanted to find an area containing cracks large enough to allow the seals to breathe and haul out but not so thin or fractured as to be unable to support the weight of the camp.

The team went to great efforts to counter the various dangers posed by Antarctic research, notably frostbite, hypothermia, dehydration, and the sometimes fierce weather. They contended with temperatures as low as -70 degrees Fahrenheit and hurricane-force blizzards called herbies, monstrous storms with driving grit-like ice blown in from the continent in winds between 60 and 75 miles per hour. After three back-to-back herbies and then an actual snowfall the camp site had so much snow that the ice started to bend and the camp started to sink; quick work was required to save the facility.

Their efforts were well worth it, as they accumulated many dozens of hours of footage of seals beneath the ice, mountains of data, and enough results for a slew of scientific papers. You can see some video stills (along with many of the test subject seals, such Ally McSeal, their first test subject seal, Godzilla, the only male they used, and Ms. Zodiac, a lazy seal that spent so much time on the ice sunning herself that they eventually removed her equipment) in beautiful photographs in the book.

Although the trials and tribulations of the researchers were interesting the seals were the stars of the book. A mild-mannered species of phocid seal, Weddell seals are the only year-around mammalian resident on the permanent ice shelf in Antarctica. They survive colder temperatures, dive deeper, and live further south than Antarctica's three other seal species (Ross, Leopard, and crabeater). They are usually nine feet or more in length and average about three and a half feet in width in the middle. Colors range from bluish-black to soft gray and they have whitish spots that are particularly prominent on their upturned bellies when they sun themselves (originally they were called sea leopards). They were first mentioned by Captain James Weddell in a book recounting his Antarctic explorations from 1822-1824 and formally scientifically described a few years later. Though apparently not seriously hunted by sealers, some were killed by Antarctic explorers to provide blubber to burn for heat and to melt snow and ice for drinking water (explorers as a result often appeared dirty in photographs thanks to the oily soot of Weddell blubber) and to feed sled dogs.

Weddell seals are champion divers; only sperm whales and elephant seals can perform as well or better. She compared the dives of these seals to a person running a 10K race on a single breath of air. They can travel up to four miles under solid ice on one breath, can stay submerged up to 82 minutes (a typical dive is 20 minutes), and dive to depths of 1,312 feet.

The seals have huge eyes to enable them to see in the depths, eyes two and a half times the size of a human's, almost the size of a tennis ball. This, along with their keen hearing and whiskers enable to them be excellent hunters of giant Antarctic cod, schools of flittering Antarctic silverfish, and fish dubbed "borks" (_Pagothenia borchgrevinki_), which live just beneath the ice in 27 degree Fahrenheit water.

Every year the seals make an annual trek under miles of solid sea ice to ice cracks in McMurdo Sound to find mates and raise pups, as cracks always open in the ice in certain areas thanks to tidal stresses and ocean currents. Simply getting there is a tremendous feat, requiring unerring navigation and careful calculations of how far they can get on a breath of air; to make a mistake would mean drowning. They make use of every single hole, weak spot, or air pocket they can find to get a breath along the way, covering a distance of 80 miles from the open sea to their final destination (30 miles more than normal thanks to the giant iceberg B-15, 170 mile long and 1000 feet thick iceberg that completely disrupted the annual cycle of sea ice formation, breakup, and dispersal). In addition, their anatomy is adapted to enlarging even the smallest hole in the ice; their large, reinforced canine teeth stick out from their skulls, giving them a bucktooth-appearance but enabling the seals to scrape ice from the sides of holes in a behavior termed reaming.

Hot read for cold subject.......2004-04-16

Dr. Terrie Williams has written an enchanting book about her research and her enthusiasm for the natural world---a world few of us have the chance to experience. The book blends the rigor of her scientific approach with a fine-tuned talent for story telling. If this book were an eye into the harsh world of the Antarctic it would have a twinkle in it.

A Scientist at the Seashore (Dover Science Books)

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A Scientist at the Seashore (Dover Science Books)
James S. Trefil
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 048644564X

Book Description

A noted physicist and popular science writer heads for the beach to answer common and uncommon questions about the ocean: why the sea is salty, how bubbles form on the water's surface, where waves come from, and other curiosities of the marine world. 90 figures. 20 halftones. 1987 edition.

Swimming with Hammerhead Sharks (Scientists in the Field Series)

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Swimming with Hammerhead Sharks (Scientists in the Field Series)
Kenneth Mallory
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0618055436

Book Description

One of the world's experts on hammerhead sharks, marine biologist Pete Klimley is fighting the stereotype of sharks as primitive and vicious killers. In fact, hammerheads exhibit some remarkably sophisticated social behaviors, including their schooling in the hundreds at underwater seamounts in the Pacific Ocean. To tell the story of these incredible animals, author Ken Mallory talked with Pete Klimley and then traveled to tiny Cocos Island, 330 miles off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. There, he had the chance of a lifetime to see these awe-inspiring animals up close.

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Coast alert: Scientists speak out

Manufacturer: Published for the Coast Alliance by Friends of the Earth
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0913890472

A Fascination for Fish: Adventures of an Underwater Pioneer

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excellent autobiography of a fascination for fish
Excellent book about a pioneering aquarist and his work
fascination for fish
Fish Stories -- Fascinating!

A Fascination for Fish: Adventures of an Underwater Pioneer
David C. Powell
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Window to the Sea: Behind the Scenes at America's Great Public Aquariums

ASIN: 0520223667

Book Description

This engaging memoir presents one man's lifelong love of the ocean and gives a highly personal, behind-the-scenes look at California's magnificent and innovative aquariums. David Powell, for many years curator of the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium, tells the story of his life as a pioneering aquarist. From handling great white sharks to transporting delicate fish on bumpy airplanes to night diving for fish in the Indian Ocean, A Fascination for Fish describes many of the mind-boggling challenges that make modern aquariums possible and offers an intriguing glimpse beneath the ocean's surface.
Powell's career in diving and aquarium development goes back to the beginning of modern methods in both areas. From the early techniques he devised to get fish into aquariums alive and healthy to his later exploratory dive to a depth of eleven hundred feet in a two-person submarine, Powell's action-packed narrative inspires laughter, wonder, and philosophical reflection. A Fascination for Fish also includes many stories about Powell's diving adventures on the California coast, in the Sea of Cortez, and in many remote and exotic locations around the world.

Download Description

The celebrated autobiography of the former director of The Monterey Bay Aquarium

Customer Reviews:

excellent autobiography of a fascination for fish.......2007-09-21

Anyone who is curious about sea life or the creation and running of aquariums... and for any scuba diver - you should buy and read this book. David Powell clearly descibes how he became interested in fish and how he managed to get into aquarium displays. He even tells about his dating life in college (loved the octopus pet and dozens of aquariums he kept in his little apartment). And it also satiates the need to understand how Monterey Bay Aquarium came about (as well as many other national and worldwide aquariums were designed and started), the work and dedication to making it happen and run smoothly. Next best thing to being there and doing the hands on behind the scenes tour! Well written, good length, excellent read.

Excellent book about a pioneering aquarist and his work.......2001-05-03

This was a truly excellent read - if you are interested in how they make those impressive aquarium displays, how they catch the livestock, overcome the challenges of adapting them to aquarium life and lots of stories along the way, this is the book for you from the man widely acknowledged as being "it" when it comes to designing pioneering public aquaria.

Highly recommended for anyone out there fascinated by fish and the marvellous public aquariums around the world. Enjoy it!

fascination for fish.......2001-04-24

David C. Powell provides the reader with an excellent insight into the life experiences of a dedicated biologist. His detailed descriptions and insights of all the efforts that went into sharing his exciting discoveries is a joy to read. For anyone who visits aquariums this is a must read book. It provides rare, behind the scenes, information about the enormous effort and dedication involved in providing public aquarium exhibits. Dave's style has the flavor of Ricketts and Stienbeck all in one.

Fish Stories -- Fascinating!.......2001-04-19

If among the things you have to confess you know nothing about are designing, stocking, and running a public aquarium, you can change that and have a darned good time filling in these particular voids. David C. Powell, who knows more about running aquariums than just about anyone, has written a memoir, _A Fascination for Fish: Adventures of an Underwater Pioneer_ (University of California Press) that tells about his unusual career and has more than its share of pleasing anecdotes.

Powell took the first fish he caught as a kid and slept with it under his pillow. He maintained the lobster tank at a fancy Malibu restaurant. When he read Cousteau's first book, _The Silent World_, he knew he had to start diving. As he kept specimens in his home aquarium, he joined the Marine Aquarium Society of Los Angeles. A fellow member told him of a job opening as an aquarist at Marineland of the Pacific; it was just what he wanted to do, and from there he worked at various aquariums, directing the live exhibits at the Monterey Bay Aquarium until retiring four years ago. He now seems to be the most frequently consulted consultant whenever towns or nations want to set up aquariums.

Powell writes with admiration and affection about the creatures he has to capture and then keep in as home-like an environment as possible, including the wonderfully named sarcastic fringehead, the "thumbsplitter" mantis shrimp with its faster-than-the-eye claw, and many more. He tells about the process of capturing samples in many different ways, but diving and capturing fish is the easy part. Transporting them is hard. There are different gadgets and containers that have to be used, including the truck transport named the "Tunabago." It is planning the displays of the fish that obviously has given Powell the most satisfaction in his career. His description, for instance, of the responsibilities of putting up the largest window in the world, a gigantic acrylic pane fifty-five by fifteen feet, thirteen inches thick, and weighing thirty-eight tons, is completely engrossing.

Customer Reviews:

"DOCTOR AS WRITIER".......2000-10-24

After personally meeting Mr. Richard Selzer, I was compelled to read all of his writing. This book-- much like the others--displays Selzer's rich use of the English language while illustrating the deep understanding he has of the human spirit and body. Selzer's unique literature isn't only about medicine and surgery, but also life and humanity. I recommend reading any and/or all of his work.

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Taking the World In for Repairs
Richard SELZER
Manufacturer: Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OPHSAG

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Taking the World in for Repairs
Richard Selzer
Manufacturer: Recorded Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: 078870348X

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Taking the World in for Repairs
Richard Selzer
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OJ0YBM

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Taking the World in for Repairs
Richard Selzer
Manufacturer: New York William Morrow 1986.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OMP3BA

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Taking The World In For Repairs
Richard SELZER
Manufacturer: Penguin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000G9TXEE

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Taking the World in for Repairs

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000HWPK7Y

Product Description

9 Hours 31 Minutes on 8 CDs. From Richard Selzer, professor of surgery and writing at Yale and award-winning author, comes 13 insightful essays that guide listeners on a fascinating tour of the worldfrom the deepest mysteries of faith to the inner workings of a slaughter house. In these sometimes outlandish slices of life from around the globe, Richard Selzer tantalizes listeners with observations that will encourage deep thought and a new understanding of the world around us.

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