Naturalist Presentation
Date: Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Time: 6:30 PM

And The Beaked Shall Inherit Earth: Being An Introduction To Beaked Whale Diversity Worldwide.
 
Among the 94 currently recognized species of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), fully one quarter are beaked whales (family Ziphiidae). Despite their diversity and worldwide distribution (including at least four species off Oregon), few have heard of beaked whales; at least three species have never been identified alive in the wild, and they remain the least-known large animals on the planet. In this talk, Robert will present the most comprehensive collection of beaked whale photos ever assembled and discuss some of the bizarre features of this enigmatic group.
 
Robert Pitman worked as a marine biologist for National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA) for 40 years, specializing in marine birds and mammals. He participated in survey cruises all over the world with main study areas in the eastern tropical Pacific, Alaska, Antarctica, and Western Australia. He has written dozens of papers on seabird and marine mammal ecology with a particular focus on killer whales. He currently lives in Newport, OR, and is an affiliate at the OSU Marine Mammal Institute where his wife and colleague, Lisa Ballance, is the Director.

MEETING LOCATION:

OSU Extension Lincoln County
1211 SE Bay Blvd
Newport, OR 97365