#gothamwhale

Two amazing trips with yesterday

Lunge- feeding humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) off Rockaway. Out with my #NYWHALECOLLABORATIVE colleagues #gothamwhale #americanprincesscruises @american_princess_cruises @gothamwhale @cresliahkopelman #Megapteranovaengliae #humpbackwhales #CRESLI #NYWHALES #WESTERNNYBIGHT

Inshore bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) off Breezy Point. Out with my #NYWHALECOLLABORATIVE colleagues #gothamwhale #americanprincesscruises @american_princess_cruises @gothamwhale @cresliahkopelman #tursiopstruncatus #NYWHALES #WESTERNNYBIGHT

Photo of a Humpback Whale tail, from Stand By And Lean On Project #19, Gotham Whale

I was very excited to do this, I've been wanting to volunteer/do citizen science work for Gotham Whale for about a year now. Gotham Whale's mission statement can be seen on the main page at gothamwhale.org but in short Gotham Whale educates the public on Humpback Whales in local waters in addition to collecting data on them. The average 🐳 like you & me may assist in data collection by taking photographs via the boat ride they offer-look at Gotham Whale for details. You may then e-mail your photos to [email protected] Why is this important? 2 articles I would like to use to highlight this: -Humpback whales return to NYC for the first time in a century from the Times Union: https://www.google.com/amp/www.timesunion.com/news/amp/humpback-whales-have-returned-to-NYC-11208323.php The article cites how Humpback Whales have returned to NYC waters due to environmental clean up efforts. -on the flip of the coin, Trump Cancels Whale and Sea Turtle Protection from the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trump-cancels-whale-and-sea-turtle-protections/article/2625765 Now this article is in align with protections alongside the fishing industry, rather enviornmental, but it's all still relevant. We can see from article 1 what a difference can become when positive change happens, look even selfishly the benefits-now an inner city kid can go whale watching close to home. Being in an urban environment yet so close to nature makes a person see things differently. It makes you take time, focus, learn the meaning of value. I'm already saddened by what the outcome will be from article 2. Being a human bulldozer to the natural world, no one gains. -How can you help? Look at gothamwhale.org how you can participate in their citizen science work. There is also a section on the site if you have your own boat, how you can report findings to them. Is there something like this where you live? Have you participated in a like program? Have you been impacted mentally, emotionally by it? Myself, seeing the whales, I now look out towards the water differently. I thanked the whales in my head for allowing me to meet them. It's honestly a privilege. I'd love to hear from you! [email protected]

https://goo.gl/xU22sz Manhattan Bridge 12/11/2016 #ManhattanBridge #nyc #bridge #americanprincess #Gothamwhale #kdinanphotography (at Manhattan Bridge)