Big eyes

Credit: Al Plueddemann©WHOI

Large, deck-mounted binoculars known as “big eyes” are used for marine mammal observations. NOAA Research Wildlife Biologist Peter Duley joined Leg 1 of the Pioneer-18 cruise and brought the big eyes along. Stationed on the bow for nearly all available daylight hours, Peter was able to make 43 different marine mammals sightings, including Bottlenose, Common, White-sided, and Risso’s Dolphins as well as Pilot, Sperm, Humpback, and Finback Whales. Once an animal is spotted, he records the distance away, direction, group size, and environmental conditions.