They’re big, they’re beautiful, and they’re back from the brink of extinction! The return of humpback whales to B.C.’s coast will be the topic at the Nov. 3 meeting of the Comox Valley Paddlers.
Presenter Jackie Hildering is a researcher with the Marine Education and Research Society and wishes to share MERS’ research with those who are most often on or near the water and discuss how we can work together to better understand these giants and the risks they face (for the sake of boater and whale safety).
MERS is based on Northern Vancouver Island and has been researching humpbacks for more than a decade. The presentation will include their work on humpback whale feeding and rate of entanglement, efforts to increase awareness around collision, and what to do if entanglement is witnessed. See www.mersociety.org.
As an avid diver and underwater photographer, Hildering is also known as “The Marine Detective.” Recognition for her efforts includes being the 2010 winner of the Vancouver Aquarium's Murray A. Newman Award for Excellence in Aquatic Conservation.
She has also recently been featured on Animal Planet's "Wild Obsession” series and the BBC productions “Ingenious Animals” and "New Threat to Canada's Humpback Whales?” It indeed promises to be informative and entertaining.
The presentation begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3 at the Lion's Den, 1729 Comox Ave., behind the Pearl Ellis Art Gallery (enter off Nordin St.).
Non-members are welcome to attend with a donation at the door to BC Marine Trails. For more information about the evening contact cvpaddleshow@gmail.com or visit our website comoxvalleypaddlers.ca or our Facebook page.