Monitoring Key

Monitoring Key
Site Name
SC: Ship Creek

MM95.3: Seward Hwy Mile Marker 95.3

TW: Twentymile River

TP: The Point

KE: Kenai River

KA: Kasilof River

Beluga Color / Age Classes
Neonate

Very dark gray, hours to days old, extremely small size (around 1.5 m or 5 ft), and have a wrinkled appearance

Calf

Dark gray, relatively small (<2/3 length of white beluga), typically swimming within 1 b/l of a larger whale

Gray

Subadult, larger than calves, light to medium gray

White
Unknown

Adult, large size, bright white to dull white color
Any beluga not confidently identified

Sighting Conditions
1

Poor (for example: heavy fog/rain/snow, high glare, and/or substantial whitecaps make it difficult to see belugas)

2

4

Fair (between poor and moderate visibility)
Moderate (for example: some weather obstructs your view, but water conditions are suitable for identifying belugas; limited
whitecaps)
Good (between moderate and ideal visibility)

5

Ideal (for example: no glare, no inclement weather, calm water surface making for easy beluga viewing)

3

Beaufort Scale
Force

Knots

Wind Description

Wave Conditions

0

<1

Calm

Sea surface smooth and mirror-like

1

1-3

Light Air

Scaly ripples, no foam crests

2

4-6

Light Breeze

Small wavelets, crests glassy, no breaking

3

7-10

Gentle Breeze

Large wavelets, crests begin to break, scattered whitecaps

4

11-16

Moderate Breeze

Small waves (1-4ft), becoming longer, numerous whitecaps

5

17-21

Fresh Breeze

Moderate waves (4-8ft), take longer to form, many whitecaps, some spray

6

22-27

Strong Breeze

Larger waves (8-13ft), whitecaps common, more spray

Beluga Behavior
Travelling:

Moving in a linear or near-linear direction
without interruption

Milling:

Moving in a non-linear, weaving, or circular
pattern within area

Diving:

Moving downward through the water
column, often showing tail

Resting:

Feeding Observed:

Feeding Suspected:

Snorkeling:

Floating at or near surface, with little or no
movement for several minutes or more with
no other suspected behavior
Observed with fish in mouth
Diving, chasing, pursuing prey or lunging;
proxy events (jumping fish, seabirds)
Surfacing with a low profile, only blowhole,
melon, and small portion of dorsal just
posterior to blowhole visible

Tail Slapping:
Bubbling:

Producing many bubbles while submerged,
not including normal subsurface exhalation

Side Scanning:

Surface swimming with side body visible,
often followed by explosive prey pursuit

Spyhopping:

Holding body vertically with head out of
water for several seconds or more

Tail Waving:

Mating Suspected:

Calving:

Avoiding Predation:

Moving with speed and/or abrupt changes in
direction in response to an observed
predator

Other:

Vocalizing:

Emitting audible sound (e.g., snorts, whistles,
chirps)

Unknown:

Updated: 05/03/21

Hitting tail fluke vigorously against water
surface producing a splash

Body vertical with tail out of water for several
seconds or more, often slowly waving tail,
but not tail slapping
Two individuals swimming in same direction
or rolling in place in ventral contact
Provide detailed comments if you list this
behaivor

Unclassified behavior (must have comment)
Behavior indistinguishable