Frank’s
Whales details the efforts of a
small, but dedicated, group of volunteers
who are doing their part to save the most
endangered large mammal in the world. North
Atlantic Right Whales, hunted almost to
extinction by 1935, use Northeast Florida
coastal waters as their only known calving
grounds. With an estimated population of
only 350-400 whales remaining, scientists
and volunteers are working to minimize the
whales’ greatest threat, which comes from
the human impact of ship strikes and fishing
gear entanglement.
Led by marine
mammal scientists, volunteers gather data
about the whales from shore-based
observation points. Frank Gromling, a
seven-year veteran of the research project,
tells the fascinating story of the
endangered whales and the special role being
played by a handful of volunteers. For
anyone interested in nature, conservation,
whales, and volunteer programs, this is
required reading.
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CONTENTS
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. What’s a Right Whale
And Why Is It Called That?
2. How to Recognize a
Right Whale
3. Life on the Roof
4. An Invention Is Born
5. Sightings!
6. Carcass Recovery
7. Party Hardy
8. A New Season - A New
Approach
9. Fuji Re-visited
10. 2002 Sightings
11. Fun, Fun, Fun
12. What Did We
Accomplish?
Written Sources
Internet Sources
REVIEWS
click here
Beverly Fleming
“Frank Gromling, in a
refreshing narrative, convincingly answers the questions
so many people ask: ‘How can I make a difference?’ And
‘What can I do to help?’ Become involved with a
volunteer program, learn more about the plight of the
North Atlantic right whale – or Nature’s other creatures
– enjoy meeting like-minded people and have fun. A good
read.”
Hans Neuhauser, Editor,
Right Whale News
“This is an exciting
inside look at a volunteer-based research program that
is aiding the most endangered large whale in the world.”
Jim Egan, Executive
Director
Marine Resources
Council, Rockledge, FL
“Congratulations on your
fantastic accomplishment and volunteer efforts. Keep up
the good work, and once again hooray for Frank!”
Betti Tobiasz, Seekonk,
MA
“With only about 325
North Atlantic Right Whales left, this book is an
important contribution to their understanding and
survival. What a superb job you have done!”
Dr. Maia McGuire,
University of Florida
Sea Grant Extension Agent
“Very interesting subject,
one that everyone takes an interest in, but for a few
dedicated people like you, not many participate actively.”
David Craveiro,
Bristol, RI
“I read through Mr.
Gromling's creatively witty and informative book in one
sitting. This educational work about our endangered sea
mammals should be required reading and on all
environmentalists’ and conservationists' bookshelves.”
Harry Waranch, LMT, Palm Coast,
FL
“Frank Gromling has
written and published a delightful saga of one man’s
discovery of the North Atlantic right whales.
Ironically, this was in his back yard, which happened to
be the Atlantic Ocean. It chronicles his efforts as he
got involved with an organization that was founded to
save the species from extinction. Whether you are a
fisherman, nature enthusiast, biologist, inhabitant of
the coast or just an average person living anywhere, you
will enjoy this interesting and informative story. This
book has also been created with the purest intentions:
to make the reader aware of how anyone can contribute
his or her time and, in addition, enjoy an exciting
adventure for a noble cause.”
H. Steven Robertson,
author of Ranch Boy
"The numbers of a
species approach the edge of extinction. Just as with
Loggerhead Sea Turtles, American Bald Eagles, and
Peregrine Falcons, the Right Whale has a better chance
of survival because individuals not only cared about its
well-being, but took action to assist.
Few people may know,
until Frank's Whales lands in their lap, that Northeast
Florida is a critical birthing ground for the Right
Whale, the rarest large whale in the Atlantic Ocean.
Frank Gromling's book explores this majestic creature's
natural history and the protection programs that hope to
safeguard this whale's numbers, beginning with the
whalers who, in prior centuries, reduced populations to
a critical level, and moving forward to modern times,
when ship strikes pose a serious threat.
The author relates his
own experiences as part of a volunteer group that
records observations and data to assist government
agencies in formulating plans for the Right Whale's
protection.
This book is perfect
for many purposes. For the environmentally conscious,
it's a lovely example of those who do more than protest:
they give their time to help on behalf of a cause they
hold dear.
For any student doing a
life sciences report or project, this book will also be
an invaluable resource, because it offers original
research from first hand accounts, something not readily
available for many projects.
The book is also
interesting to a casual reader, because Frank Gromling
tells a good story in an unpretentious, direct manner
that puts the reader on the observation deck with him.
A bonus in this book
involves exceptional black and white photographs of
these whales and other ocean species, and related charts
and maps.
I would highly
recommend this book to any reader."
Reviewed by Kay Day
author of A Poetry Break, Poetry for Your Pleasure
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