Hunkered Down Beluga Spotting
May 01, 2020
Help celebrate the spring return of the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale to Turnagain Arm, Alaska, while you're hunkered down at home.
How to Participate
Beluga Whale drawing to download, print, color, and hang in your window.
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Download, print, and color our beluga drawing, use a toy beluga, or design your own beluga. Or, if you have a printed photo of a beluga whale, you can use that too.
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Hang a photo, toy, or drawing in your window for others walking or driving by to spot.
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Name your beluga and enter into the Name a Whale Contest to name a beluga whale in the Cook Inlet Photo ID catalog. Please send your beluga names to this email address: dfg.dwc.belugawhales@alaska.gov. A winner will be drawn and announced on May 15th.
Remember, Belugas STILL Count! during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stay safe everybody.
January 24, 2020
Check out the Winter 2020 newsletter!
Alaska Marine Science Symposium
January 27, 2020
The Alaska Marine Science Symposium will be held January 27-31, 2020. This annual conference highlights important Alaskan marine ecosystems: Gulf of Alaska (Tuesday), Bering Sea & Aleutian Islands (Wednesday), and the Arctic (Thursday). Research topics discussed range from ocean physics, fishes and invertebrates, seabirds, marine mammals, to local traditional knowledge.
The Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Photo-ID Project will be presenting several posters on Monday, January 27 between 6-9 pm at the Egan Center. Stop by and see what we've been up to. There will also be a couple of talks on CIBWs on Tuesday afternoon starting at 3:15 pm. For more information on AMSS click the link below.
Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Management, Research, and Partnership Opportunities Session
January 31, 2020
Join the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Management, Research, and Partnership Opportunities session during the 2020 Alaska Marine Science Symposium. This year, the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Recovery Implementation Task Force will also meet and will share progress to date. Click below for agenda.
Belugas Count! 2019
September 21, 2019
Join us for the 2018 Belugas Count! Event September 21, 2019.
This all-day event aims to bring together citizens to focus on the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale, fostering local pride, awareness, and stewardship. It is a collaboration between a variety of federal and state agencies, local and national organizations, as well as individuals. Any beluga whales counted will be entered into the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Photo-ID Sightings map and the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Ecosystem Portal which is used by Cook Inlet beluga managers and researchers to help assess location and abundance information.
The CIBW Photo-ID team will be at the Bird Point Station between 10 am and 2 pm and we will also have a booth at the zoo from 1 pm and 5 pm. Stop by at either location and say hello.
For more information on the 2019 Belugas Count! Event click on the button below.
April 12, 2019
Check out the 2019 Spring Edition of Sightings.
August 31, 2018
Check out the 2018 Fall Edition of Sightings.
Belugas Count 2018!
August 10, 2018
Join us for the 2018 Belugas Count! Event September 15, 2018.
This all-day event aims to bring together citizens to focus on the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale, fostering local pride, awareness, and stewardship. It is a collaboration between a variety of federal and state agencies, local and national organizations, as well as individuals. Any beluga whales counted will be entered into the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Photo-ID Sightings map and the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Ecosystem Portal which is used by Cook Inlet beluga managers and researchers to help assess location and abundance information.
The CIBW Photo-ID team will be at the Bird Point Station between 10 am and 1 pm and we will also have a booth at the zoo from 1 pm and 5 pm. Stop by at either location and say hello.
For more information on the 2018 Belugas Count! Event click on the button below.
April 24, 2018
Check out the 2018 Spring Edition of Sightings.
NOAA releases new population estimate for endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales
June 22, 2017
NOAA Fisheries released today its biennial population estimate for the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale. Scientists determined that the population size is between 279 and 386 animals, with a most likely estimate of 328 animals. The estimate is derived from data collected during a June 2016 aerial survey.