Scientists have observed that blue whale songs have dropped by nearly 40%, a troubling shift in one of the ocean’s most iconic sounds. For the largest animals on Earth, vocalization isn’t random—it’s closely tied to feeding success and overall energy levels. When krill—their primary food source—is abundant, blue whales sing more frequently and for longer periods. But when food becomes scarce, they conserve energy, and their songs grow quieter. The recent decline in vocalizations suggests whales

🎥: Julia Sumerling (@seajewlz) // In 2004, Dr. Jason Gedamke was recording underwater sounds in the Great Barrier Reef, and discovered the dwarf minke is the source of an unusual, complex, and stereotyped vocalization called the “star wars” call. Volume up to hear it! This regional-specific behavioral distinction suggests aggregate or community adaptive behaviors among subspecies of minke whales. | Ocean Conservation Research - OCR

Volume on! Sound travels farther underwater and whale songs can cross an ocean. Stream "Soul of the Ocean" here: https://to.pbs.org/3JfILrZ [VID: Compilation footage of humpback whales singing in the ocean] | Nature | PBS

Footage by bluelifewild // Blue whale vocalizations are very low frequency sounds with some in the 15 Hz range. These tones characteristically travel long distances due to the high power, but also due to very long-wavelengths (over 300 feet for 15 Hz). This enables their songs to be heard thousands of miles from the source. We can assume that the projection distance is important (Nature can be extravagant, but she is never wasteful), but we can only speculate why they need to broadcast their son

🎥: bluelifewild // Blue whale vocalizations are very low frequency sounds with some in the 15 Hz range. These tones characteristically travel long distances due to the high power, but also due to very long-wavelengths (over 300 feet for 15 Hz). This enables their songs to be heard thousands of miles from the source. We can assume that the projection distance is important (Nature can be extravagant, but she is never wasteful), but we can only speculate why they need to broadcast their songs acro