[zoomsounds_player artistname=”77eng.com” songname=”Whale Song” config=”sample–skin-wave-simple” type=”detect” source=”https://ia904601.us.archive.org/16/items/whale-song/Whale%20Song%20%E2%80%93%2077Eng.mp3?cnt=0″ thumb=”https://77eng.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_5734.jpg” post_content=’Whale Song – 77eng.com’ autoplay=”off” loop=”off” play_in_footer_player=”default” enable_download_button=”off” enable_downloads_counter=”off” download_custom_link_enable=”off” open_in_ultibox=”off”]
A. The sound of [wpcmtt id=”6702″]Baleen Whales[/wpcmtt] is the loudest produced by any animal on earth and travels for many kilometres underwater. It may be used for long-range contact, meeting calls, in their search for [wpcmtt id=”6704″]mates[/wpcmtt], as a greeting, [wpcmtt id=”6705″]threat[/wpcmtt] or [wpcmtt id=”6707″]individual[/wpcmtt] [wpcmtt id=”6706″]identification[/wpcmtt]. They produce mostly [wpcmtt id=”6708″]low-frequency [/wpcmtt]sounds, which are for long [wpcmtt id=”6709″]distance[/wpcmtt] [wpcmtt id=”6710″]communication[/wpcmtt], [wpcmtt id=”6711″]orientation[/wpcmtt] and [wpcmtt id=”6712″]navigation[/wpcmtt]. Whale communication occurs [wpcmtt id=”6713″]through[/wpcmtt] low-frequency [wpcmtt id=”6714″]moans[/wpcmtt], as well as high-frequency [wpcmtt id=”6715″]whistles[/wpcmtt] that are produced by the whales. Whales also communicate [wpcmtt id=”6716″]by means of[/wpcmtt] body language such as slapping their tails. Whale noises such as [wpcmtt id=”6717″]forceful[/wpcmtt] [wpcmtt id=”6718″]spouts[/wpcmtt] of water may [wpcmtt id=”6719″]signal[/wpcmtt] [wpcmtt id=”6720″]annoyance[/wpcmtt], and the [wpcmtt id=”6721″]slapping[/wpcmtt] of [wpcmtt id=”6723″]flippers[/wpcmtt] [wpcmtt id=”6724″]indicates[/wpcmtt] [wpcmtt id=”6725″]excitement[/wpcmtt] or [wpcmtt id=”6726″]aggression[/wpcmtt].
B. Whales use beautiful [wpcmtt id=”6727″]lyrical[/wpcmtt] sounds called whale song to communicate with each other. As whales are so large and powerful, they make very loud sounds that can be heard for many kilometres. Whales have been known to [wpcmtt id=”6728″]generate[/wpcmtt] about 20,000 [wpcmtt id=”6729″]acoustic watts[/wpcmtt] of sound at 163 [wpcmtt id=”6730″]decibels[/wpcmtt].
C. Some whale [wpcmtt id=”6731″]species[/wpcmtt] produce a [wpcmtt id=”6732″]pattern[/wpcmtt] of [wpcmtt id=”6733″]regular [/wpcmtt]and [wpcmtt id=”6734″]predictable[/wpcmtt] whale sounds, the most [wpcmtt id=”6735″]notable[/wpcmtt] being the [wpcmtt id=”6736″]Humpback Whale[/wpcmtt]. It has been compared with human music, with these [wpcmtt id=”6738″]creatures[/wpcmtt] being the ‘[wpcmtt id=”6739″]composers[/wpcmtt]’. [wpcmtt id=”6740″]On the other hand,[/wpcmtt] most [wpcmtt id=”6741″]toothed whales[/wpcmtt] do not produce whale song, but instead [wpcmtt id=”6742″]produce[/wpcmtt] [wpcmtt id=”6743″]rapid[/wpcmtt] [wpcmtt id=”6744″]bursts[/wpcmtt] of high-frequency [wpcmtt id=”6745″]clicks[/wpcmtt] and [wpcmtt id=”6746″]whistles[/wpcmtt]. Single clicks are known to be used in [wpcmtt id=”6747″]echolocation[/wpcmtt]; however, a collection of clicks together is for communication. Male Humpback Whales make these sounds during the [wpcmtt id=”6748″]mating season[/wpcmtt], which suggests that the [wpcmtt id=”6749″]purpose[/wpcmtt] of their songs is to select a mate. It is unknown [wpcmtt id=”6761″]whether[/wpcmtt] it is also their means of [wpcmtt id=”6762″]defining[/wpcmtt] [wpcmtt id=”6763″]territory [/wpcmtt]or even[wpcmtt id=”6764″] flirting[/wpcmtt] between males and females.
D. Whales [wpcmtt id=”6766″]occupying[/wpcmtt] the same [wpcmtt id=”6767″]geographical location [/wpcmtt][wpcmtt id=”6768″]tend to[/wpcmtt] sing similar whale songs, only [wpcmtt id=”6769″]varying[/wpcmtt]
them[wpcmtt id=”6770″] slightly[/wpcmtt]. However, whales from different areas sing different songs. A study over a period of 19
years found that the same song [wpcmtt id=”6771″]combinations[/wpcmtt] never occurred, suggesting that whales never reuse old song patterns. Whales in one area sing the same song [wpcmtt id=”6772″]at any point in time[/wpcmtt], a song which [wpcmtt id=”6773″]constantly[/wpcmtt] and slowly changes over time. [wpcmtt id=”6774″]Over any given period[/wpcmtt], one song will start with increasing frequency but may slowly [wpcmtt id=”6775″]flatten[/wpcmtt] to become more [wpcmtt id=”6776″]constant.[/wpcmtt] A whale will [wpcmtt id=”6777″]typically [/wpcmtt]repeat the same [wpcmtt id=”6778″]phrase[/wpcmtt] of song [wpcmtt id=”6787″]over and over again[/wpcmtt] for two to four minutes [wpcmtt id=”6788″]at a time[/wpcmtt]. This is known as a theme, of which a collection makes a song. The whale repeats the same song, which may last up to 30 minutes and even for days at a time.
E. [wpcmtt id=”6779″]The mechanisms [/wpcmtt]used by whales to produce sound vary from one species to another. Most whales produce whale sounds by passing air through a [wpcmtt id=”6780″]structure[/wpcmtt] in the head called the [wpcmtt id=”6781″]phonic lips[/wpcmtt]. The lips [wpcmtt id=”6782″]vibrate[/wpcmtt] as the air passes through them and these [wpcmtt id=”6783″]vibrations[/wpcmtt] can be [wpcmtt id=”6784″]consciously [/wpcmtt]controlled with great [wpcmtt id=”6785″]sensitivity[/wpcmtt]. They pass through to the melon of the head, which [wpcmtt id=”6786″]shapes[/wpcmtt] and [wpcmtt id=”6790″]directs[/wpcmtt] the sound into a [wpcmtt id=”6791″]beam [/wpcmtt]for [wpcmtt id=”6792″]echolocation[/wpcmtt]. The air may be [wpcmtt id=”6793″]recycled[/wpcmtt] back to be used for sound creation yet again, or passed out through the[wpcmtt id=”6794″] blowhole[/wpcmtt]. All toothed whales, [wpcmtt id=”6795″]except[/wpcmtt] for the [wpcmtt id=”6796″]Sperm Whale[/wpcmtt], have two sets of phonic lips; therefore they [wpcmtt id=”6798″]are capable of[/wpcmtt] making two sounds [wpcmtt id=”6799″]independently.[/wpcmtt] Baleen Whales do not have phonic lip [wpcmtt id=”6800″]structures[/wpcmtt], only a [wpcmtt id=”6801″]larynx[/wpcmtt] that appears to play a role in producing whale sound.
F. [wpcmtt id=”6803″]Marine creatures[/wpcmtt] are largely [wpcmtt id=”6805″]dependent on[/wpcmtt] sound for communication and [wpcmtt id=”6806″]sensation[/wpcmtt], as their other [wpcmtt id=”6807″]senses[/wpcmtt] are [wpcmtt id=”6808″]limited[/wpcmtt] [wpcmtt id=”6809″]due to[/wpcmtt] their [wpcmtt id=”6810″]watery[/wpcmtt] [wpcmtt id=”6811″]habitat[/wpcmtt]. [wpcmtt id=”6812″]Environmentalists[/wpcmtt] appear to be [wpcmtt id=”6813″]concerned about[/wpcmtt] whales being [wpcmtt id=”6814″]harmed[/wpcmtt] and not being able to find mates because of the Increased noise levels at sea caused by ships and other sources. The Humpback Whale songs [wpcmtt id=”6815″]for instance[/wpcmtt] are often [wpcmtt id=”6816″]disrupted[/wpcmtt] and this causes [wpcmtt id=”6817″]immense[/wpcmtt] [wpcmtt id=”6818″]panic[/wpcmtt] in the group.
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