After a frosty week of snow and ice, Amelia Island Whale Ambassadors, community members and visitors gathered at Main Beach to create a North Atlantic right whale shell mosaic in the sand. The sky was clear and the sun shone brightly on a calm ocean. Everyone welcomed this day of apricity, the warmth of the sun on a winter day. And, everyone had a joyful time playing in the sand while raising awareness for the highly endangered North Atlantic right whale.
Honoring right whales with a shell mosaic on the beach provided Amelia Island Whale Ambassadors with the opportunity to make a lasting impression on at least three generations of people. There were grandparents with grandkids, moms and dads, and kids of all ages at the event.
My knowledge of creating a public work of art using only shells collected from the beach was passed to a new generation. Local Amelia Island Whale Ambassador Nicole Randolph listened patiently and attentively as I taught her how to create a large shell mosaic on the beach.
Sharla Mandt helped to coordinate our event. Her young son, Kieren, flew a drone to document our project's progress. “K” Mandt and several others created a beautiful representation of whale baleen out of cockle shells. Many volunteers worked intently placing thousands of shells, one by one, in the body of our mom and calf pair. One of my favorite observations of the day was watching Kieren fly his drone with a very large chocolate mustache. There was pure joy on his face all day.
As we placed the finishing touches on our whale mosaic, a family from Idaho walked over to see what we were doing. Their small children loved Apricity and Joy, the names we gave to the whales we made of sea shells. We shared the story of right whales with them. They had never heard of right whales before stumbling onto our event. I offered leftover seashells to the kids and they were delighted. I gave them a bag, and they collected the shells and ran to find their own blank art canvas in the sand. They made their own shell mosaic. My heart was filled with joy.
This season, seven confirmed right whale calves were born between Virginia and Central Florida. Every calf is important as the entire North Atlantic right whale population is believed to be less than 370 individuals.
Expecting right whale mothers give birth and bond with their newborn calves, sometimes very close to shore. Over the years, many mother and calf pairs have been sighted just off the beaches of Amelia Island. One quick and easy way to see if North Atlantic Right whales are near our shores is to use the interactive map found at Whalemap. If a whale is listed close to Amelia Island, grab your binoculars and head to the beach. My favorite Amelia Island whale observation locations are Burney Park at American Beach, Main Beach and North Beach.
There are several signs that a whale and calf might be nearby. Look for many seabirds diving in the same location. And, look for dark spots on the surface of the water. Right whales do not have a dorsal fin on the top of their back. And, they tend to rest just below the surface of the water. This makes them difficult to spot when resting. However, when mother and calf are active, we see the tail and fins break the water surface, often. Another indicator that a right whale is present is the signature “V” shaped blow that shoots into the air with every breath it takes.
If you are lucky enough to spot a whale, call 877-WHALE-HELP (877-942-5343) or call the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Ch. 16. Please have the following information ready: location of whale(s); city, lat/long, nearby landmark; number of whales; direction traveling; are dolphins and birds present; your name and a call back number. Remember to remain at least 500 yards from right whales.
As of Jan. 28, our shell mosaic honoring right whales was fully intact at Main Beach. Eventually, sand will cover the mosaic and our project will become only a memory. Thanks to all the Amelia Island Whale Ambassadors for sharing your talents, time, and treats, making this a magical day for many in the community.