The California coastline has the largest concentration of blue whales in the world! There is an estimated 2,200 individuals in California, and between 10,000 - 25,000 blue whales estimated worldwide. Pre-whaling population estimates were over a whopping 350,000 individuals. We are fortunately beginning to see a rise in blue whale numbers due to the ban on commercial whaling. Today they are still classified as endangered by the IUCN, and their major threats include entanglement in fishing gear, n

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 across ocean basins. The