Abstract
A method is described to automatically localize Hawaiian minke whales from their boing vocalizations. Recorded passive acoustic data from 15 deep water seafloor mounted hydrophones at the Pacific Missile Range Facility is utilized. A critical step is the automatic association of the same vocalization as received by the widely spaced hydrophones. The peak frequency of the vocalization in the detection bandwidth is shown to aid in the association process. Temporal integration of standard time difference of arrival localizations reduces erroneous automatic localizations, which occur for a variety of reasons. A case study of a 2009 minke visual sighting by a field team, which was facilitated by radioing near real‐time location information from shore is described. The peak frequency feature (PFF) has unexpectedly been observed to be very stable for what is believed to be the sighted individual over a 6 hour time period (n = 57, PF¯F=1384.0 Hz, σ = 1.78 Hz). When the minke ceased vocalizing at 13:44 HST, no vocalizations at this frequency were again observed until 18:30 HST. This suggests a possible acoustic feature unique to individual animals with potential anatomical relationship with the sound production mechanism.
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