Ocean Songs for Kids

My new song about the endangered vaquita porpoise

Birdsong meets Eastern Tropical Pacific killer whales!

Dear Friends,

I saw orcas off the coast of Newport Beach, CA (USA) on January 7th! They were a rarely seen pod of Eastern Tropical Pacific killer whales, including 1 large male and 1 calf. Thanks to the Gray Whale Census Team and Alisa Schulman-Janiger for first spotting them from land at Palos Verdes while counting gray whales. Thank you also to my employer, Capt. Dave’s Dolphin Safari, for bringing us to the whales. I’ve included my photos of these beautiful creatures, taken at sunset. The tall, distinctive dorsal fin in the top photo is that of the male orca.

These types of killer whales, identified by their darker saddle area behind the dorsal fin, are usually seen from south of San Diego to Central Amercia. Because they are rarely seen, we don’t know much about them yet. It was a very fortunate sighting, indeed.

Check out the drone footage of these orcas taken by Newport Coastal Adventure at: Newport Coastal Adventure/YouTube and read more about this killer whale visit at: OC Register On-line. You can also hear my song about another type of orca, called Southern Resident Killer Whales, in my previous blog post. Sightings such as these and the opportunity to teach about cetaceans are two of the many reasons why I love my job as First Mate and Naturalist.

Glad to be singing on the sea,

Birdsong

In Memory of Orcas: Kids song video about Southern Resident Killer Whales

Dear Friends,

A few years ago, I wrote this song, “Orcas”, as a celebration of the Southern Resident Killer Whales. Today I am re-posting this music video in memory of Granny (J-2), Doublestuf (J-34), Polaris (J-28), Rhapsody (J-32) and the other endangered SRKWs who have died since I released this song. May their beautiful spirits continue to teach us and inspire us to protect their remaining family members. Thank you for watching.

With love,

Birdsong

Common Dolphins and Birdsong wish you a happy new year!

Version 2

Dear Friends,

I have the good fortune of seeing common dolphins several times a month off the coast of Southern California. I encountered hundreds of them off the coast of Dana Point, CA over this holiday season; and I couldn’t think of a better way to wish you a happy new year than to share this photo that captures their playful spirit.

Common dolphins earned their name because they are “common” to all oceans in the world. They are beautiful animals that often travel, hunt and socialize in large pods of a hundred or more. We have a population of about 450,000 common dolphin off the coast of California, so they are very dear to me. Their cooperative and playful nature always brings joy to my heart and inspires me to squeal, whistle and sing. And sing I often do, sharing my dolphin song “Clickety-Clack” with the children on the boat!
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Birdsong discovers The Amazing World of Plankton

Dear Ocean-Loving Friends,

When I am out at sea observing marine animals, I often wonder what’s going on in the ocean that I can’t see. Imagine my delight as I began to learn about plankton, the countless tiny living things that are floating and drifting in the world’s oceans and other bodies of water. These tiny organisms, most of which are too small to be seen without a powerful microscope, include plants (phytoplankton) and animals (zooplankton). Plankton are the foundation of the food chain that supports fish and other sea creatures—and the people who eat them. Phytoplankton also provides us with over 50% of the oxygen we breathe.
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Birdsong meets a Humpback Whale Breaching and says thank you!

Love Humpback Whales?
Sing along to our “Humpback Whale Song” after reading this post.

© Little Ones Music/Birdsong and the Eco-Wonders Listen to our "Humpback Whale Song"

Dear Friends,

Today I am grateful for the wildness in my life:
The wildness of this humpback whale I met in Monterey, CA last week. The wildness of the sea and wind, the earth and sun. The wildness of all creatures that visit me and inspire my songs. The wildness of plants. The wildness that lives in the fresh food I eat and the clean water I get to drink. The wildness of the children and families who sing my songs and who are amazing guardians of the Earth. I am grateful that I am part of this wild web of life and for all the ways in which Nature reminds me of that. And I am wild about sharing my wonder and gratitude with you!

Your singing friend and naturalist,

What’s wild in your life?

Humpback Whales Sing with a Flute!

Dear Whale-Loving Friends,

This video by Chip Richards reminds me of the day I wrote my *“Humpback Whale Song” for kids. I put on a recording of humpback whales singing. As I listened to their songs, I felt such deep emotions and I started playing my guitar and humming a tune that turned into these words: “The most incredible songs I’ve ever heard, come from the sea and they have no words. They’re the beautiful sounds of the humpback whales, singing their songs, telling their tales, in oceans all around the world.”

As I watch this incredible video, “Singing With the Whales”, I am reminded of the inspiration and love that that whales and dolphins invoke in us. When there is an encounter and exchange between the whales and humans (like the one is this video), I am reminded of the intelligence of the animal world and that we all share this same beautiful planet.

Your singing cetacean naturalist,
Birdsong

*”Humpback Whale Song” can be found on our CD IF I WERE A FISH and Other Animal Songs for Kids.

Learn about this magnificent marine mammal – Humpback Whale Video and Song for Kids

Hello my cetacean-loving friends.

As a “singing crew member” on Capt. Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Safari, I have had the privilege of spotting numerous humpback whales and observing their feeding and acrobatic behaviors. Watch this fun adventure video by “All Things Animal TV” to learn about this magnificent creature and listen to my “Humpback Whale Song” for kids to hear some male humpback whales singing. I could listen to their songs everyday 🙂 I’ve also included some links to more humpback whale videos at the end of this post. Enjoy!

Your singing cetacean naturalist and friend,

Birdsong

https://youtu.be/joBvuEJyUd0

Learn about WHY blue Whales are so big and SING our song “So Big! Blue Whale!”

Watch this informative video by TED-Ed to learn about why blue whales are so big; and then sing-along with us to our kids song about the world’s largest animal, “So Big! Blue Whale!”.

Watch Humpback Whale Breaching and listen to our kids song about humpback whales

Dear Cetacean Lovers,

Humpback whales have been active and acrobatic this summer off the shores of Southern California where I live. I have had the good fortune to witness many humpback breaches such as the one in this fun video by Dana Wharf Whale Watching. Notice how long the humpback’s pectoral fins are. They are about one third the size of the whale’s body. The humpback whales are known for their long pectoral fins, the hump on their back, their acrobatics and breaching, and the unique markings on each individual whale’s tail. I feel so very blessed to be able to watch these animals up close. Listen to our “Humpback Whale Song” to learn more about these beautiful baleen whales and to hear their songs.

With a splash and a thank you to the Humpback Whale,

Birdsong

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