A team of biologists deploys underwater microphones off Calvert County’s shores to monitor migratory whales in a new episode of Maryland Public Television’s Outdoors Maryland, set to air Nov. 18 as part of the series’ 37th season premiere lineup. The segment, titled “The Listening Post,” highlights the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Tailwinds Project, which uses acoustic technology to track the movements of humpback and other large whales along Maryland’s coastal waters.
Produced in partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the episode transports viewers aboard research vessels navigating the busy shipping lanes near Calvert Cliffs and Drum Point. There, scientists position hydrophones — sensitive underwater listening devices — to capture the low-frequency songs and calls of whales traveling a submerged migration corridor. These “listening posts” form a network of buoys that record audio data year-round, helping researchers map whale hotspots and alert mariners to potential collision risks. In Calvert County, where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic via the mouth of the Patuxent River, such efforts address rising concerns over vessel strikes, a leading cause of whale mortality as shipping traffic increases with port expansions at Baltimore.
The Tailwinds Project, launched in 2022, deploys these devices strategically from Ocean City in Worcester County to Solomons in Calvert, capturing data on species like North Atlantic right whales, now critically endangered with fewer than 350 individuals remaining. Biologists analyze the recordings to identify individual whales by their unique vocal signatures, much like fingerprints. This work supports federal regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, requiring ships over 65 feet to slow down in designated zones during migration seasons, typically December through April. For Southern Maryland residents, the project underscores the region’s role in broader ocean conservation, as Calvert’s 85 miles of waterfront host not only recreational boating but also commercial fishing that intersects with whale paths.
Viewers join the team during a deployment off Calvert’s coast, where rough seas challenge the installation of solar-powered buoys anchored 100 feet below the surface. The devices, equipped with algorithms to filter boat noise from whale calls, transmit data via satellite to shore-based labs in Horn Point, Cambridge. Early findings reveal peak humpback activity near Calvert Cliffs State Park, where the continental shelf drops sharply, funneling marine life. This acoustic monitoring complements visual surveys by aerial drones and offers a cost-effective way to cover vast areas without constant human presence.
The segment arrives amid growing local interest in marine stewardship. Calvert County, home to the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, features exhibits on regional cetaceans that draws thousands. The museum’s fossil collection, including Miocene-era whale bones unearthed from Calvert Cliffs, connects prehistoric ocean life to modern threats like climate-driven shifts in prey distribution. Project leads emphasize community involvement, training volunteers to report sightings via apps like Whale Alert, which integrates with NOAA’s efforts to enforce speed restrictions.
Outdoors Maryland’s focus on Calvert aligns with the county’s environmental priorities, as outlined in its 2023 Climate Action Plan, which calls for resilient coastal infrastructure amid sea level rise projected at 1 to 2 feet by 2050. By spotlighting the Tailwinds Project, the episode educates on how sound science informs policy, from buffer zones around sensitive habitats to incentives for quieter propellers on ferries serving the county’s island communities.
The full season includes four more episodes through December, airing Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. on MPT, with Saturday encores at 4:30 p.m. Stream live at mpt.org/livestream or on the PBS app. Since 1988, the series has aired over 700 segments, earning 30 Emmys for its cinematography of Maryland’s ecosystems.
Engage online at @OutdoorsMarylandTV on Facebook and Instagram. In Calvert, where bay breezes carry echoes of ancient seas, this episode invites locals to listen closer to the waters that define home.
